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Red Line: Difference between revisions

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide
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Conventionizing and updating.
fix wording to be technically correct (the boundaries of objects in 3d are not actually lines)
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The '''Red Line''' is the maximum radius of an imaginary sphere enclosing a vessel which denotes the maximum safe limit for an [[FTL]] jump. It is described in an early [http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/battlestar/season1/galactica-ms2.pdf draft] of the script for the [[Mini-Series]] as follows:
The '''Red Line''' is an imaginary sphere enclosing a vessel which denotes the maximum safe limit for an [[FTL]] jump. It is described in an early [http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/battlestar/season1/galactica-ms2.pdf draft] of the script for the [[Mini-Series]] as follows:


:"There are computational errors in every Jump. The further out you Jump, the greater the error. Jump past the red line and it may be almost impossible to find your way back."
:"There are computational errors in every Jump. The further out you Jump, the greater the error. Jump past the red line and it may be almost impossible to find your way back."
Line 14: Line 14:
When attempting to escape the [[Cylons]] after their devastating [[Cylon Attack|attack]] on the Twelve Colonies, and with the future of 50,000 survivors on his hands, [[William Adama|Commander Adama]] orders a Jump "beyond the Red Line" to the [[Promar Sector]]. Even the nature of Colonial technology and vessels, it is possible this particular limit reflected the overall capabilities of the Fleet as a whole, and may not represent the maximum distance over which ''[[Galactica]]'' herself might be capable of Jumping.
When attempting to escape the [[Cylons]] after their devastating [[Cylon Attack|attack]] on the Twelve Colonies, and with the future of 50,000 survivors on his hands, [[William Adama|Commander Adama]] orders a Jump "beyond the Red Line" to the [[Promar Sector]]. Even the nature of Colonial technology and vessels, it is possible this particular limit reflected the overall capabilities of the Fleet as a whole, and may not represent the maximum distance over which ''[[Galactica]]'' herself might be capable of Jumping.


The Red Line may also refer to an imaginary line drawn around all space that the Colonials had charted. The Jump to Promar Sector was beyond the Red Line, likely indicating the border between charted and uncharted space. Such a Jump, while possible, increases the chance for collision or near-intersection with uncharted celestial phenomenon.
The Red Line may also refer to an imaginary border drawn around all space that the Colonials had charted. The Jump to Promar Sector was beyond the Red Line, likely indicating the border between charted and uncharted space. Such a Jump, while possible, increases the chance for collision or near-intersection with uncharted celestial phenomenon.


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

Revision as of 06:16, 28 December 2005

The Red Line is an imaginary sphere enclosing a vessel which denotes the maximum safe limit for an FTL jump. It is described in an early draft of the script for the Mini-Series as follows:

"There are computational errors in every Jump. The further out you Jump, the greater the error. Jump past the red line and it may be almost impossible to find your way back."

Jump limits are most likely the result of a combination of factors including:

  • The power available to a vessel to maintain a stable wormhole
  • Local graviational forces (such as nearby planets, etc.) which must be compensated for at either end of the Jump
  • The overall mass of the vessel itself
  • The accuracy and detail of data concerning the emergence zone at the far end of the jump.

The Red Line would appear to be defined within the overall safe operational tolerancies of Colonial FTL technology, given that it can be exceeded if required. However, the potential for damage to, or complete disabling of, Jump drive systems is possible from frequent, repetitive Jumps, as indicated in "33".

When attempting to escape the Cylons after their devastating attack on the Twelve Colonies, and with the future of 50,000 survivors on his hands, Commander Adama orders a Jump "beyond the Red Line" to the Promar Sector. Even the nature of Colonial technology and vessels, it is possible this particular limit reflected the overall capabilities of the Fleet as a whole, and may not represent the maximum distance over which Galactica herself might be capable of Jumping.

The Red Line may also refer to an imaginary border drawn around all space that the Colonials had charted. The Jump to Promar Sector was beyond the Red Line, likely indicating the border between charted and uncharted space. Such a Jump, while possible, increases the chance for collision or near-intersection with uncharted celestial phenomenon.