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Saul Tigh

2006-04-04T07:34:18Z

Doafhat: /* Tigh in Command */

{{Character Data|
|photo= [[Image:Bsg-tigh-1.jpg|200px]]
|age= 63-69
|colony= Aerelon
|birthname= Saul Tigh
|callsign=
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children= None
|marital status=Married to [[Ellen Tigh]]
|role= Executive Officer, ''[[Battlestar]] [[Galactica]]''
|rank= Colonel
|actor= [[Michael Hogan]]
|cylon=
|name=
}}

== Biography ==

=== Background ===

Saul Tigh was born on the colony of [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Aerelon|Aerelon]].{{ref|magazine1}} A veteran of the Cylon War, Saul Tigh is sometimes estranged from his wife and has been somewhat disillusioned with his career, seeking refuge in alcoholism - a move which has lead many in the crew to view him with contempt ([[Miniseries]]; "[[33]]").

He is a third generation Colonial soldier. [[Saul Tigh (father of)|His father]] was a decorated fighter pilot killed in combat and [[Saul Tigh (grandfather of)|his grandfather]] served under President [[Mueller (president)|Mueller]]. According to [[Billy Keikeya]], Tigh was a published military historian until personal problems became apparent ([[Miniseries]], [[List of Deleted Scenes (RDM)|deleted scene]]).

Tigh began his career as a deckhand{{ref|magazine2}}. By the second year of the first [[Cylon War]], he was serving as a gunner's made onboard the ''[[Brenik]]''. His ship was boarded by the Cylons where he and others fought in hand to hand combat, during the bloodiest time of that war. ([http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season02/202/deleted1.html deleted scene], [[Valley of Darkness]]). His ship was subsequently destroyed and he survived. He was transferred to another unnamed ship, which succumbed to a similar fate as his original ship. Having born witness to many a bloody combat, he became emotionally scarred, which had, among other impetuses, led him to alcoholism.
[[Image:Tighadama.jpg|Tigh and Adama's first meeting.|left|thumb]]

Tigh eventually achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer ([[Galen Tyrol]]'s position on ''Galactica''). When Viper pilot numbers began running low in the war, Tigh was drafted into Colonial Officer Candidate School and was reassigned as a Viper pilot ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down (podcast)|podcast]], [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]). As a pilot, he demonstrated considerable skill, earning several medals while posted aboard the battlestar [[Athena (Battlestar)|Athena]].{{ref|magazine3}}

After the cessation of hostilities, he was dismissed from service and eked out an existence as a deckhand aboard a commercial freighter. While onboard, he drowned himself in alcohol and, after a time, encountered [[William Adama]], who had not seen as much combat experience as Tigh himself. They became fast friends, and remained in touch after Adama reenlisted with the service. Two years later{{ref|magazine4}}, he was able to pull strings to reenlist Tigh as well ([[Scattered]]).

Following his reenlistment Saul met his future wife Ellen, whom he courted and married after two months, about 7 years before the [[Miniseries]]. Unfortunately, Ellen did not take well to military life and her repeated infidelities drove Saul back into the bottle. The two separated shortly before the Cylon attack.{{ref_label|magazine4|4|a}}

Following the Cylon attack, Tigh recovers some of his old verve and attempts to give up alcohol. However, this, combined with the initial stress of flight from the Cylons causes him to over-compensate as a martinet, frequently driving the personnel overly-hard, and berating where encouragement would prove the better option ([[33]]). He excuses this by using the truism that the XO is supposed to be the "hard face" of command.
[[image:33-Tigh_Adama.jpg|thumb|right|"If the crew doesn't hate the XO, then he's not doing his job."]]
With his drinking problem relatively under control, Tigh settled back into his role as the ''Galactica's'' Executive Officer and proved himself both honest and level-headed - if still hard on himself and others - in a number of circumstances, and he provided the kind of support [[William Adama|Adama]] needed.

During Cylon attacks, he proves himself to be an excellent battle manager and tactician. His quick actions sometimes save the ship and [[The Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]] from damage or destruction ("[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]", "[[Scattered]]", "[[Valley of Darkness]]").

Tigh is uneasy around President [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Water]]), and resents what he sees as her interfering with Adama's command ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]) - something born out of his deep respect for Adama which even the most heated of disagreements between them ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]) cannot disrupt.

Tigh personally dislikes [[Kara Thrace]], one of ''Galactica's'' pilots and, while grudgingly conceding she is a fine pilot, does not understand what Adama sees in her ([[Miniseries]]). Tigh sees Thrace as an egotistical, insubordinate youngster. While they have tried to bury the hatchet between them ([[Miniseries]], [[Water]]), there is potentially too much water under the bridge now for them to get completely past their differences.

Outside of Adama, Tigh has few others he regards as confidants aboard ship; and since the initial Cylon attack, he withdraws from interacting with the crew during off-duty hours, making him perhaps more isolated than even Adama - who is at least held in awe and respect by the crew.

=== Wife's Return ===
[[image:Tigh_Me_Up_Tigh_Me_Down-Saul_Ellen.jpg|thumb|left|'''Saul''' and his newly returned wife, [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]], making a toast: "To starting over" ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]).]]
Some three weeks after the Cylon attack on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], Tigh is stunned to discover his wife, [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]], has not been killed as he had thought, but was rescued from [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Picon|Picon]], and carried aboard the ''[[Rising Star (RDM)|Rising Star]]'' as an unconscious "Jane Doe". Whether this reunion will be for his betterment or not remains to be seen.

Despite the emotional implications from the destruction of the Colonies and life aboard the ship, Tigh is reluctantly thrust further into politics as his wife plays her schemes. Much to his disdain, his wife attempts to procure photo opportunities with the likes of [[Tom Zarek]] -- a person Tigh views with the utmost contempt ([[Colonial Day]]). Additionally, Ellen seems to re-establish Saul Tigh's alcoholism with gratuitous drinking.

Despite this, Adama sends Tigh with a squadron of [[Colonial Marine Corps|marines]] to arrest [[Laura Roslin]] after Adama discovers that she convinced [[Kara Thrace]] to [[FTL|Jump]] back to [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] to retrieve a historical artifact called the [[Arrow of Apollo]] from the Delphi Museum. This action deprives the Fleet of a crucial military asset -- a captured [[Cylon Raider]], intended to have been used to plant a nuclear warhead aboard a basestar in orbit around the planet believed to be [[Kobol]] -- and convinces Adama that Roslin is abusing her authority.

Onboard ''[[Colonial One]]'', Tigh's men and Roslin's [[Presidential Security Service|personal security agents]] are at a standoff when [[Lee Adama]] [[mutiny|aims a weapon at Tigh's head]] and attempts to thwart the arrest. Attempting to defuse the situation, Roslin agrees to be arrested and Lee Adama is arrested on charges of treason ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).

=== Tigh in Command ===
[[Image:Scattered-Tigh.jpg|thumb|right|Tigh realizing he's in a bit over his head ([[Scattered]]).]]
Tigh is present in [[CIC]] during the attempted [[assassination]] of Adama by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]]. As guards restrain Valerii, Tigh attempts to stop the bleeding from the torso gunshot wounds Adama sustained in the attempt ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). Needing reliable officers, Tigh grants Lee Adama a parole from his arrest. After his daily duties as [[CAG]] are done, Lee promises to return to the brig when off-shift.

With Adama incapacitated and with Roslin dethroned, Tigh tries to maintain order. However, his irrational and gruff command style displeases many crewmembers. Morale and ship efficiency began to suffer. Ellen Tigh becomes a private advisor to her husband, frequently questioning his power to command while also suggesting ways of usurping more power and quashing his opponents. Ellen Tigh's advice only exacerbates an already-deteriorating situation.

Tigh's interrogation of suspected Cylon collaborators or infiltrators is brutal. After beating, then nearly shooting the ''Galactica'' copy of Valerii, other issues in the Fleet divert him from further interrogation. He orders a special cage made for her for later interrogation. Tigh also savagely interrogates Valerii's former lover, Chief [[Galen Tyrol]] as a possible [[Humano-Cylon|Cylon infiltrator]] himself. Tigh would have left him with Valerii in the newly built Cylon cage if [[Gaius Baltar]] did not intervene to prove medically that Tyrol is not a Cylon himself.

With Roslin in prison, uprisings begin as civilian ships refuse to supply ''Galactica'' until Roslin is released. Worse, the [[Quorum of Twelve]] demand to see Roslin. Knowing of Roslin's hallucinations in the brig, he intentionally invites the Quorum to see Roslin in her poor state in hopes of disillusioning the Quorum. However, Roslin recovers sufficiently from her [[Chamalla]] withdrawal after getting a supply smuggled to her by Corporal [[Venner]], her guard. Tigh, a secular man, believes that the accounts within the [[Sacred Scrolls]] weren't to be believed, and teases Roslin in front of the Quorum on her visions. Roslin not only is able to speak to the Quorum, but decisively reinforces her decisions as well as her role in the search for the location of Earth as told in the Pythian prophesies. This act greatly impresses the dominantly religious-minded Quorum, and infuriates Tigh; fearing a larger civilan government uprising led by the Quorum. Tigh institutes [[Wikipedia:martial law|martial law]] throughout the Fleet in an attempt to maintain order in a rapidly chaotic shuffle of power between the civilian and military governments ([[Fragged]]).

The supply situation leads Tigh to a poor decision of using Viper pilots to command marines in forcibly retrieving needed supplies. On [[Gideon|one ship]], a riot leads to four deaths and many injuries due to the pilot's inexperience in managing such a situation. Unlike Adama (who likely would have taken direct responsibility of the "Gideon Massacre"), Tigh places blame solely on the pilot, absolving himself from the incident.

=== Fleet Factioning and Adama's Return ===

The shootings, Tigh's decision for martial law, and his unwillingness to discuss anything with anyone except Ellen Tigh (and the unconscious Adama) becomes the dividing point of those wanting to press on to finding Earth, and those wanting to settle on Kobol ([[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]]). Tigh's drinking spirals further out of control, leading to more erratic behavior that causes great concern regarding his ability to effectively command, particularly the [[CIC]] staff. The situation comes to a head when Roslin, tacitly aided by other officers and crew on ''Galactica'', escapes the brig in an attempt to hide amongst the many ships in the Fleet with the aid of [[Tom Zarek]]. Tigh chases down the escaping Raptor using the [[CAP]], having the Viper fire across the bow of the fleeing Raptor to persuade it to return. The Raptor brazenly continues onward, leading to a crucial decision for the Colonel. Tigh allows the Raptor escape, rather than shooting it down; which would have killed Adama's son, the President, and could have placed himself and the rest of the fleet in dire straits.
[[image:Flight_of_the_Phoenix-Tigh_Adama.jpg|thumb|left|Tigh and Adama share a knowing smirk at the commissioning of the [[Blackbird]], ''Laura'' ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).]]

Fortunately for the fleet and Colonel Tigh, Commander Adama regains consciousness shortly after the escape and asks what had happened during his absence. Tigh confesses that he has "frakked things up good," but Adama reassures his friend, saying, "I never had much use for people that second-guessed my decisions, especially if they've never held a command. They don't understand the pressure to make a call that affects the lives of thousands, and you have no one to turn to for backup."

Despite all the serious problems that Tigh created, Adama doesn't blame him, telling Tigh that whatever bad calls were made, they would pick up the pieces together ([[Resistance]]).

Both Adama (also a rather secular man) and Tigh are astounded at the number of ships that secede from the main fleet to join the [[Laura Roslin faction|faction]] that sought the [[Tomb of Athena]] with President Roslin ([[The Farm]]). Tigh backs up Adama while he maintains a similar official position on Roslin and the separated ships as Tigh has. However, after Adama realizes that survival of the entire Fleet would only come if everyone held together, Adama begins to prepare a journey to Kobol to retrieve the remainder of the Fleet and reach out to Roslin ([[Home, Part I]]). At first Tigh seems to believe that Adama is retrieving the faction by more military means, and scoffs at Roslin's religious views on the quest until he realizes that Adama is beginning to follow Roslin's information, taking her reports and visions seriously. Tigh is left in command while Adama successfully reunites the Fleet and reconciles with Roslin ([[Home, Part II]]).

==Notes==
* Tigh's first name has been given as "Paul" on a number of websites. This is based on an early [http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/battlestar/season1/galactica-ms1.pdf version of the script] '''(PDF file)''', which has Adama speaking to "Paul" in their discussion of his fight with Kara Thrace. Since this version of the script has significant differences to the final script, its canonical value is low.
* [[Ronald D. Moore]] has indicated via the [[podcast]] commentary on the episode "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]" that the character's name initially was Paul Tigh. The name, however, had to be changed due to legal issues that Moore was unable to recall in that podcast.
* Tigh is based off the character of Paul Eddington in the movie "[[Wikipedia:In Harm's Way|In Harm's Way]]" portrayed by Kirk Douglas (with John Wayne).
* Tigh's age is one of the only ones which can be accurately deduced. In a [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season02/202/deleted1.html deleted scene] from [[Valley of Darkness]], we learn that he was serving on the [[Brenik]] when it was boarded during the second year of the Cylon War. Tigh tells us that he was "just a kid. Virgin. Teenager." We know that [[Colonial Day (holiday)|Colonial Day]] is the anniversary of both the unification of the Colonies, and (roughly) the outbreak of the Cylon War (Source: [http://blog.scifi.com/battlestar/archives/2005/04/index.html#a000025 RDM, April 11, 2005]), and was 52 years ago ([[Colonial Day]]). Thus, Saul Tigh is between 63 and 69 years old during the series.
* In the DVD commentary of "[[Act of Contrition]]", Ron Moore notes that actor [[Michael Hogan]] won the role of Tigh over [http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0722413/ Donnelly Rhodes], who was one of two other actors vying for the part. Rhodes however went on to play the role of [[Cottle|Dr. Cottle]], ''Galactica'''s CMO.
* We have two conflicting claims on Saul Tigh's rank during the early days of the Cylon War:
**A [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season02/202/deleted1.html deleted scene] from the episode "[[Valley of Darkness]]" states that Tigh was still a gunner's mate by midway through the Cylon War's second year.
**Issue 3 of "Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine" states that he had acheived the rank of Chief Petty Officer by the time the Cylon War broke out.{{ref_label|magazine2|2|a}}
*Since neither of these sources are strictly canonical, it is not clear which is meant to stand.

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=''(unknown)''|title=Executive Officer of the [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=[[Karl Agathon]] (presumed)}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
#{{note|magazine1}}"Cylon Intelligence Report: Personnel File: Saul Tigh." Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine. Feb./Mar. 2006: 62.
#{{note|magazine2}}{{note_label|magazine2|2|a}}''Ibid''. "Saul Tigh entered the fleet as a deckhand but rose through the ranks and was a CPO (Chief Petty Officer) by the time the First Cylon War broke out."
#{{note|magazine3}}''Ibid''. "Tigh joined the Colonial Officer Candidate School and was reassigned as a Viper pilot, something he excelled in, earning a string of medals in his post aboard the Battlestar Athena."
#{{note|magazine4}}{{note_label|magazine4|4|a}}''Ibid''. "Adama reenlisted with the service and Tigh spent two years drinking before Adama pulled strings to get him back into service. Saul Tigh was straightening his life out when he met his wife Ellen, who he courted and married within two months. Ellen did not take well to military life, and her repeated infidelities drove him back to drink. Ellen and Saul separated shortly before the Cylon attack."

{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Tigh, Saul]]
[[Category:Characters|Tigh, Saul]]
[[Category:RDM|Tigh, Saul]]

Saul Tigh

2006-04-04T07:32:54Z

Doafhat:

{{Character Data|
|photo= [[Image:Bsg-tigh-1.jpg|200px]]
|age= 63-69
|colony= Aerelon
|birthname= Saul Tigh
|callsign=
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children= None
|marital status=Married to [[Ellen Tigh]]
|role= Executive Officer, ''[[Battlestar]] [[Galactica]]''
|rank= Colonel
|actor= [[Michael Hogan]]
|cylon=
|name=
}}

== Biography ==

=== Background ===

Saul Tigh was born on the colony of [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Aerelon|Aerelon]].{{ref|magazine1}} A veteran of the Cylon War, Saul Tigh is sometimes estranged from his wife and has been somewhat disillusioned with his career, seeking refuge in alcoholism - a move which has lead many in the crew to view him with contempt ([[Miniseries]]; "[[33]]").

He is a third generation Colonial soldier. [[Saul Tigh (father of)|His father]] was a decorated fighter pilot killed in combat and [[Saul Tigh (grandfather of)|his grandfather]] served under President [[Mueller (president)|Mueller]]. According to [[Billy Keikeya]], Tigh was a published military historian until personal problems became apparent ([[Miniseries]], [[List of Deleted Scenes (RDM)|deleted scene]]).

Tigh began his career as a deckhand{{ref|magazine2}}. By the second year of the first [[Cylon War]], he was serving as a gunner's made onboard the ''[[Brenik]]''. His ship was boarded by the Cylons where he and others fought in hand to hand combat, during the bloodiest time of that war. ([http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season02/202/deleted1.html deleted scene], [[Valley of Darkness]]). His ship was subsequently destroyed and he survived. He was transferred to another unnamed ship, which succumbed to a similar fate as his original ship. Having born witness to many a bloody combat, he became emotionally scarred, which had, among other impetuses, led him to alcoholism.
[[Image:Tighadama.jpg|Tigh and Adama's first meeting.|left|thumb]]

Tigh eventually achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer ([[Galen Tyrol]]'s position on ''Galactica''). When Viper pilot numbers began running low in the war, Tigh was drafted into Colonial Officer Candidate School and was reassigned as a Viper pilot ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down (podcast)|podcast]], [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]). As a pilot, he demonstrated considerable skill, earning several medals while posted aboard the battlestar [[Athena (Battlestar)|Athena]].{{ref|magazine3}}

After the cessation of hostilities, he was dismissed from service and eked out an existence as a deckhand aboard a commercial freighter. While onboard, he drowned himself in alcohol and, after a time, encountered [[William Adama]], who had not seen as much combat experience as Tigh himself. They became fast friends, and remained in touch after Adama reenlisted with the service. Two years later{{ref|magazine4}}, he was able to pull strings to reenlist Tigh as well ([[Scattered]]).

Following his reenlistment Saul met his future wife Ellen, whom he courted and married after two months, about 7 years before the [[Miniseries]]. Unfortunately, Ellen did not take well to military life and her repeated infidelities drove Saul back into the bottle. The two separated shortly before the Cylon attack.{{ref_label|magazine4|4|a}}

Following the Cylon attack, Tigh recovers some of his old verve and attempts to give up alcohol. However, this, combined with the initial stress of flight from the Cylons causes him to over-compensate as a martinet, frequently driving the personnel overly-hard, and berating where encouragement would prove the better option ([[33]]). He excuses this by using the truism that the XO is supposed to be the "hard face" of command.
[[image:33-Tigh_Adama.jpg|thumb|right|"If the crew doesn't hate the XO, then he's not doing his job."]]
With his drinking problem relatively under control, Tigh settled back into his role as the ''Galactica's'' Executive Officer and proved himself both honest and level-headed - if still hard on himself and others - in a number of circumstances, and he provided the kind of support [[William Adama|Adama]] needed.

During Cylon attacks, he proves himself to be an excellent battle manager and tactician. His quick actions sometimes save the ship and [[The Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]] from damage or destruction ("[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]", "[[Scattered]]", "[[Valley of Darkness]]").

Tigh is uneasy around President [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Water]]), and resents what he sees as her interfering with Adama's command ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]) - something born out of his deep respect for Adama which even the most heated of disagreements between them ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]) cannot disrupt.

Tigh personally dislikes [[Kara Thrace]], one of ''Galactica's'' pilots and, while grudgingly conceding she is a fine pilot, does not understand what Adama sees in her ([[Miniseries]]). Tigh sees Thrace as an egotistical, insubordinate youngster. While they have tried to bury the hatchet between them ([[Miniseries]], [[Water]]), there is potentially too much water under the bridge now for them to get completely past their differences.

Outside of Adama, Tigh has few others he regards as confidants aboard ship; and since the initial Cylon attack, he withdraws from interacting with the crew during off-duty hours, making him perhaps more isolated than even Adama - who is at least held in awe and respect by the crew.

=== Wife's Return ===
[[image:Tigh_Me_Up_Tigh_Me_Down-Saul_Ellen.jpg|thumb|left|'''Saul''' and his newly returned wife, [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]], making a toast: "To starting over" ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]).]]
Some three weeks after the Cylon attack on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], Tigh is stunned to discover his wife, [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]], has not been killed as he had thought, but was rescued from [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Picon|Picon]], and carried aboard the ''[[Rising Star (RDM)|Rising Star]]'' as an unconscious "Jane Doe". Whether this reunion will be for his betterment or not remains to be seen.

Despite the emotional implications from the destruction of the Colonies and life aboard the ship, Tigh is reluctantly thrust further into politics as his wife plays her schemes. Much to his disdain, his wife attempts to procure photo opportunities with the likes of [[Tom Zarek]] -- a person Tigh views with the utmost contempt ([[Colonial Day]]). Additionally, Ellen seems to re-establish Saul Tigh's alcoholism with gratuitous drinking.

Despite this, Adama sends Tigh with a squadron of [[Colonial Marine Corps|marines]] to arrest [[Laura Roslin]] after Adama discovers that she convinced [[Kara Thrace]] to [[FTL|Jump]] back to [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] to retrieve a historical artifact called the [[Arrow of Apollo]] from the Delphi Museum. This action deprives the Fleet of a crucial military asset -- a captured [[Cylon Raider]], intended to have been used to plant a nuclear warhead aboard a basestar in orbit around the planet believed to be [[Kobol]] -- and convinces Adama that Roslin is abusing her authority.

Onboard ''[[Colonial One]]'', Tigh's men and Roslin's [[Presidential Security Service|personal security agents]] are at a standoff when [[Lee Adama]] [[mutiny|aims a weapon at Tigh's head]] and attempts to thwart the arrest. Attempting to defuse the situation, Roslin agrees to be arrested and Lee Adama is arrested on charges of treason ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).

=== Tigh in Command ===
[[Image:Scattered-Tigh.jpg|thumb|right|Tigh realizing he's in a bit over his head ([[Scattered]]).]]
Tigh is present in [[CIC]] during the attempted [[assassination]] of Adama by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]]. As guards restrain Valerii, Tigh attempts to stop the bleeding from the torso gunshot wounds Adama sustained in the attempt ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). Needing reliable officers, Tigh grants Lee Adama a parole from his arrest. After his daily duties as [[CAG]] are done, Lee promises to return to the brig when off-shift.

With Adama incapacitated and with Roslin dethroned, Tigh tries to maintain order. However, his irrational and gruff command style displeases many crewmembers. Morale and ship efficiency began to suffer. Ellen Tigh becomes a private advisor to her husband, frequently questioning his power to command while also suggesting ways of usurping more power and quashing his opponents. Ellen Tigh's advice only exacerbates an already-deteriorating situation.

Tigh's interrogation of suspected Cylon collaborators or infiltrators is brutal. After beating, then nearly shooting the ''Galactica'' copy of Valerii, other issues in the Fleet divert him from further interrogation. He orders a special cage made for her for later interrogation. Tigh also savagely interrogates Valerii's former lover, Chief [[Galen Tyrol]] as a possible [[Humano-Cylon|Cylon infiltrator]] himself. Tigh would have left him with Valerii in the newly built Cylon cage if [[Gaius Baltar]] did not intervene to prove medically that Tyrol is not a Cylon himself.

With Roslin in prison, uprisings begin as civilian ships refuse to supply ''Galactica'' until Roslin is released. Worse, the [[Quorum of Twelve]] demand to see Roslin. Knowing of Roslin's hallucinations in the brig, he intentionally invites the Quorum to see Roslin in her poor state in hopes of disillusioning the Quorum. However, Roslin recovers sufficiently from her [[Chamalla]] withdrawal after getting a supply smuggled to her by Corporal [[Venner]], her guard. Unlike many Gemenon colonists, Tigh is very secular and believes that the accounts within the [[Sacred Scrolls]] weren't to be believed, and teases Roslin in front of the Quorum on her visions. Roslin not only is able to speak to the Quorum, but decisively reinforces her decisions as well as her role in the search for the location of Earth as told in the Pythian prophesies. This act greatly impresses the dominantly religious-minded Quorum, and infuriates Tigh; fearing a larger civilan government uprising led by the Quorum. Tigh institutes [[Wikipedia:martial law|martial law]] throughout the Fleet in an attempt to maintain order in a rapidly chaotic shuffle of power between the civilian and military governments ([[Fragged]]).

The supply situation leads Tigh to a poor decision of using Viper pilots to command marines in forcibly retrieving needed supplies. On [[Gideon|one ship]], a riot leads to four deaths and many injuries due to the pilot's inexperience in managing such a situation. Unlike Adama (who likely would have taken direct responsibility of the "Gideon Massacre"), Tigh places blame solely on the pilot, absolving himself from the incident.

=== Fleet Factioning and Adama's Return ===

The shootings, Tigh's decision for martial law, and his unwillingness to discuss anything with anyone except Ellen Tigh (and the unconscious Adama) becomes the dividing point of those wanting to press on to finding Earth, and those wanting to settle on Kobol ([[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]]). Tigh's drinking spirals further out of control, leading to more erratic behavior that causes great concern regarding his ability to effectively command, particularly the [[CIC]] staff. The situation comes to a head when Roslin, tacitly aided by other officers and crew on ''Galactica'', escapes the brig in an attempt to hide amongst the many ships in the Fleet with the aid of [[Tom Zarek]]. Tigh chases down the escaping Raptor using the [[CAP]], having the Viper fire across the bow of the fleeing Raptor to persuade it to return. The Raptor brazenly continues onward, leading to a crucial decision for the Colonel. Tigh allows the Raptor escape, rather than shooting it down; which would have killed Adama's son, the President, and could have placed himself and the rest of the fleet in dire straits.
[[image:Flight_of_the_Phoenix-Tigh_Adama.jpg|thumb|left|Tigh and Adama share a knowing smirk at the commissioning of the [[Blackbird]], ''Laura'' ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).]]

Fortunately for the fleet and Colonel Tigh, Commander Adama regains consciousness shortly after the escape and asks what had happened during his absence. Tigh confesses that he has "frakked things up good," but Adama reassures his friend, saying, "I never had much use for people that second-guessed my decisions, especially if they've never held a command. They don't understand the pressure to make a call that affects the lives of thousands, and you have no one to turn to for backup."

Despite all the serious problems that Tigh created, Adama doesn't blame him, telling Tigh that whatever bad calls were made, they would pick up the pieces together ([[Resistance]]).

Both Adama (also a rather secular man) and Tigh are astounded at the number of ships that secede from the main fleet to join the [[Laura Roslin faction|faction]] that sought the [[Tomb of Athena]] with President Roslin ([[The Farm]]). Tigh backs up Adama while he maintains a similar official position on Roslin and the separated ships as Tigh has. However, after Adama realizes that survival of the entire Fleet would only come if everyone held together, Adama begins to prepare a journey to Kobol to retrieve the remainder of the Fleet and reach out to Roslin ([[Home, Part I]]). At first Tigh seems to believe that Adama is retrieving the faction by more military means, and scoffs at Roslin's religious views on the quest until he realizes that Adama is beginning to follow Roslin's information, taking her reports and visions seriously. Tigh is left in command while Adama successfully reunites the Fleet and reconciles with Roslin ([[Home, Part II]]).

==Notes==
* Tigh's first name has been given as "Paul" on a number of websites. This is based on an early [http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/battlestar/season1/galactica-ms1.pdf version of the script] '''(PDF file)''', which has Adama speaking to "Paul" in their discussion of his fight with Kara Thrace. Since this version of the script has significant differences to the final script, its canonical value is low.
* [[Ronald D. Moore]] has indicated via the [[podcast]] commentary on the episode "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]" that the character's name initially was Paul Tigh. The name, however, had to be changed due to legal issues that Moore was unable to recall in that podcast.
* Tigh is based off the character of Paul Eddington in the movie "[[Wikipedia:In Harm's Way|In Harm's Way]]" portrayed by Kirk Douglas (with John Wayne).
* Tigh's age is one of the only ones which can be accurately deduced. In a [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season02/202/deleted1.html deleted scene] from [[Valley of Darkness]], we learn that he was serving on the [[Brenik]] when it was boarded during the second year of the Cylon War. Tigh tells us that he was "just a kid. Virgin. Teenager." We know that [[Colonial Day (holiday)|Colonial Day]] is the anniversary of both the unification of the Colonies, and (roughly) the outbreak of the Cylon War (Source: [http://blog.scifi.com/battlestar/archives/2005/04/index.html#a000025 RDM, April 11, 2005]), and was 52 years ago ([[Colonial Day]]). Thus, Saul Tigh is between 63 and 69 years old during the series.
* In the DVD commentary of "[[Act of Contrition]]", Ron Moore notes that actor [[Michael Hogan]] won the role of Tigh over [http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0722413/ Donnelly Rhodes], who was one of two other actors vying for the part. Rhodes however went on to play the role of [[Cottle|Dr. Cottle]], ''Galactica'''s CMO.
* We have two conflicting claims on Saul Tigh's rank during the early days of the Cylon War:
**A [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season02/202/deleted1.html deleted scene] from the episode "[[Valley of Darkness]]" states that Tigh was still a gunner's mate by midway through the Cylon War's second year.
**Issue 3 of "Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine" states that he had acheived the rank of Chief Petty Officer by the time the Cylon War broke out.{{ref_label|magazine2|2|a}}
*Since neither of these sources are strictly canonical, it is not clear which is meant to stand.

{{start box}}
{{succession box|before=''(unknown)''|title=Executive Officer of the [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''|after=[[Karl Agathon]] (presumed)}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
#{{note|magazine1}}"Cylon Intelligence Report: Personnel File: Saul Tigh." Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine. Feb./Mar. 2006: 62.
#{{note|magazine2}}{{note_label|magazine2|2|a}}''Ibid''. "Saul Tigh entered the fleet as a deckhand but rose through the ranks and was a CPO (Chief Petty Officer) by the time the First Cylon War broke out."
#{{note|magazine3}}''Ibid''. "Tigh joined the Colonial Officer Candidate School and was reassigned as a Viper pilot, something he excelled in, earning a string of medals in his post aboard the Battlestar Athena."
#{{note|magazine4}}{{note_label|magazine4|4|a}}''Ibid''. "Adama reenlisted with the service and Tigh spent two years drinking before Adama pulled strings to get him back into service. Saul Tigh was straightening his life out when he met his wife Ellen, who he courted and married within two months. Ellen did not take well to military life, and her repeated infidelities drove him back to drink. Ellen and Saul separated shortly before the Cylon attack."

{{Characters}}

[[Category:A to Z|Tigh, Saul]]
[[Category:Characters|Tigh, Saul]]
[[Category:RDM|Tigh, Saul]]

War Room

2006-04-04T06:44:40Z

Doafhat: Corrected grammatical error

[[Image:Bsg-sit-1.jpg|thumb|Battlestar Situation Room (credit: Sci-Fi Channel)]]

The Situation Room is a tactical planning and strike operations centre, located close to a battlestar's [[CIC]] ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).

The Situation Room has two functions:

*Monitoring and controlling large-scale operations which cannot be fully monitored or controlled from the CIC without interfering with shipboard operations
*Providing a dedicated planning and briefing centre for the development of and execution of special operations under the control of a battlestar.

The Situation Room comprises a large electronic map table that can be configured for a variety of uses, supported by a number of information-relay consoles (e.g. monitoring communications). The walls of the Situation Room can be used to project images to assist in the planning of strike or other missions.

Around a dozen personnel staff the Situation Room during an operation, in addition to any command staff that may be in attendance.

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

Galactica type battlestar

2006-04-04T06:41:34Z

Doafhat: /* Endurance */

{{shortcut|BS}}

:''This article discusses the original battlestar class (of which ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is a member) of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|re-imagined series]]. For information on the battlestars of the Original Series, see [[Battlestar (TOS)]]. For information on the newer ''Mercury'' class battlestars, see [[Mercury class battlestar]].''

[[Image:Bsg-bsg-1.jpg|thumb|250px|Original Colonial Battlestar (credit: Zoic)]]

==Overview==
[[Image:Destroyed Battlestar Mini.JPG|thumb|right|A destroyed ''Galactica'' type battlestar ([[Miniseries]]).]]
The '''''Galactica'' type battlestar''' is a capital Colonial warship that combines the functions of aircraft carrier and battleship. The first twelve battlestars were laid down in the early days of the [[Cylon War]], each representing one of the [[Twelve Colonies]] ([[Miniseries]]). This article concerns that original, and unnamed, class.

Following the end of the war, the original battlestars remained in service, and many newer battlestars were built. At the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], the newer [[Mercury-class Battlestar|''Mercury''-class]] represented the top of the line.

The original battlestars were space-going leviathans of some 4,640ft (1,547m) in length, housing 80 [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] space superiority fighters arranged in 4 squadrons of 20 apiece, and several nuclear warheads. A fully-armed battlestar is capable of a wide range of offensive actions, while her defensive armaments ensure she is fully capable of both protecting herself from attack, and of engaging an enemy at close quarters.

==Layout==
The design common to ''Galactica'' and her sister ships can be broken down into two main sections: the main hull, and the twin flight pods.

=== Main Hull ===

This comprises the bulk of a battlestar, and can, itself, be divided into three sections:

The "alligator head" contains the primary living space for the crew, recreational facilities, mess halls, shipboard operations centres (such as the [[CIC]] and [[Situation Room]]){{ref|nosource}}; water storage tanks ([[Water]]).

The midships area contains the pod retraction mechanisms, crossways linking the hanger pods for the transfer of equipment and personnel, as well as all the necessary hoists for such transfers ([[Miniseries]]). Main munitions stores and distribution mechanisms to "local" munitions stores for main and secondary batteries; fabrication facilities; etc {{ref_label|nosource|1|a}}.

The stern section contains sublight engines, [[FTL]] drive coils, etc. Note that 4 of the sublight engines are mounted externally in engine pods, with 2 more mounted between the pods, in the stern of the battlestar's main hull.

=== Flight Pods ===
The flight pods are mounted on either side of the hull and contain a battlestar's offensive [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] force. During normal operations, they are extended away from the main hull. During FTL jumps, the pods are retracted against the hull. Each pod comprises two main decks for flight operations: the upper landing bay, which extends the full length of the pod; and the lower launch bays, which provide some 40 launch tubes per pod.

The landing bay serves as a recovery area for incoming Vipers and [[Raptor]]s. Approaches are made from the stern. The preferred approach is a slow run into the landing bay, prior to making a vertical landing on a defined landing area. However, in emergencies, [[Combat Landing|combat landings]] can be made, in which a Viper or Raptor approaches at speed and makes a running landing on its undercarriage.

The forward end of the landing bay also serves as a launch area for Raptors and shuttles. The landing bay is large enough to accept a variety of other Colonial vessels, at least as large as "heavy" passenger ships such as ''[[Colonial Heavy 798]]''. Docking collars are located throughout the upper sections of the landing bay in order to provide a pressurized connection between a docked vessel and the battlestar. The Flight Pods also have docking ports to dock with larger ships or stations.

The [[Hangar Deck|hangar deck]] within the flight pod are used as general dispersal areas for Vipers. The hangar deck is used for maintenance & repair of Vipers / Raptors, refueling, re-arming and launch operations. A hangar deck runs the length of the flight pod, but can be divided and sealed off into five sections for damage control purposes. Each hangar deck section has eight launch tubes, two launch control stations, and an elevator that leads to the landing bay above. Viper flight operations are overseen by a [[Landing Signal Officer]], with each launch supervisor being directly responsible for all launch operations for a group of four launch tubes{{ref_label|nosource|1|b}}.

==Specifications==

===Dimensions===
Hull:
* Length: 4,640ft (1.414m)
* Beam: 1,820ft (555m) (flight pod to flight pod - extended)
* Draft: 580ft (177m) (source: [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/ships/ships/ SciFi.com])

Flight Pods:
* Length (approx): 2,019ft (615m)
* Beam (approx): 360ft (110m)
* Draft (approx): 211ft (64m) {{ref|pods}}

[[Image:bsg-2-cvn.jpg|right|thumb|Battlestar / CVN comparison (credit: Zoic / VF)]]
''An appreciation of the size of an original battlestar can be gleaned from the following: A battlestar is over 4 times longer than a [[Wikipedia:USS Nimitz|''Nimitz'']]-class US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The flight pod of an original battlestar is almost twice the length of a ''Nimitz'' class carrier, is some 150ft (46m) wider and is approximately as tall as a ''Nimitz'' class carrier measured from the waterline to the top of the carrier's communications and [[Wikipedia:ELINT|ELINT]] tower. The beam of an original battlestar's "alligator head" is as broad as a ''Nimitz''-class carrier's flight deck is long. Each of the nacelles of an original battlestar's outer four sublight engines is large enough to house a ''Nimitz''-class carrier.''

===Propulsion===
[[Image:Sublight.jpg|thumb|right|''Galactica'' with all six sublight engines engaged ([[33]])]]
* 2 x FTL engines and drive coils{{ref|ftl}}
* 6 x sublight engines
** 2 x Hull-mounted
** 4 x outrigger engine pods
* 40 x maneuvering engines (10 clusters of 4 apiece){{ref|zoic}}.

Despite their massive size, battlestars are extremely maneuverable and can dock with space stations such as the [[Ragnar Anchorage]] depot. Battlestars are not designed for atmospheric flight, although their hulls can manage a tenuous upper atmospheric storm like that surrounding the gas giant [[Ragnar]] ([[Miniseries]]). A battlestar's [[FTL]] systems are capable of very accurate Jumps, able to place them precisely in synchronous orbit above any point on a planet ([[Miniseries]]) and of placing them in the midst of an asteroid field ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]) or dense fleet of ships ([[Scattered]]), without risk of a devastating impact. However, they are grossly inferior to [[Cylon]] systems in range ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).

===Endurance===
Battlestars are intended to operate for long periods without re-supplying. Their water purification capabilities alone are so efficient that, barring an emergency or unforeseen event, a battlestar can operate without re-tanking "for several years before replenishing" ([[Water]]). They also appear capable of undertaking large-scale repairs following battle damage ([[Miniseries]], [[Water]]), and may have small manufacturing/fabrication facilities on-board ([[Litmus]]). Vegetable stores and canned goods are kept in [[Wikipedia:Titanium|titanium]] lockers ([[Final Cut]]).

===Computer Systems===
The original battlestar vessels deliberately avoided the use of networked computer systems and wireless devices, as the [[Cylon]] enemy were adept at infiltrating and subverting such systems ([[Miniseries]]).

Although they do employ [[computers]] for such functions as [[FTL]] calculations, navigation, damage control and fire control ([[Scattered]]), these are not connected with each other. This design is intended to naturally quarantine individual systems in the event that one becomes compromised.

===Armament===
[[Image:Flakfield.jpg|thumb|right|Flak field from ''Galactica'''s large turrets ([[Scattered]])]]
[[Image:Bscap064.jpg|thumb|''Galactica'''s point defense turrets]]
*24 large gun turrets{{ref|flak}} (mounting 2 guns apiece)
These are mounted on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the main hull and the ventral surface of the bow. The two guns on each turret can fire high-explosive (anti-Baseship) and flak (anti-Raiders) rounds in tandem at a rate of 2.23 seconds per round.

*Numerous{{ref|small}} smaller turrets (mounting 2 guns apiece)
These are smaller two-gun turrets mounted on the flight pods and other surfaces. Each barrel fires explosive rounds in bursts, with a rate of fire of 200 rounds per turret per second (estimate based on one tracer per four rounds).

*Multiple nuclear warheads{{ref|nukes}}.

*Four squadrons of 20 "[[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]" air/space superiority fighters{{ref|vipers}}. Even the latest Mk. VII Vipers remain compatible with this class's launch and recovery facilities.

*Numerous{{ref|raptors}} "[[Raptor]]" reconnaissance vehicles.

 

===Crew===
''Galactica's'' crew complement prior to her scheduled decommissioning was approximately 2,800{{ref|crew}}. This figure may be higher for a fully staffed and operational battlestar.

===Life Support===
Approximately twelve oxygen recirculation units are mounted throughout the ship, which replenish oxygen as well as remove ("scrub") carbon dioxide from the air. These devices work continuously ([[Final Cut]]).

==Sources==
# {{note|nosource}}{{note_label|nosource|1|a}}{{note_label|nosource|1|b}} No source provided. Figures and comments which are unsourced are being considered for deletion, in compliance with the [[Battlestar Wiki:Citation Jihad|Citation Jihad]].
# {{note|pods}} Calculated based on elevations made available by Zoic.
# {{note|ftl}} '''Tigh:''' "Engineering/Combat. Please spin up FTL drives One and Two." ([[Miniseries]])
# {{note|zoic}} Originally sourced to [[Zoic]] without explanation.
# {{note|flak}} These have been referred to as railguns by some fan sources, but there is substantial evidence to the contrary. See [[Railgun]] for more.
# {{note|small}} Unsourced figures have ranged from 252 to 512. According to the BSG Magazine, the number is 504.
#{{note|nukes}} As of the episode "[[Bastille Day]]", ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' was equipped with five nuclear warheads. This may be lower than the typical number, since ''Galactica'' was in the process of being decommissioned and had already had most of its ammunition removed. If this is the case, we must conclude that ''Galactica'' was unable to reload its supply of nuclear arms at [[Ragnar Anchorage]] (a sensible proposition, given the ease with which purported arms smuggler [[Leoben Conoy]] was able to gain access to the facility).
# {{note|vipers}}After the destruction of 20 Vipers during the Cylon Attack, ''Galactica'' was still able to muster a 40-Viper strong defensive screen by combining their remaining squadron of Mk. VII vipers with a full squadron of Mk. II vipers from a museum exhibit in the starboard flight pod. This suggests that ''Galactica'', with a single operational flight pod, was fielding two squadrons from it, and that when fully operational it could have fielded an additional two squadrons from the starboard pod as well.
# {{note|raptors}}At the time of the Cylon Attack, ''Galactica'' was apparently equipped with at least eight. See [[Galactica (RDM)#endnote_raptors|Galactica Raptor tally]] for a running count.
# {{note|crew}} See [[Galactica (RDM)#endnote_originalcrew|Galactica crew count]].

[[Category:A to Z]] [[Category:Colonial Craft]][[Category:Colonial Military]] [[Category:RDM]] [[Category:Technology]] [[Category:Battlestars]]

Galactica type battlestar

2006-04-04T06:39:28Z

Doafhat: /* Flight Pods */ Corrected spelling and grammatical errors

{{shortcut|BS}}

:''This article discusses the original battlestar class (of which ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is a member) of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|re-imagined series]]. For information on the battlestars of the Original Series, see [[Battlestar (TOS)]]. For information on the newer ''Mercury'' class battlestars, see [[Mercury class battlestar]].''

[[Image:Bsg-bsg-1.jpg|thumb|250px|Original Colonial Battlestar (credit: Zoic)]]

==Overview==
[[Image:Destroyed Battlestar Mini.JPG|thumb|right|A destroyed ''Galactica'' type battlestar ([[Miniseries]]).]]
The '''''Galactica'' type battlestar''' is a capital Colonial warship that combines the functions of aircraft carrier and battleship. The first twelve battlestars were laid down in the early days of the [[Cylon War]], each representing one of the [[Twelve Colonies]] ([[Miniseries]]). This article concerns that original, and unnamed, class.

Following the end of the war, the original battlestars remained in service, and many newer battlestars were built. At the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], the newer [[Mercury-class Battlestar|''Mercury''-class]] represented the top of the line.

The original battlestars were space-going leviathans of some 4,640ft (1,547m) in length, housing 80 [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] space superiority fighters arranged in 4 squadrons of 20 apiece, and several nuclear warheads. A fully-armed battlestar is capable of a wide range of offensive actions, while her defensive armaments ensure she is fully capable of both protecting herself from attack, and of engaging an enemy at close quarters.

==Layout==
The design common to ''Galactica'' and her sister ships can be broken down into two main sections: the main hull, and the twin flight pods.

=== Main Hull ===

This comprises the bulk of a battlestar, and can, itself, be divided into three sections:

The "alligator head" contains the primary living space for the crew, recreational facilities, mess halls, shipboard operations centres (such as the [[CIC]] and [[Situation Room]]){{ref|nosource}}; water storage tanks ([[Water]]).

The midships area contains the pod retraction mechanisms, crossways linking the hanger pods for the transfer of equipment and personnel, as well as all the necessary hoists for such transfers ([[Miniseries]]). Main munitions stores and distribution mechanisms to "local" munitions stores for main and secondary batteries; fabrication facilities; etc {{ref_label|nosource|1|a}}.

The stern section contains sublight engines, [[FTL]] drive coils, etc. Note that 4 of the sublight engines are mounted externally in engine pods, with 2 more mounted between the pods, in the stern of the battlestar's main hull.

=== Flight Pods ===
The flight pods are mounted on either side of the hull and contain a battlestar's offensive [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] force. During normal operations, they are extended away from the main hull. During FTL jumps, the pods are retracted against the hull. Each pod comprises two main decks for flight operations: the upper landing bay, which extends the full length of the pod; and the lower launch bays, which provide some 40 launch tubes per pod.

The landing bay serves as a recovery area for incoming Vipers and [[Raptor]]s. Approaches are made from the stern. The preferred approach is a slow run into the landing bay, prior to making a vertical landing on a defined landing area. However, in emergencies, [[Combat Landing|combat landings]] can be made, in which a Viper or Raptor approaches at speed and makes a running landing on its undercarriage.

The forward end of the landing bay also serves as a launch area for Raptors and shuttles. The landing bay is large enough to accept a variety of other Colonial vessels, at least as large as "heavy" passenger ships such as ''[[Colonial Heavy 798]]''. Docking collars are located throughout the upper sections of the landing bay in order to provide a pressurized connection between a docked vessel and the battlestar. The Flight Pods also have docking ports to dock with larger ships or stations.

The [[Hangar Deck|hangar deck]] within the flight pod are used as general dispersal areas for Vipers. The hangar deck is used for maintenance & repair of Vipers / Raptors, refueling, re-arming and launch operations. A hangar deck runs the length of the flight pod, but can be divided and sealed off into five sections for damage control purposes. Each hangar deck section has eight launch tubes, two launch control stations, and an elevator that leads to the landing bay above. Viper flight operations are overseen by a [[Landing Signal Officer]], with each launch supervisor being directly responsible for all launch operations for a group of four launch tubes{{ref_label|nosource|1|b}}.

==Specifications==

===Dimensions===
Hull:
* Length: 4,640ft (1.414m)
* Beam: 1,820ft (555m) (flight pod to flight pod - extended)
* Draft: 580ft (177m) (source: [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/ships/ships/ SciFi.com])

Flight Pods:
* Length (approx): 2,019ft (615m)
* Beam (approx): 360ft (110m)
* Draft (approx): 211ft (64m) {{ref|pods}}

[[Image:bsg-2-cvn.jpg|right|thumb|Battlestar / CVN comparison (credit: Zoic / VF)]]
''An appreciation of the size of an original battlestar can be gleaned from the following: A battlestar is over 4 times longer than a [[Wikipedia:USS Nimitz|''Nimitz'']]-class US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The flight pod of an original battlestar is almost twice the length of a ''Nimitz'' class carrier, is some 150ft (46m) wider and is approximately as tall as a ''Nimitz'' class carrier measured from the waterline to the top of the carrier's communications and [[Wikipedia:ELINT|ELINT]] tower. The beam of an original battlestar's "alligator head" is as broad as a ''Nimitz''-class carrier's flight deck is long. Each of the nacelles of an original battlestar's outer four sublight engines is large enough to house a ''Nimitz''-class carrier.''

===Propulsion===
[[Image:Sublight.jpg|thumb|right|''Galactica'' with all six sublight engines engaged ([[33]])]]
* 2 x FTL engines and drive coils{{ref|ftl}}
* 6 x sublight engines
** 2 x Hull-mounted
** 4 x outrigger engine pods
* 40 x maneuvering engines (10 clusters of 4 apiece){{ref|zoic}}.

Despite their massive size, battlestars are extremely maneuverable and can dock with space stations such as the [[Ragnar Anchorage]] depot. Battlestars are not designed for atmospheric flight, although their hulls can manage a tenuous upper atmospheric storm like that surrounding the gas giant [[Ragnar]] ([[Miniseries]]). A battlestar's [[FTL]] systems are capable of very accurate Jumps, able to place them precisely in synchronous orbit above any point on a planet ([[Miniseries]]) and of placing them in the midst of an asteroid field ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]) or dense fleet of ships ([[Scattered]]), without risk of a devastating impact. However, they are grossly inferior to [[Cylon]] systems in range ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).

===Endurance===
Battlestars are intended to operate for long periods without resupply. Their water purification capabilities alone are so efficient that, barring an emergency or unforeseen event, a battlestar can operate without re-tanking "for several years before replenishing" ([[Water]]). They also appear capable of undertaking large-scale repairs following battle damage ([[Miniseries]], [[Water]]), and may have small manufacturing/fabrication facilities on-board ([[Litmus]]). Vegetable stores and canned goods are kept in [[Wikipedia:Titanium|titanium]] lockers ([[Final Cut]]).

===Computer Systems===
The original battlestar vessels deliberately avoided the use of networked computer systems and wireless devices, as the [[Cylon]] enemy were adept at infiltrating and subverting such systems ([[Miniseries]]).

Although they do employ [[computers]] for such functions as [[FTL]] calculations, navigation, damage control and fire control ([[Scattered]]), these are not connected with each other. This design is intended to naturally quarantine individual systems in the event that one becomes compromised.

===Armament===
[[Image:Flakfield.jpg|thumb|right|Flak field from ''Galactica'''s large turrets ([[Scattered]])]]
[[Image:Bscap064.jpg|thumb|''Galactica'''s point defense turrets]]
*24 large gun turrets{{ref|flak}} (mounting 2 guns apiece)
These are mounted on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the main hull and the ventral surface of the bow. The two guns on each turret can fire high-explosive (anti-Baseship) and flak (anti-Raiders) rounds in tandem at a rate of 2.23 seconds per round.

*Numerous{{ref|small}} smaller turrets (mounting 2 guns apiece)
These are smaller two-gun turrets mounted on the flight pods and other surfaces. Each barrel fires explosive rounds in bursts, with a rate of fire of 200 rounds per turret per second (estimate based on one tracer per four rounds).

*Multiple nuclear warheads{{ref|nukes}}.

*Four squadrons of 20 "[[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]" air/space superiority fighters{{ref|vipers}}. Even the latest Mk. VII Vipers remain compatible with this class's launch and recovery facilities.

*Numerous{{ref|raptors}} "[[Raptor]]" reconnaissance vehicles.

 

===Crew===
''Galactica's'' crew complement prior to her scheduled decommissioning was approximately 2,800{{ref|crew}}. This figure may be higher for a fully staffed and operational battlestar.

===Life Support===
Approximately twelve oxygen recirculation units are mounted throughout the ship, which replenish oxygen as well as remove ("scrub") carbon dioxide from the air. These devices work continuously ([[Final Cut]]).

==Sources==
# {{note|nosource}}{{note_label|nosource|1|a}}{{note_label|nosource|1|b}} No source provided. Figures and comments which are unsourced are being considered for deletion, in compliance with the [[Battlestar Wiki:Citation Jihad|Citation Jihad]].
# {{note|pods}} Calculated based on elevations made available by Zoic.
# {{note|ftl}} '''Tigh:''' "Engineering/Combat. Please spin up FTL drives One and Two." ([[Miniseries]])
# {{note|zoic}} Originally sourced to [[Zoic]] without explanation.
# {{note|flak}} These have been referred to as railguns by some fan sources, but there is substantial evidence to the contrary. See [[Railgun]] for more.
# {{note|small}} Unsourced figures have ranged from 252 to 512. According to the BSG Magazine, the number is 504.
#{{note|nukes}} As of the episode "[[Bastille Day]]", ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' was equipped with five nuclear warheads. This may be lower than the typical number, since ''Galactica'' was in the process of being decommissioned and had already had most of its ammunition removed. If this is the case, we must conclude that ''Galactica'' was unable to reload its supply of nuclear arms at [[Ragnar Anchorage]] (a sensible proposition, given the ease with which purported arms smuggler [[Leoben Conoy]] was able to gain access to the facility).
# {{note|vipers}}After the destruction of 20 Vipers during the Cylon Attack, ''Galactica'' was still able to muster a 40-Viper strong defensive screen by combining their remaining squadron of Mk. VII vipers with a full squadron of Mk. II vipers from a museum exhibit in the starboard flight pod. This suggests that ''Galactica'', with a single operational flight pod, was fielding two squadrons from it, and that when fully operational it could have fielded an additional two squadrons from the starboard pod as well.
# {{note|raptors}}At the time of the Cylon Attack, ''Galactica'' was apparently equipped with at least eight. See [[Galactica (RDM)#endnote_raptors|Galactica Raptor tally]] for a running count.
# {{note|crew}} See [[Galactica (RDM)#endnote_originalcrew|Galactica crew count]].

[[Category:A to Z]] [[Category:Colonial Craft]][[Category:Colonial Military]] [[Category:RDM]] [[Category:Technology]] [[Category:Battlestars]]

User:Doafhat

2006-04-04T06:32:29Z

Doafhat:

{{Character Data|
|photo=[[Image:User_Doafhat.jpg|220px]]
|age=20
|colony=[[Wikipedia:Stillwater, OK|Stillwater, Oklahoma]]
|birthname=
|callsign=Television's Doafhat
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=One
|children=None
|marital status=Single
|role=[[Wikipedia:Oklahoma State University - Stillwater|OSU]] Basketball Camper
|rank=Commander
|actor=Himself
|cylon=
|name=Jordan H. Smith
}}

== Links ==
*[http://www.myspace.com/doafhat MySpace Profile]
*[http://okstate.facebook.com/profile.php?id=17103519 Facebook Profile]
*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/doafhat/ Flickr Photos]
*[http://www.last.fm/user/Doafhat/ Last.fm]

[[Category:Wikipedians]]

Battlestar Wiki talk:Requested Images

2006-04-03T22:47:17Z

Doafhat:

==Bit of a Restructure?==

I was thinking... Should we move the requested Character images here, rather than over at [[Battlestar Wiki:Character]]? I initially thought not, but I'm second-guessing myself, now. It seems like this is a better place for it. We can cross-link, of course, but I'm beginning to think it should be the opposite of what's now true (which I implemented). Anyway... Thoughts? --[[User:Day|Day]] 01:10, 8 February 2006 (EST)

==Methods to the Madness==

A [[User talk:Day#VLC Question|couple]] of [[User talk:DrBat#Question for you...|times]] image-capture method discussions have cropped up. I thought this would be a wonderful, centrally located place to bring this up again. I use VLC (Video Lan Client) mostly because it has a built-in screen-cap function that isn't foiled by a DVD's copy-protection or whatever it is that keep the Windows "Print Screen" button from working right (I can explain that better if anyone wants details). However, VLC has the draw-back of having pretty bad timing functions (the minimum skip is, I think, 10 seconds and the pause is a bit delayed, so it's hard to get it to stop right when you want it to). I'd be interested in what other users who post screen shots use.

Additionally, I'd be interested in what media people capture from. However, this might be a stickey topic. Before an episode is available on DVD, the easiest (as far as I know) way to acquire a digital copy of it is via illegal download. If this is something that should ''not'' be discussed on the Wiki (so that there is no way at all to construe the facts as Joe or the Wiki condoning such things), then someone chime in and say so soon, please. --[[User:Day|Day]] 01:10, 8 February 2006 (EST)

:As far as digital copies, aren't the episode available for $1.99 from the iEmpire (iTunes)? I've not played with that, so I can't testify about its quality. Also, VLC does have a 3 second skip (the default shortcut is the shift button, with arrow key to indicate forward or backward). There are a few TOS episodes that I've only seen in 3 second intervals as I was hunting screenshots. As for the Windows Print Screen failing... it isn't always sophisticated DRM that's the problem. [http://labnol.blogspot.com/2005/11/capture-still-images-from-windows.html This article] talks about some possible fixes that will allow print screen to work. Basically it has to do with hardware acceleration and where in memory Windows grabs to get screenshots.

:I still haven't found a good alternative to VLC. Those solutions that had frame by frame capability capture to the clipboard, and I much prefer dumping the screenshot to a file like VLC does it. --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 09:06, 8 February 2006 (EST)

:While we don't have it written down anywhere, we don't condone unpaid downloading of episodes. (Primarily because it is legally dubious. Technically, you could download an episode from the internet as so long as you already recorded it on VHS, for instance.) Realistically speaking, many fans have gotten episodes via this route, particularly when the series first aired in the U.K. on Sky One.
:Anyway, for screen captures, I used Xine on Linux and DVDCapture on my Powerbook G4. (DVD Capture integrates into the default DVD player, so its only a capture tool and not a combo player w/capture tool.-- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] 11:00, 8 February 2006 (EST)

:Quick technical note; the Windows print-screen button doesn't work not because of copy-protection, but rather because movie players use a video overlay if your video card supports it. They do this for performance reasons as most video cards support YUV conversation and smooth hardware scaling, making playback less taxing on the CPU. Since the video is being overlaid by the card right before it gets sent to the monitor, it's not in the framebuffer (just a blue or black square) and so that's what the print screen button grabs. If you want to use a different media player and print screen, what may work is going to the properties of your video card and turning the hardware acceleration all the way down. --[[User:Zeratul|Zeratul]] 15:41, 8 February 2006 (EST)

::In Windows, at least (I'm a Mac guy, primarily), you ''can'' use ALT-PrintScreen for screen captures from episodes downloaded from iTunes, since the playback doesn't involve the DVD playback layer (both Mac OS and Windows attempt to prevent you from screencaps in this manner). You have to somehow move the image (stored in the cut-paste clipboard) to an actual image file, but it works (see the new article, [[Stallion]]). I had to paste the copy into Microsoft Word and then save it as a Web page, which created the pictures as JPEGs that I could rename and use here. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 15:56, 8 February 2006 (EST)

::: My Mac was much easier to deal with regarding screen captures. However, the desk it is on sucks to sit at, and The GIMP doesn't run as smoothly on that one, so... There's that. I'd also love to know if someone knows how to get a higher rez grabs from a DVD. THey always end up being, like, 820px wide or something. --[[User:Day|Day]] 23:28, 8 February 2006 (EST)

==Six's Spine==
Six's glowey-spine bit from miniseries now uploaded as [[:Image:6spine-ms.jpg|6spine-ms.jpg]].

Do with it what you will

[[User:Durandal|Durandal]] 13:59, 8 January 2006 (EST)

==Thrace's Surgical Debut==

Good luck on this one. I of course could be wrong, but from what I can tell, that impression the viewer gets of Starbuck hacking the Raider's brains out is a product of the magic of modern cinematography and editing. The one shot I did find shows nothing but two gloved hands (one holding a blurred blade) hovering above an indistinct pink and red blob.
As far as the tighter headshots of the known Humano-Cylons, I could... well.. if ya want I can take what we've got into Photoshop, do my voodoo, and re-upload. Is that what you really want? --[[User:Watcher|Watcher]] 14:31, 8 January 2006 (EST)

:Nah, I'll take care of it. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 14:39, 8 January 2006 (EST)

==Nympho==
I just uploaded a photo of Hot Dog reading Nympho. It's under Hot_Dog_reading_Nympho.jpg .--Ltcrashdown 23:38, 5 February 2006 (EST)

== Kara vs the raider ==

The pic to the [[Cylon Models]] article, for the cylon spacecraft kara's cutting through is [[:Image:SCinside.jpg|SCinside.jpg]]. I added the thumb to the article, hope you dont mind.
best wishes. dancing_salad 19:41, 21 February 2006 (EST)

:Not at all. Thanks for taking the initiative. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 19:47, 21 February 2006 (EST)

== Cylon Models and uniform ==

i think are already done. just erased it.--[[User:Dancing_salad|Dancing salad]] 12:16, 26 February 2006 (EST)

== The Twelve Colonies seal ==

I have just uploaded a PNG of the Colonial seal. It is available at [[:Image:Colonial_seal.png|Colonial_seal.png]] --[[User:Doafhat|Doafhat]] 18:49, 3 April 2006 (EST)

Computers in the Re-imagined Series

2006-04-03T08:25:41Z

Doafhat: /* Colonial Avionics */ Corrected spelling errors

Technologies such as '''computers''' have been mostly bane and less of a blessing to the Colonials of the [[Twelve Colonies]], despite the obvious conveniences that technology brings. It was computer technology that led to the creation of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] for household to warfare use. These intelligent machines rebelled. To counter their creation's ability to hack into computers, the Colonial defenses, particularly the [[Original battlestar (RDM)|first battlestars]], used computers but did not network them to all but eliminate Cylon infiltration.

Over 40 years after that first [[Cylon War]] and with the Cylons apparently long gone, the Colonials slowly returned to technological conveniences. When the Cylons began planning a second war against the Colonials, they chose to infiltrate the Colonial military through yet another program installed throughout fighters and battlestars that was designed to add more convenience: the [[Command Navigation Program]]. This program, thanks to [[Cylon agent|Cylon agents disguised as humans]] who infiltrated Colonial life and sought out people who had [[Gaius Baltar|access to Colonial computer defense technologies]], contained a "[[backdoor]]" that allowed the Cylon forces to damage or disable any Colonial vessel with this program. Only non-networked ships or those with comparatively primitive computers were immune to the new Cylon menace.

==Colonial Fleet Computers==

'''[[Colonial Defense Mainframe]]'''

:Not much is known of this system other than its existence and the roles they played in the destruction of the Twelve Colonies. This central computer housed key Colonial Fleet logistical information, such as fleet deployment, and was the central system used by [[Gaius Baltar]] to create and distribute the [[Command Navigation Program]] to all advanced ships and fighters in the Colonial Fleet ([[Miniseries]]). It was located within the Ministry of Defense on Caprica ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]), since [[Number Six]] produced credible-looking footage showing Baltar attaching a bomb to it.

'''[[War College|War College Simulator]]'''

:[[Lee Adama]] performed simulations of Cylon attacks in War College to test Colonial defense tactics. One such defense involves the use of [[EMP]] devices to fool Cylon forces into believing a nuclear device detonated where no explosion took place. Adama successfully used the electric pulse generators that were offloaded onto ''[[Colonial Heavy 798]]'' from ''Galactica'' to successfully fool two Cylon Raiders that their nuclear missile attack on ''Colonial Heavy 798'' was successful, while also disabling the warheads of the missiles aimed at the [[Intersun|starliner]]. Adama was amused that this trick actually worked in reality, for in the War College simulations the Cylons were not fooled and destroyed the Colonial targets anyway ([[Miniseries]]).

'''Viper Flight Simulators'''

:Battlestar ''Galactica'' had lost many pilots to Cylon attack or accident since their exodus from the Colonies. Lieutenant [[Kara Thrace]] was ordered to become flight instructor to train [[nuggets]] as new pilots. Normally, pilots are trained on simulators, presumably on one of the Colonies or a more advanced battlestar, which used complex computers to immerse a trainee into the feel of Viper combat. Unfortunately, ''Galactica'' did not have simulators onboard, so Thrace taught the new pilots using actual Vipers ([[Act of Contrition]]). Months later, the [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' joined the Fleet. The modern resources of this battlestar included flight simulators onboard. Rookie pilots [[Brent Baxton|BB]] and [[Joseph Clark|Jo-Jo]] arrived on ''Galactica'' to begin their tour after training on ''Pegasus'' ([[Scar]]).

==Battlestar Computers==

An original battlestar such as ''[[Galactica]]'' has several computers dedicated to many critical ship functions. Several specific computers have been mentioned in the [[Miniseries]] and [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|regular series]]. This list is not inclusive; an [[Original battlestar (RDM)|original battlestar]] like ''Galactica'' is still a very complex spacecraft. Advanced battlestars such as ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', with its networked computers, may have more or fewer computers or distributed functionality. It is likely that ''Pegasus'' is not as strongly networked as before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] to create a similar defense against Cylon incursion.

Although the battlestar normally does not have a central computer network in place, ''Galactica'' does possess a [[Wikipedia:Default gateway|gateway]], which, in ''Galactica's'' case, is likely managed within the Mainframe itself and not as a larger network topology. The Mainframe's normally-isolated gateway can be linked to the other computers (as Gaeta does in "[[Scattered]]").

===Navigation Computer===
Also known as the "Nav" computer. Manages spatial coordinates of the battlestar, handles [[Sublight Propulsion|sublight]] travel and [[RCS]] translations. It is very likely that [[DRADIS]] sensor information is obtained and managed by the Navigation Computer and passed on to the [[Tactical Officer]] and the [[Command & Control Center]] in the [[CIC]].

===FTL Computer===
The FTL computer manages the complex calculations necessary for an [[FTL]] Jump. Information for these Jumps on a more [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] such as ''Pegasus'' are probably transmitted from the Navigation Computer by the battlestar's network.

On ''Galactica'', however, the FTL computer receives the spatial coordinates manually from Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] or Petty Officer [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]]. The FTL Computer also manages the star fixes of the Jump coordinates to compensate for inertial drift that naturally occurs over time. The [[Tactical Officer]] generates a series of emergency Jump coordinates for the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] with the FTL computer. This information is relayed by the Tactical Officer to other ships regularly. It is likely that the [[flight pod]]s are also controlled through the FTL computer as they must be retracted prior to a Jump.{{ref|scattered1}}

===DC Computer===
[[Image:PegasusDamageDisplay2.jpg|thumb|Damage Control display of a [[Mercury class battlestar]] ([[The Captain's Hand]])]]
The Damage Control computer relays information to the CIC on malfunctioning or damaged areas of the battlestar, presumably from various sensors or devices throughout the ship. The DC computer also has access to radiation sensors in the event of nuclear attack to warn against dangerous radiation levels that could harm the crew.{{ref|mini2}}

===Fire Control Computer===
The Fire Control computer manages a battlestar's primary offensive weapons, the central flak turret and smaller port and starboard turrets along the length of each side of the ship. It is presumed that the Fire Control computers report to crewmembers responsible for the upkeep of ammunition on the guns when to reload an particular turret. The Fire Control computer can target individual bogeys with the flak turret guns, which, in tandem with the smaller turrets, make even ''Galactica'', an [[Original battlestar (RDM)|old original battlestar]] from the first [[Cylon War]], a formidable foe to encounter.{{ref|mini3}}

===Mainframe Computer===
This computer likely manages secondary functions of the ship, such as communications. The mainframe likely provides extra calculating power for other ship tasks when required, and may also serve as the ship's library for tactical information.{{ref|phoenix}} Of all the computers on ''Galactica'', this computer is likely very resistant by design to infiltration since it controls communication traffic (and thus is accessible to Cylon external intrusion by [[wireless]]). The mainframe likely possesses a basic gateway, but, per ''Galactica's'' no-networks edict, it is typically unused.

==Avionics==

:''The computer systems found on fighters and support aircraft of a capital ship are generally described by the term ''[[Wikipedia:Avionics|avionics]]'' (AVIation electrONICS). In the world of ''Battlestar Galactica'', aircraft terminology is intermixed with spacecraft terminology--note the use of "[[CAG]]" and Commander Adama's use of the word "planes" to Chief [[Galen Tyrol]] to describe the Viper space fighter ([[Litmus]]). Since the term "avionics" was used in the episode "[[Flesh and Bone]]", despite its aeronautical connotation, it will be used here.''

===Colonial Avionics===

The '''avionics''' found on [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s and [[Raptor]]s likely include these components, which vary in availability or degrees of complexity depending on the craft's age or purpose.

[[Image:ViperMk2Avionics.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Viper Mk. II cockpit avionics, resistant to Cylon infiltration. (Credit: Sci-Fi Channel)]]

* A non-directional medium-range [[wireless]] communications for ship-to-ship and ship-to-planet contact
* [[DRADIS]] hardware for enemy targeting, squadron formation flight maneuvers, and the like
* A Colonial transponder for [[IFF]] "friend of foe" identification
* Stellar positioning system for proper [[Sublight Propulsion|sublight]] or [[FTL]] positioning
* Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), an automatic ("hands-off") landing system guidance package

[[Image:ViperMk7Avionics.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Viper Mk. VII cockpit avionics, vulnerable if the [[CNP]] is installed. (Credit: Sci-Fi Channel)]]

In the case of modern (pre-[[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|holocaust]]) spacecraft, many of these systems were likely tied into (either as a software or firmware component) of the tainted [[Command Navigation Program]]. Evidence for this is strong as viewers watched [[Jackson Spencer]]'s Mark VII Viper lose power, communications, flight control, DRADIS, and apparently ejection control after Cylon fighters "rooted", or counter-commanded his Viper to shut down, thanks to the backdoors installed in these modern avionics packages ([[Miniseries]]).

Older Vipers, like the Mark II, used more primitive avionics with far less dependence on computer programming. Designed for the First Cylon War to engage an enemy that commonly used computer infiltration as an attack, older Colonial spacecraft likely did not possess conveniences that modern Vipers and their pilots took for granted, such as auto-landing systems.

Larger craft such as Raptors could manage [[FTL|Jumps]] and so came equipped with more advanced avionics to handle FTL travel.

''Galactica'' prohibits auto-landings, so all pilots perform [[Hands-on Approach|manual approach and landings]] in [[Combat Landing|non-combat modes]]. No information has been given in the series if Mark II Vipers are capable of auto-landings in the manner that Mark VII's demonstrated ([[Miniseries]]).

===Cylon Avionics===

Little has been revealed of the history or configuration of modern Cylon computers or avionics on their [[Heavy Raider]] or [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]], but a few scraps of information have been revealed about the Cylon Raider, the primary fighter-interceptor for the Cylon fleet.

[[Cylon Raiders]] contain some level of avionics that co-exist amidst the biological components that form the "pilot" within the fuselage of the fighter. Kara Thrace identified the mechanical linkage within the craft, and [[Galen Tyrol]]'s team had identified the fire control, navigation, and FTL drive components in addition to an actual avionics package ([[Flesh and Bone]]). ''Galactica'' flight crews later rigged a flight control console that mated with the avionics for human readability.

The Cylons moved to biomechanical pilots rather than using Centurions or other robotic pilot for three probable reasons:

# The Cylon's monothesistic belief in [[God]] and their belief in procreation (machines cannot procreate, but living organisms can) suggest that they believe a biological pilot would be more effective. A Raider pilot is programmed with a basic personality akin to a predatory animal. Unlike the logic of a Centurion, a Raider pilot is capable of improvements in its programming--it can learn and anticipate changes in battle ("[[Six Degrees of Separation]]," "[[Scar]]").
# In battle, Colonial forces may attempt electronic countermeasures that could affect the performance or operation of a fully-mechanical Cylon Raider or a craft piloted by autonomous [[Cylon Centurion]]s. As the Colonials moved to simplier technologies to combat Cylon ECM, so did the Cylons--like a human Viper pilot, the modern Raider with its biologics cannot be easily disabled by ECM.
# A Raider's personality, like a [[Cylon agent]], is downloadable and transferable should the fighter be destroyed. This provides the Cylons a dramatic tactical advantage over the Colonials since the knowledge of a Raider isn't lost on death, allowing it to improve its fighting as well as allowing risker tactics (such as ramming) without permanent loss of self, provided a [[Resurrection Ship]] or the [[Cylon homeworld]] is sufficiently close ([[Scar]]).

Cylon spacecraft avionics, however, can be affected by computer infiltration with the right methods. The cooperative Cylon infiltrator copy of [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]] used herself as a [[backdoor]] to send a version of a Cylon virus to shut down power to a massive Cylon fleet en route to attack ''Galactica'' ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]). It was not shown whether the biologics of the Cylon Raiders were affected by this unexpected infiltration from Valerii.

==Computer History==
Partially to tradition from the Cylon War, and partially to his own experience in the Cylon War, Commander [[William Adama]] maintains the order that no computers on ''Galactica'' may be networked at any time. This order surely saves ''Galactica'' and her crew when the [[Cylon Attack]] occurrs. Although ''Galactica'' receives the tainted [[Command Navigation Program]] from [[Fleet Headquarters]] as did other Colonial units, ''Galactica'' cannot use it as the CNP requires a computer network; in fact, the CNP is never loaded into a computer at all{{ref|mini4}}. While Cylon electronic attacks disabled entire Viper squadrons and damaged or crippled battlestars during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], ''Galactica'' remains up and running. However, since her munitions were previously destroyed as part of her expected decommissioning, the battlestar is initially defenseless in the opening wave of the attack, calling on her Navigation computer to perform evasive manueuvers in the first attack ([[Miniseries]]).

The evasive actions are not successful. ''Galactica'' suffers a kiloton nuclear missile strike on her forward port [[flight pod]]. The Damage Control computer determines the extent of fires and other damage, but luckily reports that very little radiation was seeping through, thanks to ''Galactica's'' thick outer hull{{ref|mini2}}. The Damage Control computer likely provides damage information to damage control crews in coordination or by instruction of [[CIC]] as many crewmembers don fire gear to battle the blazes. However, the blazes were too intense, worsened by damage to water mains normally used for damage control, and threaten to ignite the ship's fuel lines. Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] activates the vents throughout the port flight pod from the CIC's damage control console, releasing its atmosphere into space to extinguish the fires. Sadly, this action also causes the deaths of 85 crewmembers.

With no munitions, ''Galactica's'' Tactical Officer plots a Jump through the FTL computer to [[Ragnar Anchorage]], a Colonial munitions dump situated just inside the upper atmosphere of a large gas giant. Despite the ship not performing a Jump of any significance in 20 years{{ref|jumpage}}, the Jump is successful, and ''Galactica'' offloads a large cache of ordinance from the station.

''Galactica'' is surrounded by at least two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]]s and hundreds of [[Cylon Raider]]s at Ragnar. Fortunately, the electromagnetic storm covering the station, ''Galactica'', and a civilian fleet of 50,000 survivors from the Colonies prevent the basestars from making a direct attack. Now armed, ''Galactica'' leads her new [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] out of the storm, using herself as a shield while the civilian ships Jump to escape the attack. The Fire Control computer and the remaining primary computers come into play at once to coordinate damage control, calculate best attack vectors, target bogeys, and plot Jumps for all civilians and the battlestar itself.

Despite the no-networking order, ''Galactica'' finds herself in a situation where the FTL, Nav, DC, and Fire Control computers{{ref|scattered2}} must be networked to greatly accelerate the needed calculations to find the civilian Fleet, which Jump to a different emergency set of coordinates than the battlestar ([[Scattered]]). Without the network, ''Galactica'' would take 12 ''hours'' to calculate the proper coordinates--and the basestar in orbit around [[Kobol]] would certainly destroy them before the calculations were complete. With the inprovised network, only 10 minutes are needed for the calculations.
[[Image:Firewallbreech.jpg|right|200px]]
Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] creates software [[Wikipedia:Firewall|firewalls]] between the series of computers to resist an expected Cylon virus incursion. While the calculations were successful, the last firewall was breeched by a virus attack at the exact moment that Gaeta disconnects the network ([[Valley of Darkness]]). Shortly after, the virus shuts down many systems throughout the ship, but is fortunately stopped and removed--or so the crew believes.

Weeks later, the Cylon virus reappears in the form of a [[Logic bomb]] that had taken time to test and learn the ship's weaknesses ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]). When the next Cylon attack occurrs, the Logic bomb would take over all ship computers and could vent the battlestar's atmosphere to kill the crew, or direct and fire the battlestar's guns at the civilian fleet. Unfortunately, cleaning the computers require a more direct approach in the form of erasing the hard drives of each of the computers, later restoring them with backups made prior to the war. This time-consuming action will leave ''Galactica'' a sitting duck for several minutes--time enough for the Cylon force to destroy the Fleet.

Commander Adama decides to fight one Cylon attacker with another in the form of the cooperative Caprica copy of the Cylon infiltrator [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]]. While Sharon appears wholly human, her cells were apparently light-reactive; she cut her forearm and stuck a fiber-optic cable into it, allowing her Cylon-designed brain to access the ship's communication channels and access the processing power (and the Cylon code inside of) ''Galactica's'' mainframe computer{{ref|phoenix}}. As ''Galactica'' erases her computer hard drives, Valerii modifies the Cylon logic bomb/virus code within herself, releasing it in a broadcast to the hundreds of Cylon fighters ready to overwhelm ''Galactica''. The broadcast contains a version of the Cylon virus which disables all the enemy's fighters, leaving ''Galactica's'' [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s to [[Great Cylon Turkey Shoot|destroy them with ease]].

==Sources==
*{{note|scattered1}} One of Gaeta's responsibilities is to monitor DRADIS contacts. To navigate, a battlestar must use some way to determine its location relative to other objects, so the Navigation and DRADIS connection must exist.
*{{note|scattered2}} [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]]: "...But we network the FTL computer with the Nav, DC, and Fire Control computers. Once they're linked, we'll only need ten minutes to complete the calculations." ([[Scattered]])
*{{note|mini1}}While Colonel Tigh was on a handset ordering the retraction of the pods as the battlestar began its escape from Ragnar Anchorage, many events within the ship must be coordinated (bulkheads closing, motors for the pod movement activated, etc.) While there was likely a person in CIC or elsewhere that flips a switch or types in a computer command, there must still be a computer used to coordinate these events as they are too many to manage in a limited amount of time ([[Miniseries]]).
*{{note|mini2}}[[William Adama]]: "Radiation levels within norms -- the hull plating kept out most of the hard stuff." ([[Miniseries]])
*{{note|mini3}}''Galactica's'' flak turret guns are seen directly targeting specific missiles during the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]] ([[Miniseries]]).
*{{note|phoenix}}[[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]]: "Mr. Gaeta, can you set me up with a fiber-optic com link? I need broadcast to all frequencies and direct link to the mainframe." ([[Flight of the Phoenix]])
*{{note|jumpage}}[[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]] tries to discourage Adama from a Jump, stating that ''Galactica'' had not made a Jump in over 20 years ([[Miniseries]]).
*{{note|mini4}} [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]]: "Well, you can see we do have [[Gaius Baltar|your]] [[CNP]] navigation program here on ''Galactica'', but it's never been loaded into primary memory or even test run." ([[Miniseries]])

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

User:Doafhat

2006-04-03T08:22:42Z

Doafhat:

{{Character Data|
|photo=
|age=20
|colony=Stillwater, OK
|birthname=Jordan H. Smith
|callsign=Television's Doafhat
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=1
|children=None
|marital status=Single
|role=Atomic Monster
|rank=
|actor=Himself
|cylon=
|name=
}}

== Links ==
*[http://www.myspace.com/doafhat MySpace Profile]
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[[Category:Wikipedians]]

DRADIS

2006-04-03T08:11:37Z

Doafhat: Corrected spelling & grammatical errors

{{Wrongtitle|title=DRADIS}}

[[Image:Dradisscreen.jpg|thumb|A typical DRADIS read-out]]
DRADIS (Direction, RAnge, and DIStance) is a detection, identification and tracking system, somewhat similar to [[Wikipedia:Radar|radar]], used aboard [[Colonial Fleet]] spacecraft. DRADIS is occasionally referred to as "Radar", possibly as a slang or archaic term (or as a continuity error) ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]){{ref|radar}}

DRADIS can be used in stationary configurations as well on ships. A group of [[Centurion]]s were able to jury-rig a DRADIS assembly from their [[Heavy Raider]] into a stationary DRADIS tracking array in an attempt to shoot down a [[SAR]] mission from ''[[Galactica]]'' ([[Fragged]]).

Carbon composites are largely invisible to DRADIS scans ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

A ''DRADIS contact'' is an object or objects detected by the DRADIS sensor system. Contacts are typically identified by cross-referencing with an [[IFF]] system (in the case of ships) or an astronomical database (in the instance of planets or other celestial bodies).

The symbols used on Colonial DRADIS displays for the representation of [[battlestar (RDM)|battlestars]], [[Raptor|Raptors]], and [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]] are visible in the picture to the right.
[[Image:Dradissymbol pegasus.JPG|thumb|DRADIS symbology for various Colonial Fleet units ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]])]]

DRADIS is likely a central component of the [[Computers|Navigation computer]] on ''Galactica''.

== Notes ==

"DRADIS" is an unfortunate acronym, since "range" and "distance" are redundant with each other.

The "Direction, RAnge, and DIStance" breakdown of the acronym "DRADIS" was listed in an [http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/battlestar/season1/galactica-ms1.pdf early manuscript] (PDF) of the first half of the [[Miniseries]]. Since some major elements of this script were changed (such as Kobol being the sole home of the Colonies, and not separate worlds) in comparison to the completed teleplay, canonical use of this breakdown should be taken with some skepticism.

However, there still is some evidence to suggest that the original breakdown is the canon version. In "Kobol's Last Gleaming Pt. 1" Crashdown performs a DRADIS sweep of Kobol. That aerial survey is then presented to the President. For a brief moment as she is just taking the survey image out of Billy's hand you can see the DRADIS information printed on the image. The letters on the image are clear and are as follows:

Aerial Survey
D. 41376
Ra. 145.8
Dis. 43.5

The numbers may not be accurate or complete as we cannot see much further to the right of the image. However, given that the letters do represent numerical values, most fan-suggested alternatives for the breakdown of DRADIS would seem to be unlikely. While this is not conclusive evidence, it is consistent with the orignal manuscript definition.

The [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] counterpart to DRADIS was simply referred to as the [[Scanner]].

== See Also ==

* [[Dradis Console]]

==Footnotes==
# {{note|radar}}: '''Starbuck:''' "The decoy ships will jump into the enemy star system at extreme radar range from the Cylon asteroid." [[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]], 11:53. (Some believe Starbuck said "''Raider'' range", from the Cylon base)

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

Viper (TRS)

2006-04-03T07:07:26Z

Doafhat: /* Layout */ corrected spelling errors

:''This article discusses the two Viper-class fighters seen in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. For information on the Viper used in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] and in [[Galactica 1980]], see [[Viper (TOS)]] or [[Viper (1980)]] .''

[[Image:Bsg-viper-1.jpg|thumb|Viper Mk. II (credit: Gabriel C. Koerner)]]
[[Image:BSG-Mark-VII.jpg|thumb|Viper Mk. VII (credit: Zoic Studios)]]

The '''Viper''' is the [[Colonial Fleet]]'s primary space superiority fighter / attack craft. Capable of atmospheric flight, the Viper is a single-seat craft mounting two kinetic energy weapons ([[KEW]]s), as well as having hardpoints beneath the wings for mounting missiles, munitions pods and other ordnance ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).

The Viper was originally introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the [[Cylon War]]. However, it was the Mark II variant, designed specifically for use with the new Colonial [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestars]] that is best remembered.

The Mark II served with distinction throughout the Cylon War, proving a capable fighting vehicle that won reknown across the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]] and is regarded as one of the reasons the Colonials did not suffer defeat at the hands of the Cylons.

The Mark II remained in service after the end of the war, but was subsequently superceded by newer models. At the time of the renewed Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies, the Mark VII was the front-line variant of the Viper design, retaining the Mark II general layout but using fully networked systems providing superior battle management and fight information for the pilot.

Ironically, it was the incorporation of the new integrated systems that prevented the majority of Mark VII's from being effective during the Cylon attack: as with the majority of Colonial Fleet, the Mark VII suffer fatal computer system failures on contact with Cylon forces. Thanks to a [[Number Six|Cylon agent's]] relationship with Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]], scientist and programmer of the navigation software project, the [[CNP|navigational software]] in use onboard the majority of Colonial Fleet vessels contained backdoors that allow the Cylons to infiltrate a vessel's network by [[wireless]] signals and disable its power systems. While the problem could be overcome by removing the navigational upgrade compromised by the Cylons, this information is not discovered in time to be of major benefit to the surprised and hard-pressed Colonial forces.

== Atmospheric Operations ==
The Viper is designed for atmospheric as well as space-based operations. However, Vipers consume more fuel during atmospheric operations than in the vacuum of space: once in an atmosphere, the engines must run continuously to retain airflow over the wing lifting surfaces. Depending on the composition of the atmosphere itself, this can place severe strain on the Viper's engines ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]).

Due to their wing configuration, Vipers may also suffer from poor handling at low speeds within an atmosphere.

== Life Support ==
Viper cockpits are pressurised and heated, but they are flown with the pilot wearing a [[flight suit]] that is capable of providing full life support should ejection be required ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]). The life support systems are built-in to the back of the pilot's seat itself, together with the flight harness. Following an ejection, the back of the seat separates automatically, effectively becoming a backpack for the pilot ([[Act of Contrition]]).

Should ejection take place within an atmosphere, the life support backpack / seat back also incorporates a parachute.

== Technical Specifications ==

=== Dimensions ===
Mark II
*Length: 8.4082 m
*Wingspan: 4.7168 m
*Height: 2.7247 m (in flight, without landing gear. Landing gear adds approximately 0.5m.)

Mark VII
*Length: 9.8643 m
*Wingspan: 5.61 m
*Height: 2.9508 m (in flight, without landing gear.){{ref|companion}}

=== Propulsion ===
*Mark II: 1x Voram VM2-D15 upper turbothrust engine, 2x Voram VM3-D22 turbothrust engines; 2x reverse thrust motors; [[RCS]] points
*Mark VII: 3x turbothrust engines mounted aft; [[RCS]] points; angular exhaust nozzle design suggest possible thrust-vectoring.

=== Armaments ===
*Mark II: 2x MEC-A6 30mm Thraxon forward-firing kinetic energy weapons ([[KEW]]) mounted in the wing roots with 800 round magazine; dorsal storage bay for 8x HD-70 Lightning Javelin missiles (optional 50 megaton nuclear warhead){{ref|armaments}}
*Mark VII: 3x forward-firing kinetic energy weapons (KEW); 2 mounted towards the outboard sections of the wings; 1 mounted in the vertical stabiliser
*Both: Weapon hardpoints for mounting missiles / munitions pods, etc. under the wings; compatible gun ammunition, although Mk VII seems to have a higher rate of fire

=== Instruments ===
*Mark II: [[Radio Magnetic Indicator]]
*Mark II: [[Torque Percent Gauge]]
*Mark II: [[Attitude Indicator]]
*Mark II: [[Altimeter]]
*Mark II and VII: [[Computers#Colonial Avionics|Cockpit Avionics]]

=== Crew ===
*Pilot in Terrell ES 24C ejection seat. {{ref_label|companion|2|a}}

=== Performance ===

*Mark II: Can rotate 180 degrees vertically in .35 seconds

== Notes ==
Since ''Galactica'' only had 40 Viper Mark II's aboard, they needed as many fighters as possible, thus the remaining Mark VII's were refitted and stripped of their advanced computer systems. However, since this is not how the Mark VII was designed, it makes the craft increasingly difficult to handle and can only be flown by the most experienced pilots such as [[Lee Adama|Apollo]] and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]]. ''Galactica'' has roughly 6-8 Mark VII's on board after the Cylon attack ("[[Scattered]]", "Flight of the Phoenix"). (source: [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/ships/ships/|official Scifi.com series website])

== Layout ==
[[Image:Bsg-viper-2.jpg|thumb|right|Viper Mk. II (credit: Gabriel C. Koerner)]]
The Viper is a long, sleek vehicle that can be split into two parts, fore and aft.

*Fore section: comprises the nose back to the cockpit. This contains the forward RCS systems for maneuvering the craft; the forward landing gear; the main [[avionics]] and sensor packages, plus the single-seat cockpit itself
*Stern section: comprises the main engines, fuel tanks, wings and vertial stabiliser. The wings themselves contain the kinetic energy weapons ("guns") and their munitions storage and feeds. Hardpoints beneath the wings allow missiles, munitions pods and other items to be rack-mounted ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]). The wings roots contain the main landing gear. This section of a Viper also contains a number of RCS maneuvering packs.

The stern section of a Viper is distinctive because of the offset "intakes" mounted just behind the cockpit. The port / starboard "intake" nacelles incorporate small but powerful reverse thrust engines that can quickly counter a Viper's forward momentum in an emergency ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).

== Sources ==
#{{note|dimensions}}Dimensions provided by [http://www.leestringer.com/ Lee Stringer], one of the VFX Animators of the Mini-Series. These are for the CGI models, which are based on but not identical to the the fullsize props. Source: [http://www.starshipbuilder.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000012.html Starshipbuilder.com forums]
#{{note|companion}}{{note_label|companion|2|a}}Armaments listings and Ejector seat details from David Bassom's Battlestar Galactica Official Companion.

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[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft]]
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