- This article discusses the Twelve Colonies of the Re-imagined Series. See The Twelve Colonies (TOS) for information on the Colonies of the Original Series.
Approximately 2,000 years prior to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, the last twelve of thirteen tribes of Kobol leave the planet due to an issue involving their gods, settling on 12 worlds some distance away (Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I). Their namesakes and icons originally corresponded to the twelve signs of the ancient tribes, although these names drifted over time[1] (Home, Part II).
The early Colonies lived (and fought) more as sovereign nations. By the events of the Articles of Colonization, apparently with the advent of the Cylon War, these worlds unify as a federal republic known as the Twelve Colonies of Kobol.[2]
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Star System[edit]
The star system of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol has not been named.[3]
Caprica is Earth-like world, similar to Kobol and New Caprica. Except for a photograph of Aerelon, no other colony has been shown to-date. The military base seen in Kara Thrace's flashbacks in "Act of Contrition" might have been location on another planet than Caprica, but cannot be placed with certainty.
No descriptions are available of the other colonies in terms of their celestial type: Minor planet, moon, or major planet. However, in the Miniseries, Elosha states that the tribes settled onto "12 worlds." While the use of "worlds" is ambiguous, the Colonies are noted as independent celestial bodies.
Although Commander Adama and President Laura Roslin mention leaving the star system, it is unclear whether all twelve colonies are in this star system. However, Caprica, Virgon, and Ragnar (based on tactical data related by Lt. Felix Gaeta)[4] are located within the same star system (Miniseries).
The Colonies had approximately 20 billion inhabitants prior to the Cylon attack (The Resistance)[5].
The Colonies maintained some minor observatories and listening posts in outlying star systems[6]. Economic activity, such as tylium mining also occurred outside of the immediate vicinity around the Colonies (Hero).
Aerelon[edit]
Ancient Name: Aries
Aerelon was primarily an agricultural world. It was considered to be the the "food basket" of the Twelve Colonies. Despite this, Aerelon was ranked as one of the poorest members of the Colonies. People from Aerelon are known to have a strong raspy dialect (Dirty Hands).
"Fifteen people died" when President Richard Adar, for reasons unexplained, sent the marines to Aerelon (Water).
The mining colony of Troy, destroyed in a cataclysmic explosion, is located near Aerelon, and may have been operated by natives of that world. Troy was the alleged home of Sharon Valerii (Flesh and Bone).
The professional Pyramid team from Aerelon played against the Caprica Buccaneers in one of the last games before the Cylon attack. They apparently won (Resistance).
While imprisoned on Galactica Gaius Baltar talks extensively about Aerelon, his homeworld. He imitates the speech manerisms of a stereotypical native, a farmer who likes to work with his hands, and "go down the pub for a pint" and have a fight at the end of the night (Dirty Hands).
A photo of a grief-stricken soldier staring out at the ruins of Aerelon's capital hangs behind President Roslin's desk and on the bulkhead of the pilot ready room on Galactica (titled "Lest We Forget"). Galactica's pilots touch the photo for luck as they file past to the hangar. This photo of Aerelon gives viewers the only visual depiction of life on a colony other than Caprica in the re-imagined Series.
The unnamed Quorum of Twelve delegate from Aerelon voted for Tom Zarek in the vice-presidential elections (Colonial Day)
Natives[edit]
- Colonel Saul Tigh
- Sekou Hamilton (Presumably - editor of the Aerelon Gazette)
- Specialist Socinus
- Doctor Gaius Baltar
Publications[edit]
Locations[edit]
- The spelling of this colony is sometimes inconsistent in the Re-imagined Series' official cast and crew notes and episode content. The colony is spelled "Aerilon" in the episodes "Home, Part I" and "The Son Also Rises" in official Colonial documentation. Battlestar Wiki chooses to use the more consistently used spelling of "Aerelon" which mainly appears in 'behind the scenes' publications.
Aquaria[edit]
Ancient Name: presumably Aquarius
The unnamed Quorum of Twelve delegate from Aquaria voted for Tom Zarek in the vice-presidential elections (Colonial Day).
Canceron[edit]
Ancient Name: Cancer
- Robin Wenutu is the Canceron Representative to the Quorum of Twelve.
Caprica[edit]
- For information on the proposed Re-imagined Series spin-off, see Caprica (series).
Ancient Name: presumably Capricorn
Caprica is a large blue-green planet. Its largest population center is Caprica City, which serves as the seat of all three branches of the Colonial Government and the capital of the Twelve Colonies. Caprica City is surrounded by other small towns and hamlets, such as Oasis.[7]
Other major cities included Delphi, famous for the Delphi Museum of the Colonies and also home to a large spaceport. During the Cylon attack, the Cylons spared Delphi from nuclear bombardment in order to use it as a base of operations in their occupation of the planet.
The human resistance cell, led by Samuel Anders, operated near Delphi.
Caprica is known for its fine Caprican cloth (which Dr. Gaius Baltar wears), fumarella leaf, Caprican cigars and art.
A railway line can be seen below the balcony of Baltar's house on Caprica during "The Hand of God." What appear to be internal combustion engine powered vehicles, such as cars and trucks, are seen extensively in shots of Caprica.
According to Gaius Baltar, Caprica was the seat of politics, culture, art, science, and learning. It was also one of the wealthier colonies (Dirty Hands).
Natives[edit]
- Admiral William Adama (Born in Qualai)
- Carolanne Adama
- Major Lee "Apollo" Adama
- Lieutenant Zak Adama
- Captain Kara "Starbuck" Thrace (Had an apartment in Delphi)
- James McManus (Presumably - editor of the Caprican Times)
- Aaron Doral (alleged home was in Oasis)
- President Richard Adar (Presumably Caprica; was mayor of Caprica City (Miniseries, Night 1)
Publications and Media[edit]
Pyramid Team[edit]
Locations[edit]
- Caprica City
- Caprica Beach
- Gup's Point
- Oasis
- Pilgrim Bay
- Qualai
- Martok Valley
- Unnamed Cities of Caprica
Gemenon[edit]
Ancient Name: Gemini
Gemenon natives are called Gemenese (Taking a Break From All Your Worries). They are known for their literal interpretations of the Sacred Scrolls (Fragged). Most of the population of Gemenon was apparently very strongly opposed to the federal laws legalizing abortion. Traditional Gemenese law declares children to be the property of their parents (The Captain's Hand).
Gemenon is home to the Kobol College School of Public Relations (Miniseries). One of the last ever pro Pyramid games was held on Gemenon just prior to the Cylon attack on the Colonies (Miniseries).
Gemenon was one of the poorer colonies (Dirty Hands).
Natives[edit]
- Representative Sarah Porter, Quorum of Twelve
- Corporal Venner
- Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol
- Rya Kibby
- Adrien Bauer
Leonis[edit]
Ancient Name: Leo
Safiya Sanne is identified as both Leonis's and Picon's representative on the Quorum of Twelve.
Libris[edit]
Ancient Name: Libra
Practically no information has been given yet regarding the colony corresponding to Libra. Its colonial-era name also has yet to be confirmed. According to issue 3 of the now-defunct Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine, the colony's name is "Libris".
The Space Park, a passenger liner in the Fleet, is of Libran registry (SciFi.com).
Picon[edit]
Ancient Name: presumably Pisces
Picon is the location for the Colonial Fleet Headquarters (Miniseries). The colony came under heavy attack during the early stages of the Cylon attack. President Richard Adar offered a complete and unconditional surrender to the Cylons after Fleet Headquarters is destroyed; this overture was ignored (Miniseries, deleted scene).
Ellen Tigh claimed to be at the airport on Picon, "on her way home" when the attack started, and that some "unknown hero" ensured she was put on the last ship to get off the planet (Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down).
Natives[edit]
- Representative Safiya Sanne, Quorum of Twelve (Although there is some confusion on the matter, see his article)
- Playa Palacios, Veteran columnist from the Picon Star Tribune (presumed a resident)
- Asha Janik, Cylon sympathizer, member of the "Demand Peace" movement
Publications[edit]
Pyramid Team[edit]
Sagittaron[edit]
Ancient Name: presumably Sagittarius
Sagittaron[8] endured centuries of exploitation at the hands of the other Colonies (Bastille Day), so much so that even after unified Colonial rule, Tom Zarek of the S.F.M. led an organized series of terrorist acts against the established government there, many years before the fall of the Colonies. One of these acts include blowing up a government building (Bastille Day). Under Sagittaron penal law, convicted felons lose their citizenship, but have it automatically reinstated after they finish serving their sentences. This included the right to vote and to stand for election (Colonial Day).
The Sagittarons practice a form of the Colonial religion that can trace its roots for at least over 1,000 years. Like the Gemenese, they developed a staunch religious stance but with possibly a greater emphasis on traditional folk practice than scripture. They view medicine as "an abomination, a sin against the gods." This stubbornness has led to a bitter dislike by the other Colonies. During the Second Exodus, the bitterness is reinforced by the fact that many Sagittarons on New Caprica did not help to fight the Cylons, suggesting that the Sagittarons are also pacifists by nature.
The Sagittarons practice a form of herbal medicine, which has lead to derogatory terms such as "stubborn rootsucking jackasses". Dr. Michael Robert expresses skepticism about its effectiveness, however his statement implies that there has not been any serious research on the subject (The Woman King).
Sagittaron was also one of the poorer colonies (Dirty Hands).
Sagittaron had 5,251 natives residing in the Fleet after their colony's destruction (33).
Natives[edit]
- Lieutenant Anastasia Dualla
- Tom Zarek, Vice President
- Valance (Colonial Day)
- Leon Grimes (Colonial Day)
- Mrs. King (The Woman King)
Scorpia[edit]
Ancient Name: Scorpio
Home to a Fleet shipyard, where battlestar Pegasus was docked during the Cylon attack. Scorpia native Eladio Puasha serves as its Quorum of Twelve delegate.
Tauron[edit]
Ancient Name: Taurus
The unnamed Quorum of Twelve delegate from Tauron votes for Gaius Baltar in the vice-presidential elections (Colonial Day).
Tauron was reputed to be somewhat of a troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies, often disobeying directives decided by the colonies and "pushing their luck with the admiralty every chance they got." As a ruse Admiral Adama claimed the Taurons were drilling for tylium ore on a moon that was close to the Armistice Line (Hero).
Tauron was also one of the wealthier colonies (Dirty Hands).
Natives[edit]
- Admiral Helena Cain
Virgon[edit]
Ancient Name: Virgo
Marshall Bagot is the Virgon Representative to the Quorum of Twelve. In public ceremony, the Virgon delegate wears a light blue sash.
Soon after the Cylon attack began, the bulk of the spacewide offensive by the Colonials began "shaping up" over the planet. The battle ostensibly ends with the destruction of battlestar Atlantia and the death of Admiral Nagala.
Virgon was one of the wealthier colonies (Dirty Hands).
References[edit]
- ↑ Flag matches with Colonies from "Encyclopedia Galactica." Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine. Feb./Mar. 2006: 50-55.
- ↑ Note the difference between the name of the Original Series' counterpart, known as the the Twelve Colonies of Man.
- ↑ The 2003 Video Game and the Original Series name the home system (or galaxy) for the Twelve Colonies as Cyrannus. However, since both the Video Game and Original Series material is of a separate continuity, its name for the system is questionable for the Re-imagined Series. In an early script of the miniseries, the Twelve Colonies were originally located on a single world - Kobol. However, this was later revised to twelve separate worlds, in keeping with the Original Series concept.
- ↑ As the Cylon attack begins, Commander Adama orders Gaeta to plot all space traffic "in the system, friendly or otherwise", in the Miniseries, Night 1.
- ↑ An early draft Miniseries script notes a census count of 12 billion individuals. However, the aired information of Saul Tigh's approximation in The Resistance should be taken as the correct value.
- ↑ Sourced from a January 30, 2005 blog entry by Ronald D. Moore on Sci-Fi.com.
- ↑ Thus far, Caprica is the only planet of the Twelve Colonies that viewers have seen directly. The series' opening credits show Caprica City, as well as the nuclear bombing of Caprica itself.
- ↑ The colony's name, Sagittaron, was originally spelled as "Sagittarion" in the Miniseries, but this changed to "Sagittaron" when the regular series began.