Colonial Ministry of Defense: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:24, 13 September 2025

The Colonial Ministry of Defense was the branch of the Colonial Government responsible for administering its military forces. As with the Caprican Ministry of Defense of 42YR, it successor was headquartered on Caprica, and overseen by various groups including the Admiralty, of which Admirals Peter Corman and Nagala were a part circa 6 BCH (94YR) to 0 BCH (2000BYR) respectfully.

Its scope of operations included the defense of the Twelve Colonies from the Cylon threat, should they ever decide to return; and it conducted research and development into technologies that could improve the success in those missions.

Pre-Fall

An Armistice Officer from the Ministry was sent every year following the Cimtar Peace Accord (colloquially known as the Armistice) to the Armistice Station to maintain diplomatic relations with the Cylons, beginning 40 BCH (60YR) up until the eve of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, becoming the first known casualty connected to that event ^{(TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1")}.

Kendra Shaw was reassigned from a Ministry assignment to Pegasus on the eve of the Fall ^{(TRS: "Razor")}.

Prior to the Fall, Commander William Adama of Valkyrie was assigned to clandestinely probe behind the Armistice Line circa 6 BCH (94YR)^{[footnotes 1]}. Its failure results in the reassignment of key command personnel, including Valkyrie executive officer Saul Tigh to Galactica ^{(TRS: "Hero")}.

The Fall

Dr. Gaius Baltar was a consultant for the Ministry and worked on the development of the Command Navigation Program, which became an integral part of much of the Colonial Fleet's systems. One of Baltar's lovers, a contractor at the Ministry, assisted him with the CNP's programming circa 2 BCH (98YR).

On the day of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, this woman reveals to Baltar that she is a Cylon agent, sixth out of 12 humanoid models, and that with the access she gained through Baltar, she was able to penetrate extremely sensitive assets such as the Colonial Defense Mainframe. In the course of fixing over half of Baltar's CNP programming algorithms, she secretly added backdoors into the program that would cripple the bulk of the Colonial Fleet and expose the Twelve Colonies to Cylon attack.

During the attack, the captain of Colonial Heavy 798 established contact with Jack at the Ministry, whom Laura Roslin was barely able to debrief prior to 798's detection by the Cylons ^{(TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1")}.

Dr. Amarak also worked at the Ministry and was a colleague of Baltar. He is presumably killed when Galactica's CAP destroys Olympic Carrier, if not earlier by Cylon hands ^(TRS: "33").

When a copy of Number Six appears on Galactica under the alias of Shelly Godfrey, she pretends to be a systems analyst at the Ministry and the lover of Dr. Amarak ^{(TRS: "Six Degrees of Separation")}.

Covert Operations Authorization

The Ministry of Defense maintained oversight of classified military operations beyond the Armistice Line. Admiral Peter Corman, representing the Admiralty's interests, authorized the covert reconnaissance mission that Commander William Adama conducted approximately 6 BCH (94YR)^{[footnotes 1]} ^{(TRS: "Hero")}.

The classified nature of these operations required the highest levels of Ministry approval, with Admiral Corman emphasizing to Adama that such opportunities to gather intelligence on potential Cylon activity were rare and carried severe consequences if discovered. The Ministry's authorization of cross-border reconnaissance missions demonstrated their growing concern about Cylon intentions during the Armistice period ^{(TRS: "Hero")}.

Notes

In the Miniseries, Roslin refers to a Ministry of Civil Defense. It is unknown if this is a synonym for the Ministry of Defense or a separate ministry akin to the American Department of Homeland Security.
The patch's lower text, "Kobol HQ," is likely a continuity error based on early drafts of the Miniseries script, where Kobol itself was originally the single homeworld of the Twelve Colonies.

From Script to Screen

The October 25, 2006 "Full Collated" version of the "Hero" script contains an extensive scene set in Admiral Corman's office within the Ministry of Defense, providing detailed environmental descriptions including sunshine and blue sky visible through picture-frame windows.^{[script 1]} This scene was omitted from the aired episode, which instead conveys the Ministry's role through dialogue and flashbacks.

The screenplay depicts the Ministry's briefing procedures in greater detail, showing Admiral Corman's formal authorization process and the political context surrounding covert operations.^{[script 2]} The aired version streamlines this bureaucratic context while maintaining the essential plot elements.

References

Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 While dialogue from "Hero" places these events at 1 BCH, this contradicts previously established dates about the time Adama and others served on Galactica. See Hero#Analysis for a detailed explanation why Battlestar Wiki chooses to treat this as a continuity error.

Episodes

Script References

↑ David Eick."Hero".Battlestar Galactica.Season 3, episode 7.(Production code 307-03007).Full Collated.Script dated October 25, 2006.p. PDF page 14, script page 8.
↑ David Eick."Hero".Battlestar Galactica.Season 3, episode 7.(Production code 307-03007).Full Collated.Script dated October 25, 2006.p. PDF page 14, script page 8.

[hero_timeline_continuity_armistice-1] 1.0 ^1.1 While dialogue from "Hero" places these events at 1 BCH, this contradicts previously established dates about the time Adama and others served on Galactica. See Hero#Analysis for a detailed explanation why Battlestar Wiki chooses to treat this as a continuity error.

[eick_hero_script_corman_ministry_office_environmental_descriptions-2] David Eick."Hero".Battlestar Galactica.Season 3, episode 7.(Production code 307-03007).Full Collated.Script dated October 25, 2006.p. PDF page 14, script page 8.

[eick_hero_script_ministry_briefing_procedures_political_context-3] David Eick."Hero".Battlestar Galactica.Season 3, episode 7.(Production code 307-03007).Full Collated.Script dated October 25, 2006.p. PDF page 14, script page 8.

[footnotes 1]

[script 1]

[script 2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''Colonial Ministry of Defense''' was the branch of the [[Government|Colonial Government]] based primarily on [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]], whose function was to research improvements in technology that can more effectively defend the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]] from the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] threat if they ever decide to return.
+[[File:TRS - Hero - Adama with Admiralty.jpg|thumb|''[[Valkyrie]]''{{'|s}} commanding officer, Commander [[William Adama]], meeting with {{RDM|Colonial Fleet}} admiralty. Note the wall crest in the background {{TRS|Hero}}.]]
+The '''Colonial Ministry of Defense''' was the branch of the [[Government|Colonial Government]] responsible for administering its military forces. As with the [[Caprican Ministry of Defense]] of [[42YR]], it successor was headquartered on {{RDM|Caprica}}, and overseen by various groups including the Admiralty, of which Admirals [[Peter Corman]] and [[Nagala]] were a part circa {{BCH|6}} to {{BCH|0}} respectfully.
-Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] was a consultant for the Ministry and worked on the development of the [[Command Navigation Program]] which became an integral part of much of the [[Colonial Fleet]]'s systems. A young, brilliant programmer, one of Baltar's lovers, aided him in the CNP's programming. This woman, who Baltar later discovers is a [[Humanoid Cylon]] called [[Caprica-Six|Number Six]], allegedly worked as a contractor for the Ministry. Baltar implies that she would get an advantage in future work for the Ministry in exchange for her help in assisting him with creating the CNP. Six was able to access, among other sensitive locations, the [[Colonial Defense Mainframe]].
+Its scope of operations included the defense of the [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol|Twelve Colonies]] from the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] threat, should they ever decide to return; and it conducted research and development into technologies that could improve the success in those missions.
-Six not only involved herself in his work by fixing over half of Baltar's CNP programming algorithms, she secretly added [[backdoors]] into the program that would cripple the bulk of the [[Colonial Fleet]] and spell the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|doom]] of the Twelve Colonies to [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] attack.
+== Pre-Fall ==
+An [[Armistice Officer]] from the Ministry was sent every year following the [[Cimtar Peace Accord]] (colloquially known as the Armistice) to the [[Armistice Station]] to maintain diplomatic relations with the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]], beginning {{BCH|40}} up until the eve of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], becoming the first known casualty connected to that event {{TRS|Miniseries, Night 1}}.
-During the attack, the captain of then-''[[Colonial One|Colonial Heavy 798]]'' established contact to a worker at the Ministry referred to as [[Jack]], whom [[Laura Roslin]] was able to briefly debrief prior to ''798'''s detection by the [[Cylons (RDM)|] ([[Miniseries]]).
+[[Kendra Shaw]] was reassigned from a Ministry assignment to ''[[Pegasus (TRS)|Pegasus]]'' on the eve of the Fall {{TRS|Razor}}.
-[[Amorak|Dr. Amorak]] also worked at the Ministry and was a colleague of Baltar. He is presumably killed when ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica's'']] [[CAP]] destroys the ''[[Olympic Carrier]]'' after it is commandeered by Cylons.
+Prior to the Fall, Commander [[William Adama]] of ''[[Valkyrie]]'' was assigned to clandestinely probe behind the [[Armistice Line]] circa {{BCH|6}}<ref name="hero_timeline_continuity_armistice" group="footnotes">While dialogue from "Hero" places these events at 1 BCH, this contradicts previously established dates about the time Adama and others served on ''Galactica''. See [[Hero#Analysis]] for a detailed explanation why ''Battlestar Wiki'' chooses to treat this as a continuity error.</ref>. Its failure results in the reassignment of key command personnel, including ''Valkyrie'' executive officer [[Saul Tigh]] to ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' {{TRS|Hero}}.
-When a copy of Number Six appears on ''Galactica'' under the alias of [[Shelly Godfrey]], she pretends to be a systems analyst at the Ministry and the lover of Dr. Amorak ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]).
+== The Fall ==
+Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] was a consultant for the Ministry and worked on the development of the [[Command Navigation Program]], which became an integral part of much of the [[Colonial Fleet (TRS)|Colonial Fleet]]'s systems. One of [[Caprica-Six|Baltar's lovers]], a contractor at the Ministry, assisted him with the CNP's programming circa {{BCH|2}}.
+On the day of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], this woman reveals to Baltar that she is a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] agent, [[Number Six|sixth]] out of 12 humanoid models, and that with the access she gained through Baltar, she was able to penetrate extremely sensitive assets such as the [[Colonial Defense Mainframe]]. In the course of fixing over half of Baltar's CNP programming algorithms, she secretly added [[backdoors]] into the program that would cripple the bulk of the Colonial Fleet and expose the Twelve Colonies to Cylon attack.
+During the attack, the [[Colonial One Captain|captain]] of ''[[Colonial One|Colonial Heavy 798]]'' established contact with [[Jack]] at the Ministry, whom [[Laura Roslin]] was barely able to debrief prior to ''798'''s detection by the Cylons {{TRS|Miniseries, Night 1}}.
+[[Amarak|Dr. Amarak]] also worked at the Ministry and was a colleague of Baltar. He is presumably killed when ''[[Galactica (TRS)|Galactica]]''{{'|s}} [[Combat Air Patrol|CAP]] destroys [[Olympic Carrier|''Olympic Carrier'']], if not earlier by Cylon hands {{TRS|33}}.
+When a copy of Number Six appears on ''Galactica'' under the alias of [[Shelly Godfrey]], she pretends to be a systems analyst at the Ministry and the lover of Dr. Amarak {{TRS|Six Degrees of Separation}}.
+== Covert Operations Authorization ==
+The Ministry of Defense maintained oversight of classified military operations beyond the [[Armistice Line]]. Admiral [[Peter Corman]], representing the Admiralty's interests, authorized the covert reconnaissance mission that Commander [[William Adama]] conducted approximately {{BCH|6}}<ref name="hero_timeline_continuity_armistice" group="footnotes" />  {{TRS|Hero}}.
+The classified nature of these operations required the highest levels of Ministry approval, with Admiral Corman emphasizing to Adama that such opportunities to gather intelligence on potential [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] activity were rare and carried severe consequences if discovered. The Ministry's authorization of cross-border reconnaissance missions demonstrated their growing concern about Cylon intentions during the Armistice period {{TRS|Hero}}.
+[[File:MOD Patch.jpg|thumb|right|349x349px|[[Kendra Shaw]]'s Ministry of Defense patch {{TRS|Razor}}.]]
 == Notes ==
-*In the [[Miniseries]], Roslin refers to the Colonial Ministry of Defense as the "Ministry of Civil Defense".
+*In the [[Miniseries]], Roslin refers to a Ministry of Civil Defense. It is unknown if this is a synonym for the Ministry of Defense or a separate ministry akin to the American [[w:United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]].
+*The patch's lower text, "Kobol HQ," is likely a continuity error based on early drafts of the Miniseries script, where {{RDM|Kobol}} itself was originally the single homeworld of the Twelve Colonies.
+=== From Script to Screen ===
+* The October 25, 2006 "Full Collated" version of the "[[Hero]]" script contains an extensive scene set in Admiral Corman's office within the Ministry of Defense, providing detailed environmental descriptions including sunshine and blue sky visible through picture-frame windows.<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_corman_ministry_office_environmental_descriptions">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 14, script page 8}}</ref> This scene was omitted from the aired episode, which instead conveys the Ministry's role through dialogue and flashbacks.
+* The screenplay depicts the Ministry's briefing procedures in greater detail, showing Admiral Corman's formal authorization process and the political context surrounding covert operations.<ref group="script" name="eick_hero_script_ministry_briefing_procedures_political_context">{{cite script|writer=David Eick|title=Hero|series=Battlestar Galactica|season_number=3|episode_number=7|production_code=307-03007|script_date=October 25, 2006|version=Full Collated|page=PDF page 14, script page 8}}</ref> The aired version streamlines this bureaucratic context while maintaining the essential plot elements.
+== References ==
+=== Footnotes ===
+{{reflist|group=footnotes}}
+=== Episodes ===
+{{reflist|group=episodes}}
+=== Script References ===
+{{reflist|group=script}}
+{{reflist}}
+{{Ships}}
 [[Category:A to Z]]
@@ Line 21: / Line 62: @@
 [[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
 [[Category:RDM]]
+{{indicator|TRS}}