Carillon

Carillon, before its destruction

Carillon is the dimly lit planet upon which the Ovions reside.

Carillon has rich tylium deposits that the Ovions had hoped to trade to the Cylons in exchange for independence, a fact unknown to the Colonials. An earlier expedition overseen by Baltar reported that Carillon had nothing of note, although these reports were later proven false by surveys from the rag-tag, fugitive fleet under Commander Adama.

A resort on the surface of the planet is created as a lure to kidnap people for the purpose of consuming them. A victim would be lured by continued wins at the chancery, while being continuously fed. After a time, victims would brought below into the underground caverns via an elevator, and subsequently thrown into small honeycomb-style alcoves. It is in these alcoves that both adult and child Ovions would feast upon their prey.

Following the Battle of Cimtar, the Fleet arrives at Carillon via the Nova of Madagon under the mistaken belief that it was abandoned. Discovering a veritable oasis replete with food and comfort, Sire Uri decides to lay down plans to have Carillon be their final destination, until Warriors Starbuck and Apollo uncover the Ovion and Cylon deceit.

During their escape, they set fire to the tylium mines, leading to a chain reaction that ignites the tylium throughout the mines of the whole planet. Leading to an exodus from the planet for the Colonials,Apollo and Starbuck fool the nearby Cylon basestar, upon which the Imperious Leader is aboard, into descending closer to the planet before Carillon explodes (TOS: "Saga of a Star World").

Notes

• According to Encyclopedia Galactica (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):

The tylium-rich Carillon was first discovered by Colonials 178 yahren before the Battle of Cimtar, later settled by a human mining colony 58 yahren later. Since the soil is incapable of supporting crops, the settlers are dependent on supplies from outside sources. Despite this, the colony grew to 50,000 people 15 years after settlement.

Due to the intensification of the Thousand-Yahren War, supply lines became impossible to obtain and the colony was later abandoned, making way for the non-native Ovions to settle, mining the tylium for the Cylons.

Behind the Scenes

• The Ovion mines were shot in Stage 27 (Phantom Stage) at Universal Studios. This stage housed the 1925 Phantom of the Opera set, upon which the Ovion mines were built "over."
• According to director Richard A. Colla, the pyrotechnics used in the scene of Apollo, Starbuck, Boxey and Muffit II's flight from the mines became "a little bit exuberant," forcing the cast and crew to flee the stage. The fire was subsequently extinguished, forcing a rebuild of the Carillon sets while preserving the original Phantom sets on stage, for those older Phantom sets were considered to be "the jewel."