Basestar (TRS)

This article is about the basestars as seen in the Re-imagined Series. For the Original Series version, see Basestar (TOS).

A basestar (known interchangeably as a "baseship") is the most prominent example of the Cylon military presence. As the capital ship of the Cylons, the basestar appears in four forms in the Re-imagined Series.

Modern basestar

Modern basestar
Race:	Cylon
Type:	Military
FTL:	Yes
Propulsion:
Crew:	Humanoid Cylons, Cylon Centurions, the Hybrid
Capacity:
CO:	{{{co}}}
XO:	{{{xo}}}
Role:	Carrier / battleship hybrid
Weapons:	Nuclear and conventional missiles, Raiders, Heavy Raiders
Armaments:	{{{arm}}}
Defenses:	{{{def}}}
Aircraft:	{{{aircraft}}}
Aviation facilities:	{{{facilities}}}
Fate:	{{{status}}}
Emblem:	[[Image:{{{patch}}}|175px|Ship's patch]]
Other Images:	Gallery
Dimensions
Length:	{{{length}}}
Width:	3381.53ft (1030.69m)
Height:	869.98ft (265.17m)
Weight:	{{{weight}}}
Wingspan:	{{{wingspan}}}
Other:	{{{otherdi}}}
Game Information
Cost:	{{{construction}}}
Construction Time:	{{{construction}}}
Hull Size:	{{{hull size}}}
Hull:	{{{hull}}}
Mobility
FTL Cooldown:	{{{ftl cooldown}}} turns
Speed:	{{{speed}}} m/s
Turn Rate:	{{{turn rate}}}°/turn
Armor Sum
Armor Total:	{{{armor total}}}
Armor Left:	{{{armor left}}}
Armor Right:	{{{armor right}}}
Armor Front:	{{{armor front}}}
Armor Rear:	{{{armor rear}}}
Armor Top:	{{{armor top}}}
Armor Bottom:	{{{armor bottom}}}
Armament
DRADIS Range:	{{{dradis range}}} m
Processing Power:	{{{processing power}}}
Munition Slots:	{{{munitions}}}
Munition Cooldown Period:	{{{munition cooldown}}} turns
Squadron Slots:	{{{squadrons}}}
Squadron Size:	{{{squadron size}}}
Special Abilities:	{{{special abilities}}}
Additional Information

The modern basestars, seen some 40 years after the end of the Cylon War, are approximately the same size as a Colonial battlestar but appear to be more technologically advanced . The shape of the newer basestar reflects its name, with two Y-shaped hulls attached at their centers by a single pylon, the warship has a distinctive "star" shape.

They are equipped with a superior jump system and no visible means of sublight propulsion, lacking any engine pods or nacelles, but remain capable of chasing down a battlestar (TRS: "Exodus, Part II"). They can rotate their upper and lower halves into a tandem-Y configuration for entry into a planetary atmosphere (TRS: "The Plan").

Basestars operate a fleet of small fighters, known as Raiders, and are capable of deploying hundreds of these ships simultaneously (see Related Imagery). The enormous number of Raiders serves as a basestar's primary defense system.

Like the Raiders, the basestars are partially organic, which is particularly evident in their landing bays (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II"). When severely damaged, they can sustain large, fleshy "wounds" (TRS: "Faith"). Moreover, Natalie mentions that their damaged baseship can heal itself (TRS: "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?").

The baseships possess several conventional rooms and hallways, which are sleek but generally bland. Lighting plays a large role in the aesthetics and some rooms are furnished with clearly human objects, such as beds and couches. Humanoid Cylons project different surroundings to navigate ship corridors more easily, and to provide them with an individually pleasing environment (such as a lush forest). Data and other functions (such as analyzing visual information) are handled within a liquid computer interface that resembles a stream of water flowing over a luminous glass surface. Cylons can interact with the main computer by placing their hands in these basins (TRS: "Torn").

Command and Control

Baseship control room (TRS: "Torn").

A basestar is operated by many humanoid Cylons. Up to all seven models of them issue commands for the basestar from a central command and control center. Consensus amongst models is the typical procedure, as such the process of deliberation and voting on decisions may cause the basestar to react more slowly than a battlestar's command and control in a CIC.

A basestar's functions are managed by a partially humanoid Cylon incorporated into the ship, known as a Hybrid. The Hybrid, for all respects of identity and control, is the basestar. The ship is an extension of her body and she is the ship's mind. The Hybrid, despite its humanoid appearance, is not a considered a fellow humanoid Cylon and lacks voting power as other agents have in Cylon affairs.

A basestar has a datastream, or computer network, which interfaces with the Hybrid and all aspects of the basestar's operation.

Armaments

Basestar launching missiles (TRS: "He That Believeth In Me").

A basestar is capable of launching conventional or nuclear missiles from 220 turret launchers mounted throughout the arms and central axis that pivot to allow the basestar to fire in any direction. Basestar-launched nuclear strikes against Colonial ships are usually carried out before Raider deployment. One example of a Cylon nuclear attack involved three Cylon basestars that ambush the battlestar Pegasus. They open their attack firing several nuclear missiles before deploying Raiders and switching to a non-nuclear salvo (TRS: "The Captain's Hand").

A basestar's complement of Raiders is estimated as high as 792 fighters, not counting fighters in repair or otherwise off-line. It should be noted that there are a total of 864 Raider launch slots on the arms of a pre-retconned Basestar. In comparison, the retconned Basestar has only 434 Raider launch slots, a dramatic decrease from the previous version.

This tactic, along with the massive numbers of Raiders that a basestar can unleash, suggest a reliance on overwhelming force to destroy a foe. It is probable that basestars used nuclear weapons to destroy the bulk of the Colonial Fleet (using their CNP back-doors to compromise their defenses first) in the opening wave of their destruction of the Colonies.

After the Colonial commanders draw away their Raider wings, two basestars are torn apart by the kinetic guns of the battlestars Pegasus and Galactica in a joint mission to destroy a Cylon Resurrection Ship. It would seem that that basestars rely heavily on their Raiders for close-range gun defense. Since a basestar does not appear to have point-defense batteries, or heavy armoring, it seems quite vulnerable to battlestars in close-range combat when fighter support is not prominent (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part II"). From this, it can be theorized that basestars are designed primarily as carriers for the massive fleet of Raiders they carry, rather than as a front-line main battleship. Their reliance on long-distance attacks with missiles and their complement of Raiders, as well as their overall fragility seem to support this.

It would also appear that basestars possess an automated self-destruct system that triggers in the event that no living Cylons remain aboard (TRS: "Torn").

Notes

• Beginning with the episode "Collaborators", a new exterior design is used for the basestars, bearing a sharper, more mechanical look than they previously had. This was apparently an upgrade by the visual effects crew to make the exterior reflect the interior design, which is seen for the first time in that episode.

Rebel basestar

Rebel basestar
Race:	Cylon
Type:	Military
FTL:	Yes
Propulsion:
Crew:	Humanoid Cylons, Cylon Centurions, the Hybrid
Capacity:
CO:	{{{co}}}
XO:	{{{xo}}}
Role:	Carrier / battleship hybrid
Weapons:	Nuclear and conventional missiles, Heavy Raiders, at least 3 Raiders
Armaments:	{{{arm}}}
Defenses:	{{{def}}}
Aircraft:	{{{aircraft}}}
Aviation facilities:	{{{facilities}}}
Fate:	Somewhere in space under the command of freed Centurions
Emblem:	[[Image:{{{patch}}}|175px|Ship's patch]]
Other Images:	Gallery
Dimensions
Length:	{{{length}}}
Width:	{{{width}}}
Height:	{{{height}}}
Weight:	{{{weight}}}
Wingspan:	{{{wingspan}}}
Other:	{{{otherdi}}}
Game Information
Cost:	{{{construction}}}
Construction Time:	{{{construction}}}
Hull Size:	{{{hull size}}}
Hull:	{{{hull}}}
Mobility
FTL Cooldown:	{{{ftl cooldown}}} turns
Speed:	{{{speed}}} m/s
Turn Rate:	{{{turn rate}}}°/turn
Armor Sum
Armor Total:	{{{armor total}}}
Armor Left:	{{{armor left}}}
Armor Right:	{{{armor right}}}
Armor Front:	{{{armor front}}}
Armor Rear:	{{{armor rear}}}
Armor Top:	{{{armor top}}}
Armor Bottom:	{{{armor bottom}}}
Armament
DRADIS Range:	{{{dradis range}}} m
Processing Power:	{{{processing power}}}
Munition Slots:	{{{munitions}}}
Munition Cooldown Period:	{{{munition cooldown}}} turns
Squadron Slots:	{{{squadrons}}}
Squadron Size:	{{{squadron size}}}
Special Abilities:	{{{special abilities}}}
Additional Information

Main article: Rebel basestar

This basestar belonged to the rebel Cylon faction comprised of only the Two, Six and Eight models aside from Boomer, as well as the last remaining Three copy later on. The basestar received serious damage after the other three models attempted to wipe out and destroy the rebel's basestars. All but this basestar (TRS: "The Ties That Bind") survived.

The basestar was later found by the Demetrius and its crew, who had been searching for Earth. They return to the fleet with the basestar, where the Colonials and the Rebel Cylons form an unsteady alliance to destroy the Resurrection Hub, and hence destroy the Cylons' ability to resurrect. However, the basestar becomes the only ship to make it there, after the Hybrid jumps without Galactica. Against all odds, the baseship manages to destroy the Hub with the help of the humans in the ship, as well as retrieve the last Three copy (TRS: "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?", "The Hub").

After a brief standoff, the Cylons join the fleet in the final jump to Earth, only to find it in ruins. The basestar is later invited to join the fleet to find a new home afterwards (TRS: "Sometimes a Great Notion").

Over time, the ship is integrated into the fleet, getting its own representation in the new Quorum of Ship's Captains and flying joint fighter CAPs with Galactica. Upon Admiral Adama's decision to abandon the battlestar, it is decided that the baseship would become the new flagship under Adama's command, since it is the only other warship remaining in the fleet.

When Galactica heads off to the Colony to rescue Hera, the baseship is left under the command of Admiral Hoshi to await Galactica's return. It later jumps to New Earth along with the rest of the fleet, where the Cylons turn control of the ship to the Centurions, allowing them to seek their own destiny as the human models settle on Earth with the rest of humanity.

Cylon War-era basestars

The Cylons had deployed three different variants of Basestars during the First Cylon War.

First Variant

Basestar, 1st variant
Race:	Cylon
Type:	Military
FTL:	Presumed
Propulsion:
Crew:	Centurions
Capacity:
CO:	{{{co}}}
XO:	{{{xo}}}
Role:	Carrier / battleship hybrid
Weapons:	Nuclear and conventional missiles, Raiders
Armaments:	{{{arm}}}
Defenses:	{{{def}}}
Aircraft:	{{{aircraft}}}
Aviation facilities:	{{{facilities}}}
Fate:	{{{status}}}
Emblem:	[[Image:{{{patch}}}|175px|Ship's patch]]
Other Images:	Gallery
Dimensions
Length:	{{{length}}}
Width:	{{{width}}}
Height:	{{{height}}}
Weight:	{{{weight}}}
Wingspan:	{{{wingspan}}}
Other:	{{{otherdi}}}
Game Information
Cost:	{{{construction}}}
Construction Time:	{{{construction}}}
Hull Size:	{{{hull size}}}
Hull:	{{{hull}}}
Mobility
FTL Cooldown:	{{{ftl cooldown}}} turns
Speed:	{{{speed}}} m/s
Turn Rate:	{{{turn rate}}}°/turn
Armor Sum
Armor Total:	{{{armor total}}}
Armor Left:	{{{armor left}}}
Armor Right:	{{{armor right}}}
Armor Front:	{{{armor front}}}
Armor Rear:	{{{armor rear}}}
Armor Top:	{{{armor top}}}
Armor Bottom:	{{{armor bottom}}}
Armament
DRADIS Range:	{{{dradis range}}} m
Processing Power:	{{{processing power}}}
Munition Slots:	{{{munitions}}}
Munition Cooldown Period:	{{{munition cooldown}}} turns
Squadron Slots:	{{{squadrons}}}
Squadron Size:	{{{squadron size}}}
Special Abilities:	{{{special abilities}}}
Additional Information

The basestars in service during the 12-year Cylon War consisted of two flattened cones connected at the center by a thick pylon, giving them a conical saucer-like appearance (TRS: "Razor Flashbacks").

Much like its modern counterpart, this model utilized chemically-propelled missiles (with both nuclear and conventional warheads) as the main form of offensive weaponry. Raiders were deployed from access points (totaling 8 in number) throughout a basestar's hull to provide defense. This design, as with later iterations, was capable of operating within an atmosphere (Blood and Chrome).

During Operation Raptor Talon, the battlestar Columbia was destroyed by basestar missiles and Raider attacks as Galactica and another unnamed battlestar pressed their assaults.

The origins of the initial basestars are unclear. However, as Cylons were a creation of man in the early days before the war, it is probable that man himself (through the efforts of various colonies) designed the various ships and weapons used by the Cylons for the use in intra-colonial wars prior to the Articles of Colonization.

A model of this basestar design is displayed over 40 years later on Galactica, as part of its planned museum (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 1").

Second Variant

Basestar, 2nd variant
Race:	Cylon
Type:	Military
FTL:	Yes
Propulsion:
Crew:	Unknown, presumably Centurions
Capacity:
CO:	{{{co}}}
XO:	{{{xo}}}
Role:	Carrier / battleship hybrid
Weapons:	Nuclear and conventional missiles, kinetic energy weapons (point defense), Raiders
Armaments:	{{{arm}}}
Defenses:	{{{def}}}
Aircraft:	{{{aircraft}}}
Aviation facilities:	{{{facilities}}}
Fate:	{{{status}}}
Emblem:	[[Image:{{{patch}}}|175px|Ship's patch]]
Other Images:	Gallery
Dimensions
Length:	{{{length}}}
Width:	{{{width}}}
Height:	{{{height}}}
Weight:	{{{weight}}}
Wingspan:	{{{wingspan}}}
Other:	{{{otherdi}}}
Game Information
Cost:	{{{construction}}}
Construction Time:	{{{construction}}}
Hull Size:	{{{hull size}}}
Hull:	{{{hull}}}
Mobility
FTL Cooldown:	{{{ftl cooldown}}} turns
Speed:	{{{speed}}} m/s
Turn Rate:	{{{turn rate}}}°/turn
Armor Sum
Armor Total:	{{{armor total}}}
Armor Left:	{{{armor left}}}
Armor Right:	{{{armor right}}}
Armor Front:	{{{armor front}}}
Armor Rear:	{{{armor rear}}}
Armor Top:	{{{armor top}}}
Armor Bottom:	{{{armor bottom}}}
Armament
DRADIS Range:	{{{dradis range}}} m
Processing Power:	{{{processing power}}}
Munition Slots:	{{{munitions}}}
Munition Cooldown Period:	{{{munition cooldown}}} turns
Squadron Slots:	{{{squadrons}}}
Squadron Size:	{{{squadron size}}}
Special Abilities:	{{{special abilities}}}
Additional Information

A second variant Basestar was deployed by Cylon forces sometime before the 10th year of the War. This class represents a small evolutionary step from the 1st variant to the Guardian Basestar, suggesting it wasn't a one-off design. This line of Basestars can then be linked to the modern design seen after the fall of the Colonies.

This configuration features two y-shaped hulls in tandem alignment, with a 1st variant-like top and bottom hull ("Blood and Chrome").

Although the main offensive armament of this variant is still its missile launchers, the ship also possesses numerous point defense cannons, which are used by one such ship in a failed attempt to deter the attacking Osiris's kamikaze run.

Third "Guardian" Variant

Guardian basestar
Race:	Cylon
Type:	Military
FTL:	Yes
Propulsion:
Crew:	Centurions, first Hybrid
Capacity:
CO:	{{{co}}}
XO:	{{{xo}}}
Role:	Carrier / battleship hybrid
Weapons:	36 twin missile tube mountings , First Cylon War-era Raiders
Armaments:	{{{arm}}}
Defenses:	{{{def}}}
Aircraft:	{{{aircraft}}}
Aviation facilities:	{{{facilities}}}
Fate:	Destroyed
Emblem:	[[Image:{{{patch}}}|175px|Ship's patch]]
Other Images:	Gallery
Dimensions
Length:	{{{length}}}
Width:	{{{width}}}
Height:	{{{height}}}
Weight:	{{{weight}}}
Wingspan:	{{{wingspan}}}
Other:	{{{otherdi}}}
Game Information
Cost:	{{{construction}}}
Construction Time:	{{{construction}}}
Hull Size:	{{{hull size}}}
Hull:	{{{hull}}}
Mobility
FTL Cooldown:	{{{ftl cooldown}}} turns
Speed:	{{{speed}}} m/s
Turn Rate:	{{{turn rate}}}°/turn
Armor Sum
Armor Total:	{{{armor total}}}
Armor Left:	{{{armor left}}}
Armor Right:	{{{armor right}}}
Armor Front:	{{{armor front}}}
Armor Rear:	{{{armor rear}}}
Armor Top:	{{{armor top}}}
Armor Bottom:	{{{armor bottom}}}
Armament
DRADIS Range:	{{{dradis range}}} m
Processing Power:	{{{processing power}}}
Munition Slots:	{{{munitions}}}
Munition Cooldown Period:	{{{munition cooldown}}} turns
Squadron Slots:	{{{squadrons}}}
Squadron Size:	{{{squadron size}}}
Special Abilities:	{{{special abilities}}}
Additional Information

Main article: Guardian basestar

Towards the end of the first Cylon War, the Cylons built a prototype basestar that had roughly the same shape as the modern basestar. The first hybrids were developed for use with this model.

It is explained by Athena that a group of Centurions calling themselves Guardians fractured from the Cylon majority with such a basestar. The belief is that they escaped to the far reaches of space to avoid being shut-down in favor of their modernized, non-sentient successors (TRS: "Razor"). The only basestar of this type known to exist was destroyed by Colonial forces shortly after its discovery.

Related Imagery

• 
  A first variant Basestar hovering over Caprica City.
• 
  Operation Raptor Talon at the end of the first Cylon War (TRS: "Razor").
• 
  A second variant Basestar over the ice moon Djerba.
• 
  A second variant Basestar launches Raiders.
• 
  A third "Guardian" variant taking off from an ice planet (TRS: "Razor Flashbacks").
• 
  Raiders being released (TRS: "Scattered").
• 
  Trio of basestars over Caprica (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II").
• 
  A basestar infected by a deadly virus (TRS: "Torn").
• 
  Baltar and a Three in a room on a basestar (TRS: "Torn").
• 
  Baltar and a Three in a corridor (TRS: "The Passage").
• 
  A basestar's hangar bay (TRS: "Torn").
• 
  A membrane covers a mechanical-looking hatch of a Cylon docking slip (TRS: "Faith").
• 
  Tandem "Y" formation assumed for atmospheric entries as seen in "The Plan".
• 
  Another view of tandem "Y".
• 
  Basestar Weaponary.
• 
  Closeup of missle launcher with MIRV mounted.
• 
  Detail of primary raider bays. There are two per ship.
• 
  Detail of the secondary raider bays. There are four per ship.
• 
  Arm detail.
• 
  Angle shot.