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Life sciences in the Re-imagined Series

2009-01-10T09:37:49Z

Silvery:

{{RDM science series}}

The medical technologies in the [[Re-imagined Series]] aren't particularly advanced to that found currently on the real-world Earth. A few special advancements have appeared in the show, despite the character's relative medical similarities to our own, that change the nature of life science as we know it.

==Radiation and the Colonists==

After the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]] are bombarded by nuclear bombs, all life on the Colonies are in mortal peril. In the case of the humans on Caprica, death is likely without aid.

This section is not intended to discuss all the facets of [[Wikipedia:Radiation poisoning|radiation exposure]], but to note the likely fates or salvations of their civilization's science in specific episodes.

===Survival on Caprica===
After [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii's]] departure from [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] after she leaves with a handful of survivors, [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]] apparently separates from the surviving refugees, who soon succumb to radiation poisoning<ref>The fate of these refugees is noted briefly by [[Laura Roslin]] ([[Mary McDonnell]]'s character acting as narrator) in the special program, "[[Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far]]."</ref>.

For the most part, there is no treatment for acute radiation poisoning. The effects of such poisoning cause a gradual systemic failure of the body as cells weaken and die. Given that the survivors had little to no provisions, the survivors would have likely died off.

Warding off radiation poisoning, Agathon survives as he has a supply of [[anti-radiation medication]] that he injects himself with periodically.

Anti-radiation medications do exist on the real-world Earth. One popular drug is potassium iodide, which blocks absorption of radiation by the thyroid gland, which aids in reducing the overall absorption of radioactivity into the human body. Provided that Agathon's drug blocked more than just radioactive iodides, and given that Agathon's initially was on the outskirts of the destroyed cities, his survival is plausible. No information is available on the type of anti-radiation medicine used, however.

Agathon, as well as the [[Caprica Resistance]], use injectors for their medication.

===Exposure from Stellar Phenomena===

The [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is forced to travel through a stellar cloud of ionized, hot gases laden with radiation. Exposure to the radiation cannot be tolerated by anyone for more than a few hours. One character, [[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]], eventually dies from this exposure ([[The Passage]]).

Stellar radiation contains large amounts of gamma radiation, which is the most ionizing and therefore the most destructive to human tissue. In the case of Katraine and the other pilots, the amount of exposure dictates the possible complications.

While Katraine does not survive, the [[humanoid Cylon]] [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon "Athena" Agathon]] survives a massive exposure to the same radiation. While humanoid Cylons are radiation-hardened in [[Silica Pathways|most cases]], Agathon, who bears a [[Hera Agathon|child]] with Karl Agathon, certainly has a curious biology that resists the radiation's effects, including mutation, while allowing its DNA to remain (mostly) compatible to breed with humans ([[The Farm]]).

==The Cancer Cure of Laura Roslin==

''This section was originally written from a layman's perspective. As such, the information in this section is speculative and with little professional background. Battlestar Wikipedians with more experience and training in biology, medical science, and genetics are strongly encouraged to correct and expand on this section.''

The episode "[[Epiphanies]]" showed dying President [[Laura Roslin]] receiving the fetal blood from the Agathon's unborn child, which dramatically annihilates the [[Wikipedia:Cancer|breast cancer]] and its subsequent metastasis (spreading) that almost kills Roslin.

The believability of this event is low given that viewers have seen, from the first moment we meet the character of Laura Roslin, that cancer in the Twelve Colonies is just as dire as it is on the real-world Earth.

Killing cancer cells is not inherently a problem in treatment. But killing cancer growths without damaging healthy tissue is the larger issue. As cancer spreads and grows, it infests itself in healthy tissue where surgery is made impossible (brain cancer is commonly inoperable because of the likelihood of damage to critical areas of the brain). Likewise, chemotherapy is less invasive, but can also leave nasty changes to body chemistry and highly undesirable side effects. Roslin mentions that her mother also had breast cancer that she had treated with [[Doloxan]] therapy, which appears to be a form of chemotherapy. Roslin declined this treatment in favor of [[Chamalla]] extract, a treatment that led to [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I|interesting side effects]], but ultimately failed in slowing or stopping her cancer (as Dr. [[Cottle]] predicted).

The cancer cure seen in "Epiphanies" appeared to accomplish the following abilities:

*Destroyed all cancerous and pre-cancerous cells in the bloodstream (to prevent relapsing)
*Destroyed all cancer cells in organ tissue while repairing damage to organs with tumors or other infection
*Differentiated between the host's healthy cells and the cancerous cells
*Be effective with a relatively small dose, since fetal blood volume is low and cannot be taken in large amounts
*Left few or no immediate side-effects

There could be some logic to the use of the Cylon hybrid fetal blood, but this requires some stretching of the imagination and perhaps some genetic work.

*Earth science has confirmed that [[Wikipedia:Stem cells|stem cells]], undifferentiated cells found in fetal tissue that change into any needed organ or body part, can be used to aid in cellular repair.<ref>According to the podcast for this episode, this was, in fact, ''the'' agent of the cure. However, [[Ron D. Moore]] believed the explanation would be too much [[technobabble]] for audiences and had the explanation truncated.</ref>
* The use of fetal stem cells appears to support early research, but with a new twist. According to [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5195551 new research], fetal stem cells from the placentas of babies (born or not) leak into the body of a mother and appear to act as specialized "protectors" that can repair or lessen the effects of damaged tissues or disease. The presence of these cells can be for years, and is compounded by the number of pregnancies of the mother.
*Earth science has also confirmed that the human immune system mounts a response to cancer, which can lead to the regression of tumors. People with compromised immunity, such as those infected with HIV, suffer from malignancies that are uncommon in the general population. Some cancer researchers have speculated that improving the immune response could provide a cure for cancer possessing all of the above features.
*Earth science has found that several viruses are capable of rapidly infecting and killing cancerous cells while lacking the same infectivity of healthy cells. Experiments have been conducted in which mice which were deliberately given massive tumors were rapidly cured by direct infections of the tumors by viral agents that did not harm any healthy tissues. In terms of the show, perhaps the Cylon-hybrid cells are capable of mimicking these abilities.
*Despite their appearance, [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid Cylons]] are not human, but created. Perhaps in their creation, Cylons designed the humanoid bodies to fight off or identify genetic malfunctions immediately, or may be created without any of the historic genetic abnormalities found in humans that could trigger cancer or other diseases.

==Cylon Genetics==

The exact technical nature of the [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid Cylon models]] is not explained. Apparently, they are the result of incredibly advanced bio-mechanical engineering.<ref>A great deal of technical insight into the humanoid Cylons, and more specifically, the [[Hera Agathon|Cylon-human hybrid]] fetus, was going to be revealed in "[[Epiphanies]]." However, according to Ron D. Moore's podcast for this episode, almost all of these were cut, to the point that in the final edit Baltar is left saying that the "blood" of the hybrid is "special". Many fans thought this explanation was a little too abrupt.</ref>

RDM explained that he was afraid that viewers would react to a longer, more detailed explanation as [[technobabble]], and edited the material out as a result. This doesn't mean that this material is incorrect; nothing Baltar says in the aired episode would be contradicted by further elaboration, as Baltar’s comments that the blood is an "amalgam", etc. are so vague that further information wouldn’t contradict it. Many fans speculated and hoped that these scenes would become available in the [[Battlestar Galactica - Season 2.5 (Region 1 DVD)|Season 2.5 DVD box set]], however there are no deleted scenes from this episode on the DVD set.

However, several shots of Baltar going through notes on the genetic structure of the Hybrid's DNA, etc. can be seen in promo commercials for this episode. Although no screencaps exist for this, careful analysis has yielded several new insights.

Baltar is seen looking at this base of a nucleotide which belongs to the Cylon-Human Hybrid: The [[Wikipedia:nucleobase|nucleobase]] he examines is recognizable as [[Wikipedia:Uracil|Uracil]] (which is actually used in mRNA, not DNA):

This would seem to support the notion that the humanoid Cylons are indeed carbon-based, as opposed to silicon-based. However, just as the human body contains the metal calcium but is not calcium-based, the Cylons incorporate silicon (as noted in the vague reference to "[[Silica Pathways|silica pathways]]") into their physiology, but appear to be carbon-based.

In fact, since silicon does not share the organic nature that enables carbon to form the building blocks of life (silicon can't make as many molecular bonds as carbon), it would be practically impossible for most of a Cylon's body to be anything ''but'' a carbon-based life form. Else, the pregnancy between [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon Agathon, neé Valerii]] would be physically impossible, even if "love" was needed to make it happen. Certain kinds of radiation have adverse effects on Cylon technology (as shown on [[Ragnar Anchorage]]), but this appears to be based on the tissue-level structure of silica pathways, not their underlying cellular basis.

==References==
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[[Category:A to Z]]
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[[Category:Technology]]
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Computers in the Re-imagined Series

2009-01-10T09:35:51Z

Silvery:

{{RDM science series}}

Technologies such as '''computers''' have been mostly bane and less of a blessing to the Colonials of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM) |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 [[Galactica type battlestar|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 [[Humanoid Cylon|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 allow the Cylon forces to damage or disable any Colonial vessel with this program. Only non-networked ships (such as most civilian ships or ''Galactica'' herself) or those with comparatively primitive computers (such as [[Viper (RDM)|the Viper Mark II]]) are all-but-immune to the new Cylon menace.

As he tours ''Galactica'', [[Doral]] comments that her computers "hardly deserve the name" ([[Miniseries, Night 1]]). Ronald Moore has stated that the computers are actually less powerful than those of contemporary Earth <ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=Hero|act=1|}}</ref>.

[[Image:Seshalaptop 216 1080i.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A laptop computer ([[Sacrifice]]).]]
==Colonial Civilian and Government 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 [[Shelly Godfrey|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 into concluding 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====

:''Galactica'' loses many pilots to Cylon attack or accident in the first weeks of exodus from the Colonies. Lieutenant [[Kara Thrace]] is ordered to become flight instructor to train [[nugget]]s 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'' does not have simulators aboard, so Thrace teaches the new pilots using actual Vipers ([[Act of Contrition]]). Months later, the [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' joins the Fleet. The modern resources of this battlestar include flight simulators. Rookie pilots [[Brent Baxton|BB]] and [[Joseph Clark|Jo-Jo]] arrive on ''Galactica'' to begin their tour after training with these simulators on ''Pegasus'' ([[Scar]]).

====Personal Computers====
[[Image:Hope.jpg|thumb|left|190px|Colonial computer menu ([[Occupation]]).]]
[[Image:Tablet computer.jpg|thumb|right|[[Gina Inviere]] shows [[Kendra Shaw]] the route to [[CIC]] on ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' ([[Razor]]).]]

:In preparation for converting ''Galactica'' into a museum and education center, then-Secretary of Education [[Laura Roslin]] pleads unsuccessfully to then-Commander [[William Adama]] to allow installation of a network for personal computers to be used for teaching and information by students and visitors ([[Miniseries]]).

:Terrorist [[Sesha Abinell]] uses a personal laptop computer<ref>In an amusing props gaffe, fans of the show may notice that the mouse she used is an actual product manufactured by the Microsoft Corporation, which may mistakenly suggest to fans that Microsoft's sales model truly ''is'' universal.</ref> in her quarters as she compiles and gathers information on Cylon and Colonial conspiracy theories ([[Sacrifice]]).

: Network administrator [[Gina Inviere]] uses a tablet personal computer in her work upgrading ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'''s computers. Like the other computers on ''Pegasus'', the tablet computer accepts inputs via a touchscreen ([[Razor]]). ''Galactica'' also has older versions of these tablet personal computers, as [[Felix Gaeta]] uses one to diagnose the problem with [[Anastasia Dualla]]'s workstation in CIC ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

:Standalone computers are also present in [[sickbay]] and Dr. Baltar's laboratory.

:The [[New Caprica Resistance]] has a computer in its underground tunnels, which is used to communicate with Raptors dispatched by ''Galactica'' ("[[Occupation]]", "[[Precipice]]").
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====Data discs====
[[Image:Hexdisk1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Shelly Godfrey's data disc.]]
[[Image:PegDataDisc2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The case with data discs received by Gaeta.]]
Data discs<ref>{{bsgwiki term}}</ref> are used to transfer amounts of data between separate computers.

:Both [[Shelly Godfrey]] ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]) and [[D'anna Biers]] ([[Final Cut]]) use data discs to store video files. Their octagonal form fits with Colonial aesthetics (similar to the cut corners on paper).

:In the [[Pegasus (Extended Version)|extended version]] of "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]", Lieutenant Gaeta receives a copy of ''Pegasus'''s digital library on such dics. The case also contains a spindle of round discs.
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====[[Portable library reader|Portable library readers]]====
[[Image:portable library reader.jpg|thumb|A portable library reader ([[Epiphanies]]).]]
:Portable library readers are more like an hand-held electronic dictionary or encyclopedia. They can likely synchronize data from a personal computer.
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==Basestar Computers==

The Cylon are a cybernetic race. As such, ''everything'' is computer-based by nature. To avoid confusion between differentiation of the cybernetic physiology of the [[humanoid Cylon]], only the non-sentient or quasi-sentient computer systems of the basestar are noted here.

===The Hybrid===

The [[Hybrid]] is a special variety of non-autonomous [[humanoid Cylon]] that rests in a pool of water near or in a basestar's command and control center. Because of its connection to many, if not all, of the basestar's systems, it in effect ''is'' the basestar. Functions such as [[Cylon Centurion]] and Cylon Raider access and deployment appear to be controlled by the Hybrid, as well as navigation control. Whether there is more than one Hybrid model is unknown.

===The Datastream===

The [[datastream]] is the central network within a basestar. It appears to use a liquid as a data transmission medium, a storage medium, or both. The datastream is suceptible to corruption by [[Lymphocytic encephalitis|certain organic pathogens]] that can also infect the sentient humanoid Cylons. The liquid also appears as waterfalls and pools within a basestar's command and control center, which may also serve as access nodes<ref> [[Sharon Agathon]] instructs a member of the boarding team to place a Colonial data gathering device in one of these pools in "[[A Measure of Salvation]]".</ref> (see ''Data port interfaces'' below).

===Data port interfaces===

While not computers in themselves, humanoid Cylons, which are more biological than cybernetic, have devised a remarkable manner to interface with computer systems with an optical interface. On a basestar, Cylons can access their datastream by placing their arm on an illuminated panel that's covered by a thin layer of liquid. This activates the [[Cylon data port|data port]], an optical interface incorporated within their arms that's otherwise disguised as ordinary human tissues. These interfaces are transceivers that can also be configured for visual data such as photography.

==Battlestar Computers==
[[Image:Bsgcontrl.jpg|thumb|right|Master systems display on ''Galactica''.]]

A battlestar has several computers dedicated to many critical ship functions. Several specific computers have been mentioned or seen during the series. This list is not inclusive; an [[Galactica type battlestar|original battlestar]] like ''Galactica'' is still a very complex spacecraft. On advanced battlestars such as ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', the highly networked computers theoretically allow the crew to control any system from any location, if one possesses the correct passwords ([[Razor]]). However, it is likely that after the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], ''Pegasus'' is not as strongly networked as before, in order to create similar defenses against Cylon intrusion as its predecessors.

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===
[[Image:navcomp_002_720p.jpg|thumb|NAV Computer Display of ''Galactica'' ([[Miniseries]])]]
Also known as the "NAV" or "NAVCON" computer, it tracks the battlestar's position and handles [[Sublight Propulsion|sublight]] travel and [[RCS]] translations. It is very likely that [[DRADIS]] sensor information is obtained and managed by the Navigation Computer then passed on to the [[Tactical Officer]] and the Command & Control Center in the [[CIC]].

The DRADIS system, while having digital controls, is an analog instrument (utilizing EM radiation), which protects it from direct ''external'' infiltration by Cylon electronic attack. As shown in "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]", the navigation computer hardware, as with practically every other computer system, is subceptible to ''internal'' compromise by Cylon viruses or logic bombs already present in the battlestar's other systems.<ref name="tech5A">"The LAN that Time Forgot", Dr. [[Kevin Grazier]] (the show's science adviser), [http://www.hollywoodnorthreport.com/article.php?Article=2793 BSG Tech Blog], entry 5A, August 8, 2005.</ref>

''Pegasus's'' navigation computer is off-line during the Cylon attack, forcing Admiral Cain to order a risky [[blind jump]] without any navigational data fed to the FTL drive ([[Razor]]).
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[[Image:ftlcomp_217_1080i.jpg|thumb|FTL Systems Display of ''Pegasus'' ([[The Captain's Hand]])]]
===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 the [[Tactical Officer]] or its Communications Officer. 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 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 name="scattered">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.</ref>
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[[Image:PegasusDamageDisplay2.jpg|thumb|Damage Control display of ''Pegasus'' ([[The Captain's Hand]])]]
===Damage Control Computer===
The Damage Control computer relays information to the CIC on malfunctioning or damaged areas of the battlestar, presumably from various sensors throughout the ship. It also has access to radiation sensors in the event of nuclear attack to warn against dangerous radiation levels that could harm the crew.<ref name="miniseries2">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]]).</ref> The DC computer's function can be compromised by a hostile force through places such as [[Aft Damage Control]], as was threatened in "[[Valley of Darkness]]". If these locations are compromised, the computer's safeties can be overridden and various life-support controls, such as bulkheads and atmospheric controls, could be altered, venting the ship's air (and crew) into space.
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[[Image:Maingunredlight_101_1080i.jpg|thumb|Fire Control Display Panel ([[33]])]]
===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 old original battlestar from the first [[Cylon War]], a formidable foe to encounter. Like the DC computer, there are control rooms on ''Galactica'' where the ship's computerized gun control can be overriden.<ref name="miniseries">''Galactica'''s flak turret guns are seen directly targeting specific missiles during the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]] ([[Miniseries]]).</ref>

===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 name="phe">[[Sharon Agathon|Caprica-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]])</ref> 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.

The communications elements of the mainframe, while having digital controls, are analog instruments, which make them highly resistant to external Cylon electronic attack as they do not transfer digital signals. As with other battlestar systems, the mainframe hardware remains susceptible to internal Cylon electronic attacks (viruses and logic bombs that infect and transfer from other systems).<ref name="tech5A"/>

===Environmental Computer===
This computer is mentioned briefly by Lt. Gaeta after an incident where the effects of a Cylon logic bomb confused the environmental computer into venting the firing range room of its pressure, almost killing [[Kara Thrace]], [[Lee Adama]] and [[Brendan Costanza]] ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).

The environmental computer is likely connected to the nearly one-dozen carbon dioxide air scrubbers throughout ''Galactica'', which remove the excess levels of the gas before it reaches toxic levels ([[Final Cut]]).

==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]]). As the term "avionics" is used in the episode "[[Flesh and Bone]]" to describe the flight electronics on the captured [[Raider]], despite its aeronautical connotation, it will be used here.''

===Colonial Avionics===

The [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] relied initially on primitive, hard-wired avionics in its early fighters, but later reverted to more "[[Wikipedia:Fly by wire|fly-by-wire]]" technologies, one of which sealed the doom of billions of citizens.

====Vipers and Raptors====
[[Image:Vipermk2interior 104 1080i.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A view of the manual "8-ball" landing software on a Viper Mk. II.]]
[[Image:Vipermk2interior3 104 1080i.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A view of a Mk. II secondary display below the primary display, currently using [[DRADIS]].]]
The '''avionics''' found on modern [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s and [[Raptor]]s are complex systems that combine fly-by-wire technology with computer systems.

In the case of Raptors, [[datacord]] is used for networking subsystems. This wiring makes Raptors more radiation-hardened and thus useful in high-radiation conditions <ref>Raptors are used as pilot ships in the episode "[[The Passage]]".</ref>.
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[[Image:ViperMk2Avionics.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Viper Mk. II cockpit avionics, resistant to Cylon infiltration.]]
The older and generally-obsolete [[Viper Mark II]] fighters have a more primitive avionics package, but unlike [[CNP]]-equipped [[Viper Mark VII]]s and Raptors, these old-style Viper systems (a design similar to that used in the [[Cylon War]]) appear to combine hydraulics <ref>Note the leaking fluid on [[Viper 289]] in the episode "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]", strongly suggesting a hydraulic flight control system on these fighters.</ref> with a basic computer and [[DRADIS]] subsystem that is effectively immune from Cylon electronic counterattack.

Both Vipers are equipped with a multi-functional display that can can be set to various modes, such as DRADIS, navigation, engines, system status and weapons.
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The flight systems of these systems also likely include these components, which vary in availability or degrees of complexity depending on the craft's age or purpose:

* 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, etc.
* A Colonial transponder for [[IFF]] "friend or foe" identification
* Stellar positioning system for proper [[Sublight Propulsion|sublight]] or [[FTL]] navigation
** Larger craft such as Raptors can manage FTL jumps and so come equipped with more advanced avionics to handle jump computations
* Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), an automatic ("hands-off") landing system guidance package

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[[Image:ViperMk7Avionics.jpg|thumb|200px|Viper Mk. VII cockpit avionics, vulnerable if the [[CNP]] is installed.]]
====Vulnerabilities====
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) the tainted [[Command Navigation Program]]. Evidence for this is strong as [[Jackson Spencer]]'s Mark VII Viper loses 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]]).

''Galactica'' prohibits computerized landings, so all pilots perform [[Hands-on Approach|manual approach and landings]] in [[Combat landing|non-combat situations]]. No information has been given in the series if Mark II Vipers are capable of auto-landings in the manner that Mark VIIs demonstrate ([[Miniseries]]).
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===Cylon Avionics===

Cylon avionics contain biological elements, some of which include or are interfaced with quasi-sentient elements.

====Raiders====

[[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 identifies the mechanical linkage within a captured fighter, and [[Galen Tyrol]]'s team identifies 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 Raider's avionics for human readability.

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

# The Cylons' monotheistic belief in [[God (RDM)|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]]").
# Colonial forces may attempt to use [[ECM|electronic countermeasures]] that could affect the performance or operation of a fully-mechanical Cylon Raider or a craft piloted by autonomous [[Cylon Centurion]]s. Biological pilots cannot be easily disabled by ECM.
# A Raider's personality, like a [[humanoid Cylon]], 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 in death, allowing it to improve its fighting as well as allowing riskier tactics (such as ramming) without permanent loss of self, provided a [[Resurrection Ship]] or the [[Cylon homeworld]] is sufficiently close to retrieve a signal ([[Scar]]).

Raiders are capable of independent thought, which is demonstrated during the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula]], where one identifies [[Samuel Anders]] as a humanoid Cylon. This causes all other Raiders to break off the attack and forces the Cylon fleet to retreat ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).

====Heavy Raider====

The interior of a [[Heavy Raider]], or its cockpit, have not been revealed. While no information is available as to the nature of their avionics and piloting requirements, events suggest that the Heavy Raider is not an autonomous or quasi-autonomous vehicle ([[Fragged]]", "[[The Farm]]", "[[Home, Part I]]") .

====Vulnerabilities====

Cylon spacecraft avionics can be affected by infiltration with the right methods. The cooperative Cylon infiltrator copy of [[Sharon Agathon|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 are themselves affected by this unexpected infiltration from Valerii.

The organic nature of most Cylon cybernetics is also susceptible to [[Lymphocytic encephalitis|classic human pathogens]], which can cause massive and catastrophic system failure. The infection that caused a basestar to succumb ([[Torn]]), according to other Cylons investigating the incident, has a bioelectric nature that could cause it to behave more like programming, allowing the [[Resurrection (RDM)|downloaded personalities]] of infected agents to infect the entire Cylon race via the [[Resurrection Ship]].

==Computer History==

:''For more information on the use of Colonial computers in the series, see [[Colonial Computer History]].''

== Notes ==
*Colonial aesthetics often eschew right angles, instead using [[Arts and Literature of the Twelve Colonies#Octagons|octagons]]. Many computer programs also follow this design by having windows, menus or buttons with angled corners.

==References==
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[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category: Cylons (RDM)]]
[[Category:Descriptive terms]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Technology (RDM)]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology (RDM)]]

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