Tauron

Colors and symbol of Tauron

Tauron (ancient name Taurus) is a planet in the star system Cyrannus and one of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. Its capital is Hypatia.

Tauron is one of the poorer Colonial worlds and the center of a civil war nearly a century before the Fall ^{(CAP: "Pilot")}. After the War, Tauron is known as a troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies ^{(TRS: "Hero")}, having later been counted among the wealthier of the twelve worlds ^{(TRS: "Dirty Hands")}.

Geography and Astronomy

A Tauron moon in the evening sky.

Tauron is a barren, arid planet that lacks any kind of flowers. However, within the Colonies it is still known as an agricultural world ^{(CAP: "Pilot")}.

The fact that Tauron lacks flowers was a story point planned for the original opening of the pilot. A deleted scene showed a young Joseph and Sam Adama arriving on Caprica and being amazed at the sight of a field of flowers, a sight completely new to them.

Tauron shares its orbit with another world. This close, ringed astronomical body can even be seen as a large celestial object on the Tauron sky (CAP: "Know Thy Enemy," see notes).

History

An aerial view of Tauron City.

Tauron, under attack by Cylon forces.

Over 800 years prior to the Fall of the Colonies, Tauron was conquered by rival colonies Virgon and Leonis. After a long, hard struggle, the people of Tauron liberated themselves, and this is celebrated as the "Our Day" holiday.

In 93 BCH, the Tauron Civil War occurred here, causing the displacement of many of its people to Caprica, partially due to a genocide committed by government forces ^{(CAP: "The Dirteaters")}.

For some time before the First Cylon War, the crime syndicate Ha'la'tha has enormous influence over the planet, which even extends to other colonies, such as Caprica.

Around 58 BCH a meta-cognitive processor is invented on Tauron by the Vergis Corporation, later to be stolen by Sam Adama on behalf of Joseph Adama and Graystone Industries for use in the very first Cylon prototype ^{(CAP: "Pilot")}.

At the end of the Cylon War, Tauron is under attack from Cylon basestars and ground forces, causing many civilian causalities in areas such as the city of Hypatia ^{(TRS: "Razor")}.

After the War, Tauron becomes one of the wealthier colonies in the Twelve Worlds and earns the reputation for being a troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies, often disobeying directives decided by the Colonies and pushing their luck with the admiralty ^{(TRS: "Hero" and "Dirty Hands")}. Circa 6 BCH (94YR), this reputation is used as a cover-up for a top-secret mission of the battlestar Valkyrie ^{(TRS: "Hero")}.

After the Fall

Like its sister worlds, Tauron is heavily devastated during the Cylon attack and its population killed by nuclear bombardment ^{(TRS: "Miniseries" and "The Plan")}. The ultimate fate of the planet is unknown.

Perah Enyeto is the colony's representative on the first Quorum of Twelve within the Fleet ^{(TRS: "Colonial Day")}. Enyeto is later replaced by another Quorum member, before the Quorum is dissolved after Tom Zarek's massacre ^{(TRS: "Blood on the Scales" and "Islanded in a Stream of Stars")}.

Culture

A Tauron funeral on Caprica.

Taurons traditionally speak a different language than Capricans ^{(CAP: "Pilot")}, in order to keep alive their traditions and cultural heritage in the face of assimilation ^{(CAP: "Pilot" deleted scene)}.

As a culture, Taurons are noted for their stoicism, as well as for their elaborate use of tattoos, noting their various accomplishments and failures, roles in society, and other social attributes — in essence, each tattoo has its own story and significance. Before the First Cylon War Taurons are looked upon as "dirt eaters" and are treated as second-class citizens on Caprica.

Tauron children are known to play with bones from chicken's feet, as one would play with a rubber ball and metal jacks. Further, a Tauron male is considered a man at thirteen years of age ^{(CAP: "Gravedancing")}.

When in mourning, they wear black gloves as a possible way to distance themselves from the world ^{(CAP: "Pilot")}. Tauron services include family gatherings, songs, tattoos and aim at the people left behind to let their loved ones go ^{(CAP: "There is Another Sky")}. It is also traditional for the deaths of family members to be avenged: "blood for blood" ^{(CAP: "Pilot")}. This may be due to the Tauron belief that no one truly dies until their death is avenged, as their soul is believed to be caught in between life and death ^{(TRS: "Gravedancing")}.

Inter-Colonial Relations

During the time of Caprica, the Twelve Colonies are not a unified federal system. Each colony operates as its own nation-state, leading to political tensions. There is significant prejudice and distrust between Capricans and Taurons, with Capricans often viewing Taurons with disdain. This simmering conflict was intentionally written into the series to set the stage for future wars between the colonies.

Other

Notable Natives and Residents

Pre-First Cylon War

• William Adama
• Joseph and Sam Adama
• Willie Adama
• Shannon Adama and her mother Ruth
• Saundra Cain and her husband
• Lucy Cain
• Tomas Vergis

Post-First Cylon War

• Helena Cain

Publications and Media

• The Tauron Globe Times

Pyramid Teams

• Olympia Stallions
• Tauron Bulls

Economics

• Vergis Corporation

Locations

• Hypatia, Tauron's capital
• Olympia, a wealthy suburb of Hypatia
• Tauron City (also known as Minos)

Notes

Cultural Background

The Tauron language is based on both ancient and modern Greek. Greek terms used in Caprica are listed here.

Tauron bereavement practices and funeral services resemble ancient Greek traditions, notably wearing black colors, eschewing social gatherings, and the lack of flowers or other similar offerings.

Production History

Tauron was the third of the twelve Colonial worlds shown in the Re-imagined Series, but only through the extended home video release of "Razor."

According to Serge's Twitter account, Tauron only has a moon. However, the object's appearance in "Know Thy Enemy" is relatively large and resembles an LA Times description of Scorpia.

Tauron City was originally assumed to be Tauron's capital (analogical to Caprica City). Later, Serge's Twitter account stated the capital to be Hypatia.

From Script to Screen

While the "Hero" episode provides limited details about Tauron's role as a cover story for classified operations, its script contains additional context about the colony's reputation within Colonial Fleet intelligence circles. The screenplay elaborates on how Tauron's "troublesome" reputation made it an ideal pretext for military reconnaissance missions near the Armistice Line.

Additional Background

On Serge's Twitter account, he states that Tauron has a long and bloody history with much contested over its retelling. Furthermore, he states that the earlier uprising of 30 years ago was heating up again and also comments that the agrarian Taurons are becoming disillusioned with the playboy antics of their dictator Andreas Phaulkon.

References