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Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series

2007-05-18T14:02:06Z

Drow:

{{NPOV|Accuracy of article is disputed, notably for the background theories.}}

:''For information on the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series']] modes of propulsion, see [[Propulsion (TOS)]].''

{{RDM science series}}
In the [[Re-imagined Series]], propulsion is managed with the fuel [[tylium]]. Ships can travel at [[Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series#Sublight propulsion|'''sublight speeds''']], or, when trying to escape (or chase) other vessels, they can employ apparent '''faster-than-light''' (or '''"FTL"''') engines.

[[Image:FTL1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|FTL jump]]
==Faster than Light Travel==

''FTL'' is a acronym for '''F'''aster-'''T'''han-'''L'''ight. The term refers to a means of interstellar propulsion utilized by the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] and the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonials]]. A common shorthand term for FTL travel is '''"jumping"'''.

The FTL drive makes interstellar travel possible for both the Colonials and [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]. No longer confined to their own home solar system, the Cylons managed to avoid Colonial interference for 40 years after the [[Cylon War]] and establish their own home-world. However, not all ships — from small to large — are outfitted with these drives ([[Miniseries]]).

It is likely that FTL drives are not commonplace on many civilian ships because of the costs involved in using and maintaining the drive and the amount of [[tylium|fuel]] available. For some civilian ships that travel comparatively short distances between some destinations, such as the ill-fated [[Botanical Cruiser]], FTL may simply be impractical or unnecessary.

The technology behind FTL systems is such that, providing the relevant data is known, ships can jump with a high degree of accuracy, allowing ships to rendezvous in space and even "park" in a synchronous orbit directly above a given point on a planet's surface ([[Miniseries]]). Proper FTL use even enables vessels to arrive in crowded areas, such as the middle of an asteroid field or other ships, without the risk of collision and damage ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).

No specific information on the technology of an FTL drive has been given in the Miniseries or regular series. We know only that ''Galactica'' has two FTL drives<ref>Dialogue from Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] to Lt. [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] instructs the tactical officer to "spin up FTL drives 1 and 2" in the [[Miniseries]].</ref>, and that other smaller or civilian ships have a single drive. We also know from dialogue that the FTL drives on ''Galactica'' are "spun up", suggesting the application of electromagnetic or rotational principles. Similarly it may be just a turn of phrase.

FTL jump drives can be used ''within'' an atmosphere. This Colonial tactic is used often to evade Cylon detection. While [[Raptor]]s primarily perform these kind of jumps, Admiral [[William Adama]] performs a daring intra-atmosphere jump at approximately 100,000 feet altitude with ''[[Galactica]]'' during the [[Battle of New Caprica]] to evade immediate Cylon detection. The battlestar jumps back to space a few hundred feet above the planet's surface after its Viper deployment. When ''Galactica'' jumps, the clouds surrounding it and the re-entry fires consuming its hull are "sucked" into the vacuum created by the sudden loss of mass. A sonic boom is also heard afterward ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

=== Colonial Limitations ===

* Colonial FTL systems are not small-scale, and cannot be installed into vehicles such as the [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]. They can, however, be used on vehicles the size of a [[Raptor]], which is limited to brief, short-distance jumps. Raptors can make a sequence of short FTL "hops" in a row, to reach the same destination as a capital ship with a full-sized FTL drive ([[Miniseries]]).
* Colonial FTL systems cannot be used multiple times over a long period of time, for they are prone to breakdown after excessive, repetitive use ([[33]]).
* FTL jumps can apparently induce nausea or discomfort in some people, such as [[Cally]] ([[Miniseries]], "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]").
* When "jumping" the Colonial drive systems are limited in size; this defines the maximum size to which a colonial vessel can be built (hence the need for certain [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestars]] to retract their landing pods and reduce their overall cross-section prior to a jump ([[Miniseries]], "[[33]]", etc.).
* Colonial FTL systems appear to be a holdover from the [[History of the Twelve Colonies#Exodus|Exodus]] from [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], and their current designs have been developed to meet the needs of jumping between the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]], and their outposts in other star systems. Colonial FTL capabilities have defined limits, referred to as the [[Red Line]], beyond which jumps may not be possible / could result in damage to a vessel's drive system / lead to navigational inaccuracies that might put the ship at risk.
* Navigators must be careful to plan FTL jump paths in order to keep a safe distance from planets or other large objects ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]).

Knowing the limitations of their own FTL drives, a team apparently led by Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]] successfully refitted a [[Raptor]] with the navigational computer from a captured [[Heavy Raider]] (presumably the one used by [[Kara Thrace]] to return from Caprica in "[[Home, Part I]]"). They later use its improved jump plots (with the aid of the cooperative copy of [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon Valerii]]) to coordinate a squadron of Raptors to fly back to Caprica for a rescue mission to retrieve a [[Caprica Resistance|team of resistance fighters there]] ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]). Despite the accuracy of the advanced Cylon FTL technology and Valerii's aid in marking the jumps, two Raptors do not complete the mission. One obtains corrupted jump data and finds itself within a nebula and a undiscovered [[New Caprica|habitable planet]], and is forced to return to the Fleet. The second Raptor also receives corrupted coordinates and materializes inside a nearby mountain on the final intra-atmosphere jump to Caprica, with the loss of ship and crew.

=== Cylon Advantages in FTL ===

* Cylon FTL systems can be manufactured on a smaller scale to their Colonial equivalent, thus allowing the [[Cylon Raider]] to be outfitted with an FTL drive. ([[Miniseries]]).
* Cylon FTL drive systems are far more efficient than their Colonial equivalent. Tests with the Raider captured by the [[Battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'' ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]) demonstrated that the drive could enable the Raider to jump directly from the vicinity of [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] back to [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]) - a jump completed by Lieutenant [[Kara Thrace]] during her search for the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).
* That superiority however does not stem directly from the FTL drives, but mainly from the superior Cylon navigation system, resulting in more accurate jump calculations. Colonial vessels interfaced with a Cylon computer can increase their jump range by a factor greater than ten ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]).

Given that the Cylons left Colonial space to find their own planet, it is possible that their longer-range FTL capability was created in response to a desire to be able to cover the distance between their homeworld and those of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]] with a single jump.

The Cylons may also be capable of [[faster-than-light communication]].

==Background to FTL in the Re-imagined Series==

In establishing the series the creators of the [[Re-imagined|new Battlestar Galactica]] determined to keep everything within the show very "[[Naturalistic science fiction|natural]]". This means steering away from the standard clichés of television science-fiction: no bumpy-head aliens, no remarkable technology such as matter/anti-matter conversion, etc. So how is the concept of faster-than-light travel possible within this precept?

===Underpinning Theories===

[[Image:Wormhole-demo.png|thumb|FTL: "Folding Space" (credit: Wikipedia)]]
The FTL drive technology used within the [[Re-imagined Series]] appears to be based on the use of [[Wikipedia:Superstring Theory|Superstring Theory]] and [[Wikipedia:M-Theory|M-Theory]] that essentially enable the "jump drive" systems to "fold" space, reducing the distance between any two points by creating a "corridor" through space that links them together (essentially forming a wormhole, or Einstein-Rosen Bridge). Such "corridors" are allowed by the general theory of relativity; what [[Wikipedia:M-Theory|M-Theory]] does is provide a way to change the topology of space-time dynamically.

The use of such Wormholes is based on the tenet that space is curved. Hence the term "[[Wikipedia:Wormhole|wormhole]]", which arises from the analogy that space can be seen as an apple. A worm can travel from one side of the apple to the other in two ways:
* By crawling over the surface, or
* By burrowing through the apple (creating a "wormhole").
Obviously, the second option is considerably shorter than the first.

===Relativistic Acceleration===
A key point concerning the use of wormholes within the new ''Battlestar Galactica'' is that they do not break the fundamental limiting factor of our universe: the speed of light. Vessels in ''Battlestar Galactica'' do not accelerate to faster-than-light velocities. Rather, they use the wormhole to reduce the distance to their destination, thus giving the ''impression'' of faster-than-light travel.

However, the FTL jumps in the series do allow information to be sent faster than light can send it, which results in a violation of causality within the special theory of relativity. (ie. If event A comes before B from one viewpoint, there will be other equally valid viewpoints where event B takes place before A.) Causality is not violated by FTL in a universe that has a special fixed reference frame, however this contradicts current understanding.

This is the reason why FTL jumps are virtually instantaneous within episodes. It also means that the only ''direct'' form of propulsion available for vessels is generated by their [[Sublight Propulsion|sublight drive systems]]<ref>In turn, this is why vessels exiting from a jump are traveling at the same velocity as when they committed to the jump ([[Miniseries]], "[[33]]," "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]," and other episodes).</ref>.

===Feasibility===
While the use of wormholes in this manner is not currently possible, work is progressing on superstring and M-Theory which may make the creation of wormholes possible in the future. The limiting factor is the ability to generate negative energy densities, which are allowed (though severely restricted) by quantum mechanics. As such, the use of such systems again meets one of the stated desires of the the producers of the new Battlestar Galactica: not to rely on the "traditional" trappings of science-fiction that require exotic science and technology. Theoretical physicist [[Wikipedia:Kip Thorne|Kip Thorne]] has carried out extensive research into wormholes, and helped develop a scientifically-consistent means of wormhole travel used by [[Wikipedia:Carl Sagan|Carl Sagan]] in his novel [[Wikipedia:Contact (novel)|"Contact"]] which bears a remarkable similarity to the technology employed within Battlestar Galactica.

==Sublight propulsion==

In the Re-imagined Series, all ships have some manner of sublight flight ability. Sublight propulsion is convenient for intra-solar system travel (such as to or from the planets that comprise the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]), but cannot be used for travel outside of a solar system as the time to arrive at a destination may exceed the fuel supply of the ship or the lifetime of the crew that fly the ship.

Many of the ships of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] are capable of landing on and taking off from planets, such as New Caprica. ''Galactica'' is never seen doing this, and its large mass might prohibit planetary landings altogether, but it employs sublight engines for normal spaceflight. Few of the ships appear to have extremely large propellant tanks as would be required for rocketry as it is presently understood, in spite of having aft-mounted thrusters. However, this might be explained by the properties of the [[tylium]] fuel. Especially smaller vessels employ rocketry-based [[Navigation in the Re-imagined Series|RCS thrusters]] for small course adjustments.

Vipers are equipped with a thrust reversal system to counteract or arrest their forward momentum ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]). No such mechanism exists on capital ships, but such vessels might turn by 180° to decelerate.

Cylons [[Basestar (RDM)|baseships]] do not have any nozzles or show any external sources for their propulsion ability. It is possible that force fields of the [[Gravity in the Re-imagined Series|artificial gravity]] generators are the source of the sublight propulsion.

Both Colonial ([[Hero]]) and Cylon missiles used in combat appear to be rockets, leaving a trail of gas behind them.

The law of conservation of momentum requires that any propulsion system which adds momentum to a spacecraft or missile involves an equal amount of momentum be imparted in the opposite direction to something else, such as a reaction mass like rocket fuel, or possibly large masses like planets through use of a force field.

==See Also==
*[[List of terms (RDM)|List of terms in the Re-imagined Series]]

==References==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>
== External links ==
* [[Wikipedia:FTL (Battlestar Galactica)|FTL]] at Wikipedia.
[[Category:A to Z]]
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[[de:FTL]]

Battle of New Caprica

2007-05-09T21:46:48Z

Drow: cleaning up a couple of bits

{{Battle Data
| name=Battle of New Caprica
| image=BONC.jpg
| description=
| conflict=[[Cylon Attack|Second Cylon War]]
| date=
| place=Near [[New Caprica]] space; on New Caprica
| result=Successful retrieval of [[The Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]], deposition of the [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] administration, [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] is captured by Cylons
| combatant1=Remnants of the [[Colonial Fleet]]
| combatant2=[[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]
| co1=Admiral [[William Adama]], Commander [[Lee Adama]], Colonel [[Saul Tigh]], Former President [[Laura Roslin]]
| co2=[[Basestar command]]
| strength1=Battlestars ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' and '' [[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'',<br/> [[Blue Squadron (RDM)|Blue Squadron]],<br/> [[Raptor]] squadrons,<br >[[New Caprica Resistance]] and Colonial [[Marines]]
| strength2=Four [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]], associated [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]], [[Heavy Raider]]s,<br/> Ground occupation forces and associated <br/>[[Cylon Centurion]]s
| shiploss1=Battlestar ''Pegasus'',<br/> several civilian ships <br/>(off screen),<br/>Heavy damage to ''Galactica''
| shiploss2=At least two basestars<br/>One basestar possibly destroyed<br/>Moderate damage to additional basestar
| casualties1=Approximately 2,000<ref>This number is calculated from all available population data. See the "Precipice" and "Collaborators" section of [[Survivor count]] for the details.</ref><br>
| casualties2=Unknown, Heavy
| prev=[[Battle of the Binary Star System]]
| next=[[Battle of NCD2539]]
| rdm=y
}}
[[Galactica type battlestar|Battlestar]] ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' launches a daring mission to occupy the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon force's]] attention as the majority of the Colonial citizens escape from Cylon occupation on [[New Caprica]].

Prior to the battle, Admiral [[William Adama]] makes contact with the [[New Caprica Resistance]], and later deploys a [[Raptor]], Lt. [[Sharon Agathon]] commanding, to coordinate a plan to liberate the colonists from the planet safely during the Colonial offensive. Agathon uses her [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon heritage]] to retrieve the Colonial civilan ships' [[launch key]]s from a secured Cylon building, while [[Samuel Anders]] and [[Tory Foster]] train the colonists in "fire drills," meant to show readiness to the [[Cylon Occupation Authority]] in the event of a natural disaster, but in reality has prepared the colonists to escape to any Colonial ship to leave the planet and the Cylons.

Admiral Adama begins the offensive with an elaborate plan that relies on a squadron of [[Raptor]]s (with a [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] escort squadron) to fire a series of [[swallow]]s that collectively mimic the EM signatures of his two Colonial battlestars. After firing the swallows, the Raptors retreat, luring several [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raiders]] further from the planet. The Cylons are deceived temporarily by the false readings.

On [[New Caprica]], Samuel Anders and the resistance team detonate dozens of bombs in key Cylon structures as a feigned attack by Colonial forces. The people evacuate per their fire-drill training, but escape to the various grounded ships of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], which prepare their engines and [[FTL]] drives to depart. Many people become pinned down by [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]] fire.

Admiral Adama performs an extremely risky move. He orders ''Galactica'' to conduct an intra-atmosphere [[FTL]] jump, escaping the detection of the [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]]. While in freefall, it launches [[Blue Squadron (RDM)|Blue Squadron]]. The [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]] perform hit-and-run attacks on Cylons on the ground, in [[Guard towers|observation towers]] and interdicts the few Raiders operating near the surface. Blue Squadron destroys the main gates of the civilian shipyard to allow access and escape. Before ''Galactica'' impacts the surface, it performs a second jump back into space. Stress from the vibration and ionized gases from reentry heavily tax the structure of the battlestar.

Soon, the two basestars engage ''Galactica'' without any fighter support, their Raiders engaged elsewhere. ''Galactica''’s mission analysis had predicted that only two [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] would engage. However, two more basestars jump into the vicinity to attack the battlestar.

With the Vipers destroying targets on the ground and in the air in vicinity of New Caprica City, the civilians previously pinned down are able to board their ships. Simultaneously, Colonial [[Marines]] and resistance members assault the [[New Caprica Detention Center|detention center]], freeing [[Kara Thrace]] and other detainees.

The Cylons in charge on the ground begin their retreat, escaping in a Heavy Raider as they task a [[Number Three]] with setting off a nuclear detonation to "clean up."

In the four-baseship assault, ''Galactica's'' FTL drives and maneuvering thrusters are disabled, and the port side of the ship reaches its structural limits. Upon hearing that the FTL drive is disabled, Admiral Adama is resigned to imminent destruction when battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', against orders, appears and joins the attack. The [[Mercury class battlestar]]'s forward [[battery|batteries]] score several hits that severely damage or destroy one basestar. On the surface, most of the civilian ships become airborne and jump away.

Commander [[Lee Adama]] directs ''Pegasus'' to a position between the basestars targeting ''Galactica'', in an effort to draw fire away from her. Admiral Adama infers from the absence of Vipers from ''Pegasus'' that its Vipers are guarding the remaining ships of the Fleet at the rendezvous point and that ''Pegasus'' is on a one-way trip. While ''Pegasus'' endures serious bombardment, ''Galactica'' is able to bring its FTL back on line, retrieves her Vipers, and escapes.

With ''Pegasus'' taking mortal damage, Commander Adama orders all to abandon ship (using standby Raptors to jump away from the battle) setting all weapons to auto-fire and directing the ship on a collision course with one of the basestars before departing. The damaged, unmanned ''Pegasus'' collides with one basestar, destroying both. The remnants of ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s starboard [[flight pod]] collide with another of the remaining basestars, destroying it.

''[[Colonial One]]'' is the last Colonial ship to leave the planet. On the surface, the Cylons' planned nuclear detonation (which would be of questionable tactical value now that the Colonials have left the planet) does not occur.

__NOTOC__
== Battle Imagery ==
=== Raptors and Vipers ===
<gallery>
Image:Vipers_and_Raptors_placing_decoys.jpg|
Image:Raptor_Decoys_Away.jpg|
Image:Raptor_Decoys_Away_(2).jpg|
Image:Raptor_Decoys_Away_(3).jpg|
</gallery>
=== ''Galactica'''s Surprise Attack ===
<gallery>
Image:Galactica_in_Atmosphere.jpg|
Image:Galactica_in_Atmosphere_(2).jpg|
Image:Galactica_in_Atmosphere_(3).jpg|
Image:Galactica_in_Atmosphere_FTLing.jpg|
Image:Galactica_in_Atmosphere_FTLing_(2).jpg|
</gallery>
=== ''Pegasus’s'' Suicide Run ===
<gallery>
Image:Pegaus_Ram.jpg|
Image:Pegaus_Ram_(2).jpg|
Image:Pegaus_Ram_(3).jpg|
Image:Pegasusflightpod.jpg|
Image:Pegasusbaseshipsremains.jpg|
</gallery>

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

[[de:Schlacht von Neu Caprica]]

{{Battles (RDM)}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
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{{featured article}}

Gravity in the Re-imagined Series

2007-05-09T20:53:50Z

Drow: /* What about the flight pods on ''Pegasus''? */ altered wording, since magnetism is not weaker than gravity

{{RDM science series}}

:''Much of the information here was derived from the Wikipedia article on [[Wikipedia:Artificial gravity|artificial gravity]].''

Of course, it's very practical for humans, who evolved in '''gravity''', to have it aboard their ships.

Cinematically, it also makes it much easier for the show to keep production costs down by not having to simulate weightlessness on board the fleet in the [[Re-imagined Series]].

That doesn't mean we can let the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] get away with just having artificial gravity without some explanation, especially given [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron D. Moore]]'s [[Naturalistic science fiction]] principles of his show. From a science fiction perspective, this has always been the hardest "technology" to explain away in a show.

[[Image:Synthgravity1.jpg|right|thumb|Throwaway graphics in the upper right corner of this computer display shows terms relating to the artificial gravity in a [[Raptor]].]]
So far, the only information acknowledging the use of artificial gravity in the series comes from a few close-ups of [[Computers|computer]] displays, where the terms "Gravity control" and "synthetic gravity" are shown (look to the upper right of the picture shown).

From what scientists have theorized, gravity could be artificially generated in several ways:

* ''Rotation of the spacecraft'' to generate centrifugal forces within a spacecraft.
:This motion would push objects and people in the ship outward, so the outside skin of the ship would act as the "floor". This was done in the movie ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' (the crew compartment inside the ''Discovery'' spun) and the TV show "[[Wikipedia:Babylon 5|Babylon 5]]" (the cylindrical space station spun on its longitudinal axis). One of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]'s ships in fact sometimes uses this form of artificial gravity: the [[Space Park]]. Viewers can get a good view of this ship in motion when the Fleet leaves [[Ragnar Anchorage]] in the Miniseries. It's specified that the ship's design dates from a period when centrifugal force was the main artificial-gravity solution in place, before whatever current technology is in use came into widespread use.

* ''Keeping the ship at constant acceleration'', with the crew standing in the opposite direction of acceleration.
:Same principle that every astronaut experiences as their rocket launches into space and accelerates. This of course means that the ship must get progressively faster for eternity; stabilizing speed would lead to weightlesness, and stopping the ship would send everyone crashing into the ceiling.

* ''Place something with a lot of mass'' within your ship.
:This isn't artificial gravity, but the real thing. But there is the matter of the energies required to move your ship, the large gravity well that wants to attract other objects into your ship's general direction, and the shape of your ship. Gravity just '''works''', pulling from every direction, so you would need a round ship to keep from strange changes in gravity aboard a ship. Worst of all, the amount of fuel needed to move a ship with a local mass concentration would be very high.

* ''Use tidal forces''.
:Stretch a tether with a small mass between a large gravity source and the ship you want. Cheap, fuel-free, and reliable. There's the matter of actually being able to travel somewhere besides planetary orbit without losing gravity, however. Several ships from the science-fiction role-playing game series "[[Wikipedia:Xenosaga|Xenosaga]]," particularly the vessels ''Durandal'' and ''Dämmerung'', appear to use a concept similar to this with masses rotating around the ship in a controlled orbit maintained by forcefields.

* ''Use magnetism''.
:The term for this is [[Wikipedia:Diamagnetism|diamagnetism]]. Based on the technologies we've seen in the Re-imagined Series (such as their use of magnetism for landing and launching Vipers)<ref name="vipers">In the [[Miniseries]], a preflight checkout and launch of the fighters can be seen. For launch, the [[Launch tubes (RDM)|launch tubes]] use a magnetic catapult ("magcat") to hurl the Vipers out. On landing, either magnetism or some blend of artificial gravity pulls Vipers to rest on the deck of the [[Flight pod|flight pod]]. This force appears to be just strong enough; note the bouncing that the fighters do as their landing skids hit the landing deck while they retreat to ''Galactica'' as it prepares to jump from Ragnar Anchorage at the conclusion of the Miniseries.</ref>, this principle has the most viability, but is also fraught with huge problems in application.
:''Everything'' has a magnetic attraction, but most objects (a human body included) have very little of it. Diamagnetism at the present time has mostly been used to ''repel'' two objects, i.e. to levitate one of them, instead of to attract them, as gravity would.<ref>Scientists on Earth have actually [http://www.hfml.science.ru.nl/levitate.html levitated a frog at a force of 1''g'' ] (Earth's gravity), but it took a massive amount of cryogenically frozen hardware to do it, and that was using the magnet to push ''away'' from Earth's gravity, not push the object ''down''.</ref>. Also, high magnetic field concentrations are probably not very healthy in the long term. [http://star-www.st-and.ac.uk/~jrs/safety/magnetic.html]

Other, less-scientific possibilities that the writers could use include:

* ''Simulate gravity with force fields.''
:The eponymous spaceship in the TV show "[[Wikipedia:Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]" uses "gravity generators". The ''Star Trek'' universe has a [[MemoryAlpha:Artificial gravity|similar concept]]. This seems to be a slap in the face of the realistic SF ethos since it has no basis in scientific plausibilty at present.

* ''Spacetime manipulation.''
:The ability to do [[FTL|Faster Than Light travel]] indicates the Colonials have the advanced technology to manipulate the fabric of spacetime. This same ability might be harnessed to provide artificial gravitation. However, ''Galactica's'' FTL drives are often inactive on the show (they're inactive until they're "spun up"), while the gravity is always on.

So far the concept of artificial gravity in the show has yet to be explained.

===What about the flight pods on ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''?===

Unlike ''Galactica's'', each flight pod on the advanced battlestar ''Pegasus'' are divided along its length into two landing bays. In "[[The Captain's Hand]]", Vipers are flying inverted (relative to the battlestar) and land in the bays "upside down." Is artificial gravity to be credited with this?

The answer is more likely magnetism. Vipers are launched with a magnetic catapult, and (as seen in "[[The Hand of God]]") can magnetically mate using their landing skids to a metal surface (in this case, the interior of a freighter). Like gravity, magnetism works in any direction, and takes little to maintain. Confirming this idea is a scene from the [[Miniseries]]. As ''[[Colonial Heavy 798]]'' lands in ''Galactica's'' port flight pod to offload passengers for the decommissioning ceremony, two spacesuited figures are working on the deck. The two crewmembers are floating, suggesting that artificial gravity is ''not'' in use. Reinforcing this are the [[Combat landing|combat landings]] done by Vipers. The fighters bounce very noticeably at high speeds but, unlike a rock skipping across a pond, the Viper bounces less ballistically, suggesting that a weaker force than normal gravity is at work. How the Vipers get from the upside-down flight deck to the right-side-up [[hangar deck]], however, is unknown.

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
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Cylon Models

2007-05-09T20:10:51Z

Drow: /* The "final five" */

{{RDM cylons series}}
==Centurion Model 0005==
[[Image:Centurion_armor_old.jpg|thumb|Cylon Centurion (armor) on display ([[Miniseries]])]]
Model Name: Cylon Centurion
:''Main article: [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005]]''
The Centurion Model 0005<ref>This model was included in the miniseries primarily as an homage to the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]]. Within the context of the Re-imagined Series, the Model 0005 is over 40 years old, and was the last assumed appearance of the Cylons after the war.</ref>, glimpsed briefly in two scenes of the [[Miniseries]], was apparently the latest Cylon model to have been extensively documented by Colonial authorities after the [[Cylon War]]. It is a primitive model, resembling a short, clumsy humanoid with a single red eye - or as some of the Colonials contemptuously referred to them, "chrome [[toaster]]s". According to [[Saul Tigh]],<ref>From "[[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]", [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season02/202/deleted1.html deleted scene]</ref> they had a distinctive "stink" of machine oil.

These models were apparently the instigators of the Cylon rebellion, or their immediate descendants. They fought in all the major engagements of the Cylon War, including the boardings of ''[[Brenik]]'' and ''[[Galactica]]''. A painting by [[Monclair]] depicts a massive melee between early-model Cylons and joint Aerelon-Caprican ground forces.

Not only were these models sentient, they were far from emotionless — in his recollection of the ''Brenik'', [[Saul Tigh]] recalls their vicious tactics in hand-to-hand combat: "The first one was Duncan Raverty. I found him in the corridor. His guts were strewn around on the floor. Y'know, at first I couldn't figure out why the Cylons would bother doing something like that [...] You had to look into their red eye-slit. They hated us. They hated us so much it wasn't enough just to kill us" ("[[Scattered]]", deleted scene).

While remarks by [[Number Six]] in the miniseries state that "those [walking chrome toaster] models are still around. They have their uses," it is most likely that she is referring to the modern Centurions (below), which seem to have replaced the Model 0005 entirely.

==Modern Centurion==
[[Image:Cento.jpg|thumb|right|A deadly Cylon Centurion, upgraded from its predecessors]]
:''Main article: [[Cylon Centurion]]''
The current mainstay of Cylon ground forces, the modern Centurion is a taller, swifter and more agile unit than the Model 0005. Its "fingers" serve as edged weapons in close-quarters combat, and can retract to make way for projectile weapons built into its forearms.

There are apparently two armor configurations - the Centurions encountered by Lt. [[Karl Agathon]] on occupied [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] were susceptible to normal small-arms fire, while a boarding party dispatched to ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' in a boarding action could only be impeded by explosive rounds ([[Valley of Darkness]]).

While the earlier Centurion models presumably took a leadership role in their war against the Colonials, modern Centurions appear completely mute and are subservient to the human models. To prevent an uprising of their own, the human models did not design the modern Centurion with any sentience.<ref>Ron Moore, from [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/blogs/ blog] [http://blog.scifi.com/battlestar/archives/2006/01/#a000114 entries] on January 20th, 2006, confirms "the Centurions are not sentient[,] and their memories/experiences are not downloaded into new bodies when they die." [[William Adama]] notes this to his son in the episode, "[[Exodus, Part I]]."</ref>

==Cylon Spacecraft==
[[image:SCinside2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kara Thrace]] cuts her way through the biomechanical muscles of the [[Cylon Raider]] in order to get in ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]).]]
:''Main article: [[Cylon Spacecraft]]''
The current model Cylon Raider is an autonomous craft ([[Miniseries]]), apparently capable of operating at fair distance from any command vessel ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]; [[Final Cut]]). Capt. [[Jackson Spencer]], encountering the newer model Cylon Raider for the first time, expresses shock that "nobody's flying these things." Lt. [[Kara Thrace]] later discovers that the Raider she has [[Skirmish over the Red Moon|shot down]] was, after a fashion, "alive." She removes most of its organic parts before returning with it to ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. There, [[Sharon Valerii]], a Cylon sleeper agent, guesses that the Raider is a Cylon in its own right, although "More of an animal, maybe, than the human models... like a pet" ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]).

[[Sharon Agathon|Another Sharon copy]] confirms that Raiders 'download' and reincarnate. In addition, the former Cylon operative reinforces the earlier statement about the animal-like nature of Raiders, saying, "A raider's much like a trained animal, with the basic consciousness and survival instinct."

The [[Basestar (RDM)|basestars]] also makes extensive use of organic parts ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]). The ship is [[Basestar command|commanded by a group of Humanoid Cylons]], and has a living humanoid computer, known as a [[Hybrid]], that manages ship functions and takes orders from other agents. Hybrids do not function autonomously.<ref>In both these cases, the distinction between a "Cylon" and their own semi-sentient technology becomes increasingly blurred — interestingly, the same problem that led to the [[Cylon War]] in the first place.</ref>

== Human Models ==
:''Main article: [[Humanoid Cylon]]''
At some point at least two years prior to the [[miniseries]], Cylon forces in exile on their homeworld deploy to the Colonies in secret an organic model that's almost completely indistinguishable from a human being. These were used to quietly and effectively infiltrate the Colonial defense forces, with agent models such as [[Number Six]] gaining access to secret military technology, and sleeper agents such as [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] being planted within the [[Colonial Fleet]] itself. These sleeper agents are programmed with false memories and appear genuine. Unplanned discovery of their true nature can be extremely disturbing for these units, and their behavior is not always predictable.

Only slight chemical differences reveal human from Humanoid Cylon. Humanoid Cylons also apparently differ from humans in two significant ways.
<div style="clear: both;"></div>
[[Image:Sharonspine.jpg|thumb|right|Sharon Valerii conceives a child with [[Karl Agathon]] ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]).]]

===Reproductive Difficulties===
It is impossible for two Cylons to reproduce with each other, and as result the Cylons begin cross-breeding experiments with humans, which results in the pregnancy of [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|the Caprica-copy of Sharon Valerii]]. Cylon beliefs attribute this to the apparent inability of Cylons to feel love, which they believe to be a crucial element of the process. The forceful impregnation of human women however was unsuccessful ([[The Farm]]).

The second human-Cylon hybrid is [[Nicholas Tyrol]]. At the time of the child's conception, his father [[Galen Tyrol]] was unaware that he is a Cylon ("[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]", "[[Crossroads, Part II]]").
<div style="clear: both;"></div>

===Cybernetics===
[[Image:6spine-ms.jpg|thumb|left|[[Number Six]]'s spine glows during intercourse]]On two occasions, the vertebrae of human-model Cylons have been seen to emit a red glow visible through the skin during sexual intercourse ([[Miniseries]], "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]").

Other elements of Cylon humanoid physiology are light-sensitive. Tissues disguised in their forearms behave as a [[Cylon data port|data link]] that can be interfaced, after a fashion, to Colonial fiber-optic networks ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]), but is primarily used in accessing the Cylon optical network known as the [[datastream]] ("[[Torn]]," "[[A Measure of Salvation]]").
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Cylon brains are imbued with a vaguely described technology called [[Silica Pathways|silica pathways]]. This legacy technology existed in the original Centurion Model 0005, but some of this technology remains in the human models, although the technology appears to have been integrated at the molecular level since the brains of Humanoid Cylons and humans are visually identical. Silica pathways are possibly key in the maintenance or transfer of thoughts, memories and consciousness of a Cylon to be downloaded and transferred into a new body when the agent dies. Silica pathways in Humanoid Cylons, as in Centurions, remain susceptible to certain forms of radiation, as found in the storm surrounding [[Ragnar Station]] and the [[Wikipedia:Plutonium|Plutonium]] used as the active element of Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]]'s [[Cylon Detector]]. It normally takes several hours of prolonged exposure for this radiation to have a visible effect ([[Miniseries]], "[[Bastille Day]]"). Cylons are exceptionally resilient to other forms of radiation, as seen in "[[The Passage]]".

===Known Models===

In the miniseries, somewhat ambiguous comments by [[Caprica-Six]] and a note left for [[William Adama]] (presumably by [[Gaius Baltar]]) indicated that there were only twelve humanoid models at the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]].<ref>Humanoid Cylons are constructs, archetypes of human behavior that are not and never were human, as clarified by [[Ronald D. Moore]] in an [http://www.thefandom.com/Article50.phtml interview] on "The Chase Show", hosted on the SF webcast news site [http://www.thefandom.com/TheFandom.com TheFandom.com].</ref> Of the twelve human models, eleven have been revealed as of the episode "[[Crossroads, Part II]]."
<gallery>
Image:Three Cylon BW.jpg|[[Number Three]] ([[Boxing|Boxed]])
Image:Doral.jpg|[[Number Five]]
Image:Six_closeup.jpg|[[Number Six]]
Image:Boomer_closeup.jpg|[[Number Eight]]
Image:Leoben Headshot.jpg|[[Leoben Conoy]]
Image:Cysim.jpg|[[Simon]]
Image:Cavil_closeup.jpg|[[Cavil]]
Image:Tyrol Cylon.jpg|[[Galen Tyrol]]
Image:Anders_Cylon.jpg|[[Samuel Anders]]
Image:Tighlon.jpg|[[Saul Tigh]]
Image:Tory Cylon.JPG|[[Tory Foster]]
</gallery>
<div style="clear: both;"></div>

===The "[[final five]]"===

[[Image:TheFinalFive.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The Final Five, as seen in visions by observers.]]
The existence or knowledge of the [[Final five|five remaining models]] appear to be something of a taboo in Cylon society. When Baltar mentions their absence to Caprica-Six he is told not to talk about them. The identities of these five models appear to be suppressed or missing from the Cylons' collective knowledgebase.

A Number Three model believes that the five silhouetted figures she sees in a vision of Kobol's ancient [[Opera House]] while she is in the "space between life and death" prior to [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]] are images of the final five.

Inside the [[Temple of Five]], Number Three manages to return to the "space between life and death" and sees the faces of the five and retains her memories of them for the first time. She recognizes one of the five while she is in their presence. Although her consciousness returns to the temple, she promptly dies before she can reveal who she saw. Some fans have suggested that the figure she recognizes and "apologizes" to is Colonel Saul Tigh, whom she probably saw while he was in captivity on New Caprica. Her "apology" towards him could be been in relation to his eye, which the Cylons removed while he was held in a Cylon Detention Center. Her consciousness, and the consciousnesses of all other Three models has been [[boxing|boxed]] by the other Cylons and all the knowledge of the five has been boxed with her, for the time being ([[Rapture]]). Since only the Threes have seen these figures, and because the Temple itself was designed for descendants of the twelve tribes and not the Cylons, the actual nature of the final five remains a mystery.

Four members of the final five have been revealed thus far; [[Saul Tigh]], [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Samuel Anders]] and [[Tory Foster]]. The final Cylon model remains a mystery, however [[RDM]] has stated in multiple interviews that he knows who they are and has left clues behind as to their identity in the season three finale <ref>[http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopic=2270103&st=0&p=3041263&#entry3041263 20 Answers - SCI FI FORUMS] Retrieved 03-27-2007</ref> ([[Crossroads, Part II]]).

===Hybrids===
:''Main article: [[Hybrid]]''
[[Image:Hybrid.jpg|thumb|left|A Hybrid speaking "nonsense".]]

In addition to the Humanoid Cylons, there is a second type of humanoid Cylons, known as the Hybrids. Not to be confused with the Cylon/human hybrid children, [[Hera Agathon]] and [[Nicholas Tyrol]], the Hybrids aboard basestars resemble [[Humanoid Cylon|Humanoid Cylons]], but are another type of Cylon similar to the autonomous bio-mechanical pilots within [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]]. They are specially constructed living computers that manage the autonomic functions of the basestar. The Hybrids are so integrated into the basestar's functionality that they ''are'', for all practical purposes, the basestar.
<div style="clear: both;"></div>

===Organizational Relationships===
The exact nature of the Cylon hierarchy remains unclear. The humanoid models, as the most evolved form of Cylon, are definitely in charge of the Centurions and Raiders. [[Caprica-Six]]'s statement in "[[Downloaded]]" that Cylon culture is based on unity and that celebrities such as herself are something new implies that there is no single "[[Imperious Leader]]" as there was in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]]. Instead, each model appears to be equal in terms of power and authority and the Cylons appear to make critical decisions based on consensus, or failing that, majority opinion. One or two representatives from each available model gather and discuss matters in a forum-like environment then hold a vote on what course of action to take. Each model gets one vote that appears to represent the opinion of every copy of that model (except in one known instance where [[Caprica-Six]] disagreed with the other Number Sixes). The Centurions, Raiders and the [[Hybrid|Baseship Hybrids]] are not permitted a vote in the decision making process ("[[Occupation]]" through "[[A Measure of Salvation]]"). In "[[Rapture]]" a [[Number Three]] indicates that she does not know who programmed the humanoid Cylons or why, while speaking to one of the [[Cavil]]s, before being [[boxed]].

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

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:Cylons (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Timeline - Season 3 (RDM)

2007-05-08T22:25:14Z

Drow: /* Rapture */

:''For the timeline overview see [[Timeline (RDM)]]. For the rest of the series see [[Timeline - Season 1 (RDM)]] and [[Timeline - Season 2 (RDM)]]''

=="[[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance]]"==

*'''Between Day 660 and Day 794:'''
**[[Nicholas Tyrol]] is born
**[[Kara Thrace]] is kidnapped and forced into a marriage-type arrangement with [[Leoben Conoy]], whom she kills at any opportunity ([[Occupation]])
**A resistance movement is formed and led by [[Saul Tigh]] and [[Galen Tyrol]]
**The Cylons form the [[New Caprica Police]]
**Duck refuses to work with the resistance, choosing to spend more time with his wife [[Nora]]
**After some debate, the resistance leaders choose to hide weapons in the [[Temple|Temple of Artemis]]
**The Cylons attack the temple, killing Nora
**Duck is physically sickened by the news of Nora's death
**The general population has started to side with the resistance and 1,000 people protested outside ''[[Colonial One]]'' over the attack on the temple
**Nicholas Tyrol has his [[dedication ceremony]]
**Jammer is imprisoned in a Cylon detention center and is visited by a [[Number Five]], who offers Jammer a key card and an implied invitation into the NCP

==Prior to the Season 3 premiere, after ''The Resistance''==

*[[Saul Tigh]] is captured by the Cylons and detained. One of his eyes is literally ripped out by the Cylons
*Jammer and Duck enlist with the [[New Caprica Police]]

==[[Occupation]]==
*'''c. Day 794 (494th day since settlement, 134th day of occupation):'''
**Colonel Tigh is released from the detention center

*'''c. Day 795:'''
**[[Duck]] suicide-bombs a NCP ceremony
**Felix Gaeta secretly provides the jamming frequencies to allow wireless communication to breech Cylon interference
**The resistance establishes communication with [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]]'s Raptor

*'''Sometime before the episode, "Precipice:"'''
**Laura Roslin is arrested by the Cylons

==[[Precipice]]==
*'''c. Day 795:''' The [[New Caprica Police|NCP]] raid the city of and capture numerous suspected [[New Caprica Resistance|resistance]] members, including [[Cally Tyrol]]

*'''c. Day 796:'''
**Leoben Conoy introduces [[Kacey]] to Kara Thrace
**The Cylons force Baltar to sign an execution order
**Ellen Tigh steals a map marking the location for a secret rendezvous with ''Galactica's'' rescue coordination party
**Sharon Agathon's coordination party lands, makes contact with Anders' party, and are soon attacked by Cylon forces
**Roslin and others on the execution order are arrested and later driven to the [[Pergamus Flats]] to be executed. Before the shooting begins, Jammer frees Cally Tyrol

==[[Exodus, Part I]]==

*'''c. Day 796:'''
**Tyrol's group ambushes the firing squad and save Laura Roslin, Tom Zarek and many others
**Sharon Agathon's marines save Anders and the resistance group from a Cylon ambush

*'''c. Day 797:'''
**Number Three visits an [[Dodona Selloi|oracle]]
**Sharon Agathon infiltrates a Cylon facility and obtains the Colonial ships' [[launch key]]s
**Ellen Tigh is exposed as a traitor
**Admiral Adama orders ''Galactica'' to jump to New Caprica

==[[Exodus, Part II]]==

*'''c. Day 798:'''
**Ellen Tigh is poisoned by her husband for her treason
**The [[Battle of New Caprica]] begins. The settlers are successfully retrieved from the planet.
**''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' is destroyed during the battle
**[[Maya]] dies
**[[Hera Agathon]] is found by the Cylons, who also abandon New Caprica and take Baltar with them

==[[Collaborators]]==

*'''c. Day 800 (Day 3 of the Second Exodus):'''
**James Lyman, and 12 others before him are executed by the [[Circle]]
**Gaius Baltar awakens aboard a Cylon basestar for the first time three days after fleeing New Caprica
**New President Tom Zarek names Roslin as his Vice President, and later resigns to return Roslin to power
**Felix Gaeta is tried and convicted by the Circle but is spared when incontrovertible proof of his innocence emerges just in time.
**President Roslin abolishes the Circle and immediately pardons all those suspected of collaboration

==Between "[[Collaborators]]" and "[[Torn]]"==

* Lee Adama is demoted back to Major and resumes his former position as ''Galactica'''s [[CAG]]
* Karl Agathon serves as [[XO]] on ''Galactica''

==[[Torn]]==

*'''c. Day 850:'''
** Felix Gaeta reveals Baltar's research on the road to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] to President Roslin and Admiral Adama
** Caprica-Six and Three begin inquiring about the location of Earth and debating Baltar's usefulness
** A Cylon basestar sent to investigate the [[Lion's Head Nebula]] is infected by a virus from an [[Lion's Head beacon|ancient beacon]]
** Athena and Racetrack find the Lion's Head Nebula and the dying basestar
** Baltar returns to his basestar after his reconnaissance of the dying basestar, leaving out information on the probe, but his omission is uncovered

==[[A Measure of Salvation]]==

*'''c. Day 851:'''
** A Colonial boarding party investigates the derelict basestar, find the probe, and realizes that all but a few Cylons aboard have died
**The boarding party and some Cylon prisoners are en route back to ''Galactica'' when the basestar self-destructs
**The medical investigation identifies a virus that can be treated, but not cured for Cylons
** Lee Adama suggests a plan to eliminate the entire Cylon race by executing their prisoners in range of a Resurrection Ship

*'''c. Day 852:'''
**''Galactica'' jumps to a Cylon supply line. the [[Battle of NCD2539]] begins
**The plan fail to due to the intervention of [[Karl Agathon]]
** Aboard a basestar, Baltar is interrogated and tortured by Three and Caprica-Six

==[[Hero]]==

*'''c. Day 935:'''
**President Roslin and Tory Foster draw up plans to honor Admiral Adama for his 45 years of service to the Colonial Fleet
**Number Three begins experiencing strange visions
**''Galactica'' rescues [[Daniel Novacek]], a prisoner-of-war of the Cylons for over two years
** Adama confesses to his son about Novacek and possible culpability for the [[fall of the Twelve Colonies]]

*'''c. Day 936:'''
**Saul Tigh tells Novacek about Adama's action in his failed mission
**Novacek attacks Adama and tries to kill him but is stopped by Tigh

*'''c. Day 937:'''
**Number Three begins a series of suicides to experience visions about [[Final five|five figures in white robes]]
**Adama submits his resignation to Roslin but she refuses to accept it

*'''c. Day 938:'''
**Novacek is sent off to a berthing and counseling on another ship
**Tigh and Adama begin to reconcile

=="[[Unfinished Business]]" Present day events==

:''This section details the "current day" events aboard ''Galactica''. Prior events recalled in the episode are documented in the timeline at Day 420.''

*'''c. Day 950:'''
**''Galactica's'' crew work out their aggressions in a boxing tournament
**Kara Thrace and Lee Adama fight each other in the ring and reconcile

==[[The Passage]]==
:''No timeline markers are available for this episode.''

*The Fleet's food supply is contaminated
*Saul Tigh returns as Executive Officer on ''Galactica''
* Sharon Agathon returns from a recon mission through a dangerous star cluster with data on a [[algae planet|planet loaded with edible algae]]
*''Galactica's'' Raptors successfully escort the Fleet in packs through the disorienting, radiation-laden star cluster, with some ship losses and casualties
*[[Louanne Katraine]] dies

==[[The Eye of Jupiter]]==
:''No timeline markers are available for this episode.''

*'''Resupply mission day 14-15 (after the events of "The Passage"):'''
**The Colonials are preparing to leave the algae planet
**Tyrol finds the [[Temple of Five]]
**A Cylon fleet arrives and attempts to negotiate for the [[Eye of Jupiter]], but both sides are deadlocked; Adama threatens destruction of the Eye if the Cylons attempt to land
**President Roslin's role in hiding [[Hera Agathon]] is revealed to Admiral Adama and Hera's parents
**A Heavy Raider makes it to the planet deploying a ground party of Centurions. Starbuck's recon Raptor is shot down
**Admiral Adama, in response to the Cylon incursion, prepares to destroy the planet's continent

==[[Rapture]]==
:''No timeline markers are available for this episode.''

*'''This episode commences immediately after the final scenes in "The Eye of Jupiter":'''
**Five of the six [[Heavy Raider]]s heading toward the algae planet turn back.
**In response Admiral Adama stands down from the threatened nuclear strike in an unspoken compromise.
**[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]], [[D'Anna Biers]] and a [[Cavil]] land on the planet in the sixth Heavy Raider.
**Athena persuades her husband [[Helo]] to shoot her. She downloads into the Cylon fleet to reclaim [[Hera]]. Boomer threatens to kill Hera. [[Caprica Six]] kills [[Boomer]] and escapes with Hera and Athena to Galactica. Caprica Six is taken prisoner.
**[[Dualla]] makes contact with [[Starbuck]]. They repair the [[Raptor]] and both return to ''Galactica''.
**Lee Adama and Samuel Anders fail to prevent Baltar, D'Anna and Cavil from entering the [[Temple of Five]].
**D'Anna has a vision in which she sees the [[Final Five]] and dies.
**Tyrol captures Baltar and returns to the ''Galactica'' with him.
**The star goes nova and destroys the algae planet. ''Galactica'' jumps and rejoins the fleet.
**The entire Three line is [[boxing|boxed]], including D'Anna.

*'''Sometime between "Rapture" and "Taking a Break From All Your Worries":'''
**[[Joe's bar]] is established on an unused stretch of one of ''Galactica'''s hangar decks.

==[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]==
:''No timeline markers are available for this episode.''

*While there are no objective time indicators as to specifically how much time after "Rapture" has elapsed, Baltar's beard has grown longer and Starbuck's burns on her hands are completely healed. This suggest that at least a few weeks have elapsed between "Rapture" and "Taking a Break From All Your Worries".
**[[Gaius Baltar]] is interrogated by [[William Adama|Admiral Adama]] and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]].
**[[Lee Adama]], [[Anastasia Dualla]], [[Samuel Anders]] and [[Kara Thrace]] fight to save their marriages at [[Joe's bar]].
**[[Felix Gaeta]] attempts to convince Baltar to work with Roslin and Adama. When the meeting goes bad, Gaeta stabs Baltar in the neck with a pen but only inflicts minor damage.
**Roslin and Adama agree to give Baltar a fair trial.
**[[Caprica-Six]] agrees to testify against Baltar in exchange for immunity (SciFi.com bonus scene).

==[[The Woman King]]==
:''No timeline markers are available for this episode.''
*Three hundred refugees from the civilian vessel ''[[Threa Sita]]'', including 51 [[Sagittaron]]s board ''Galactica''. They are housed in the unused starboard landing bay with the preexisting residents in an area nicknamed "[[Camp Oil Slick|Dogsville]]".
*Captain [[Karl Agathon]] and Doctor [[Michael Robert]] detect that refugees boarding the ''Galactica'' have brought along a contagion. This malady is later diagnosed as [[Mellorak infection|Mellorak sickness]].
*Doctor [[Michael Robert]], due to his racism against the Sagittarons, kills a few of them with lethal injections.
*Karl Agathon detects and halts the killing of the Sagittarons and bring Doctor Robert to justice. Admiral Adama apologizes for not supporting his earlier suspicions.

==[[A Day in the Life]]==
:''This episode takes place 49 days after the events in "[[Rapture]]". No contact with the Cylons has occurred since then.''

*[[Admiral Adama]] has daydreams about his long divorced and dead wife [[Carolanne Adama|Carolanne]] through out the day of his anniversary of their wedding. [[Lee Adama]] and his father air out some issues regarding Carolanne's treatment of Lee and his brother [[Zak]] growing up with a single alcoholic mother.
*Admiral Adama and President [[Laura Roslin]] discuss the problems of legal protocol and logistical difficulties in the upcoming trial of [[Gaius Baltar]]. Roslin request that Admiral Adama ask his son Lee to head a steering committee to hash out the legal issues.
*During a maintenance job on an airlock, a leak in the hull and a malfunction of the airlock traps Galen and Cally Tyrol in the depressurizing airlock.
*They are freed by the deliberate use of explosive decompression through the outer airlock door and making a quick jump through the vacuum of space without pressure suits into a waiting Raptor. Afterwards, they recover in sickbay from [[w:Decompression sickness|Decompression Sickness]].

==[[Dirty Hands]]==
:''No exact date is available, but according to Roslin, Baltar's lawyer has been smuggling manuscripts out of his cell for several weeks.''
* A [[Raptor]] piloted by [[Racetrack]] and [[Skulls]] has an engine malfunction as the result of poorly refined [[tylium]] fuel, prompting the crew to eject. The Raptor collides with ''[[Colonial One]]'' which suffers minor damage, causing several injuries on board, including [[Tory Foster]]. President [[Roslin]] escaped unharmed.
* A strike on a tylium [[refinery ship]] leads Galen Tyrol to recognize the bad working conditions in the Fleet himself. He ultimately takes up the cause and extends the strike to ''Galactica's'' deckhands. After a standoff with the Fleet leadership he stands down, managing to negotiate improvements.
* Baltar managed to smuggle an agitating book out of his cell and got it published, provoking further unrest in the Fleet.
* Seelix is promoted to Ensign and accepted as [[nugget|pilot in training]].

==[[Maelstrom]]==
:''No timeline markers are available for this episode. However, it begins on day four of Fleet refueling operations''

* [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] has increasing dreams of [[Leoben Conoy]] and sees a phantom Raider. She is rendered unconscious and has a cathartic experience in her mind in which she reconciles with her dead mother and her fears. Her Viper descends to atmospheric crush depth and explodes, killing her.

==[[The Son Also Rises]]==
:''The episode takes please two weeks after "Maelstrom". [[Aaron Kelly]] notes that he has been doing his job "for two years now", which is obviously a considerable understimate, but we can at least infer that it has not yet been three years (1095 days) since the holocaust.''
* When Baltar's lawyer is killed by a bomb, Lee Adama is assigned to protect his new laywer, [[Romo Lampkin]]. His increasing desire to help Lampkin, eventually brings him at odds with his father. [[Aaron Kelly]] turns out to be the attacker.

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

Viper (TRS)

2007-05-08T21:34:24Z

Drow: /* Atmospheric Operations */

:''This article discusses the two Viper-class fighters seen in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. Detailed information for each fighter can also be found in [[Viper Mark II]] and [[Viper Mark VII]]. For information on the Viper used in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] and in [[Galactica 1980]], see [[Viper (TOS)]].''

The '''Viper''' is the [[Colonial Fleet]]'s primary space superiority fighter / attack craft.

[[Image:Bsg-viper-1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The Mark II Viper.]]
[[Image:BSG-Mark-VII.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The advanced Mark VII Viper.]]
The Viper was originally introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the [[Cylon War]]. After the war, newer models, such as the Mark VII, replaced the Mark II.

The Mark II served with distinction throughout the Cylon War, but was subsequently superseded 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.
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=== 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 maintain sufficient 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]]). In addition to excessive fuel consumption in atmospheric flight, the very high wing loading (a very small wing area relative to their weight) may compromise the Viper's overall atmospheric manueoverability. Because of the smaller wings (which generate less lift) higher speeds may be needed just to stay in the air. It is probable that the fighter's reaction control thrusters may offset one or both of these problems.

=== Life Support ===
Viper cockpits are pressurised and heated, but they are flown with the pilot wearing a [[flight suit]] that provides full life support should ejection be required ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]). A life support backpack is built into the pilot's seat itself. During an ejection, the back of the seat separates automatically, effectively becoming a backpack for the pilot using the seat's harnesses as straps ([[Act of Contrition]]).

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

Life support systems do not include artificial gravity, inertial dampeners, or the like, so pilots are actually exposed to the effects of acceleration. To prepare for the strains this causes on the body, battlestars have a specialized [[Weight Room]].

=== Crew ===
*Pilot in Terrell ES 24C ejection seat. <ref>Ejector seat details from David Bassom's ''[[The Official Companion|Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]''.</ref>

==See Also==

*[[Viper Mark II]]: Detailed information on the older Mark II fighter.
*[[Viper Mark VII]]: Detailed information on the newer Mark VII fighter.

== Sources ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>
== External links ==
* [[Wikipedia:Colonial Viper|Viper]] at Wikipedia.
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