Battle for the Tylium Asteroid

Battle for the Tylium Asteroid
Apollo flying away from the Cylon tylium mine as it begins to explode
Apollo flying away from the Cylon tylium mine as it begins to explode
Summary
Conflict:	Second Cylon War
Date:	Day 36
Related Episode(s):
Place:	Asteroid field in interstellar space, specific location unknown
Result:	Colonial victory. Resupply of tylium ore for fuel reserves.
Lieutenant Kara ThraceUnknown †" Combatants Remnants of the Colonial Fleet Cylons Commanders Commander William Adama Lieutenant Kara Thrace Unknown † Strength Galactica, at least 19 Vipers and 2 Raptors 140 Raiders, fixed anti-aircraft emplacements Materiel Losses At least 4 Vipers Complete destruction of Cylon forces Casualties Fireball, Stepchild, Chuckles and 3 other pilots Unknown, high
Battle Chronology
Previous Next Skirmish over the Red Moon Battle for the Tylium Asteroid Battle of Kobol

The Battle for the Tylium Asteroid takes place when Galactica attacks a Cylon tylium ore refinery. Additionally, it marks the first time that Galactica makes an offensive strike against Cylon forces.

After exhausting much of its fuel reserves fleeing from Cylon forces (TRS: "33") and rescuing Kara Thrace after she crash-lands on a moon (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again"), Galactica sends Raptors to outlying star systems in search of tylium; a fuel source used by all ships in the Fleet.They locate an asteroid saturated with the mineral, but also occupied by Cylons and fortified with Raider squadrons. Commander Adama decides to take the asteroid with a daring plan, utilizing the unconventional thinking of Kara Thrace to draft the attack strategy and Captain Lee Adama to implement it.

Galactica pulls a double-feint; using a cargo freighter to lure away patrolling Raiders, the battlestar deploys a Viper squadron to approach the unprotected asteroid. The Cylons deduce the freighter to be a diversion and turn their fighters on the approaching Viper squadron. Additionally, they release all of their base's reserve Raiders to make a run at Galactica. With all Cylon craft engaging either the Vipers or Galactica, a second squadron of Vipers emerges from inside the cargo freighter and heads for the now unguarded Cylon base.

As the squadron reaches the surface of the asteroid and approaches the refinery, they encounter heavy anti-aircraft fire that destroys three Vipers. Furthermore, a powerful jamming signal prevents the squadron from using guided missiles against the refinery, and Captain Adama determines that any attacks they attempt will have to be completed manually. For that to be possible they must be able to approach the base at a close range - something which the anti-aircraft artillery makes unattainable.

Captain Adama orders the other fighters to pull back as he searches for an alternative way of approaching the refinery. He finds a conveyor duct that runs from an un-defended canyon adjacent to the base, and ends below a tank storing highly unstable tylium precursor. After successfully maneuvering the duct, Adama detonates a pair of explosive charges underneath the tank, then makes his escape.

The ignition of the tylium-precursor results in a chain-reaction that destroys the refinery with a force equivalent to that of a three kiloton nuclear warhead yet leaves the underlying tylium unaffected. Moreover, the force of the explosion heavily disorients the overflying Raiders, leaving them unable to re-arm or refuel. With no means by which to escape the space surrounding the asteroid, the scattered fighters are destroyed by Galactica and her Vipers.

Aftermath

Shortly after Galactica's victory over the enemy, ships from the civilian fleet mine a large quantity of tylium from the asteroid (gathered by the mobile mining ships and processed on a refinery ship). The mining yields enough tylium reserve to last the Fleet for several years.

Extraordinarily, this battle was prophesied in the Sacred Scrolls, which mention a victory "led by serpents numbering two and ten" (the twelve Vipers). The scrolls warn, however, that "though the outcome favored the few, it would lead to a confrontation at the home of the gods" (TRS: "The Hand of God").

Impact

Without the replenishment of the tylium, it is highly probable that the Cylons would have caught up with the Fleet and destroyed it. As of "Dirty Hands", nearly three years later, tylium ore was still in supply. Hence, the success of this battle removed what would have been a major concern for the Fleet for several years. Although further resupply is possible, it is not mentioned during the time between this battle and the events of "Dirty Hands".