- This article discusses the Twelve Colonies of the Re-imagined Series. See The Twelve Colonies of Man for information on the Colonies of the Original Series.
The Twelve Colonies of Kobol are twelve distinct worlds, located in a remote part of the galaxy. For 2,000 years they were home to the human survivors of the exodus of Kobol.[1] For most of the two millennia that these worlds were inhabited, the Twelve Colonies consisted of multiple sovereign states, but during the final fifty-two years leading up to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, all twelve comprised a single state known as the United Colonies of Kobol (TRS: "Colonial Day")[2].
After the settlement, the colonies slowly began to prosper and eventually gave birth to a race of cybernetic lifeforms, known as Cylons. Soon after their creation, the Cylons raged a devastating war on their creators' home planets, which ultimately led to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. Wasted and in ruins, the once prosperous homeworlds of humanity are finally abandoned by both humans and Cylons. What becomes of them is unknown to their inhabitants' descendants.
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Star System[edit]
- Note: A portion of the information listed below is taken from the official, "quasi-canon" Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies [3].
The Twelve Colonies are found within the star system Cyrannus, located some 2,000 light years from Kobol, where humanity first evolved. In total, Cyrannus is a vast and complex system, comprised of four [4] stars: Helios Alpha, Helios Beta, Helios Gamma, and Helios Delta. Each star is orbited by its own share of planets and other astronomical bodies. The stars come together to form two binary systems (Alpha/Beta and Gamma/Delta). Both pairs of stars then orbit each other around a third, central barycenter every 546,892 years. Both binary systems are separated by .16 light years or 10,091 SU.
Helios Alpha[edit]
Helios Alpha is a main sequence star of spectral class G2V and has a mass of 1.0 kg, and was the first system settled by the Colonials after the exodus from Kobol, having first set foot on Gemenon. It shares its orbit with Helios Beta at a distance of 63 SU (In this case, 1 SU being equal to the average distance between Helios Alpha and the barycenter of the Caprica-Gemenon system, a rough 150 million km). The pair complete an orbit once every 373 years.
- Planets and Other Astronomical Bodies
- Icarus - A small planet located close to the star. It has a molten surface which makes mining and exploration impossible.
- Picon
- Caprica and Gemenon - These two colonies are twin planets.
- Erebos asteroid belt
- Tauron - One of only three colonies to feature a moon, named Minos, and it is the only moon with a ring. It is home to several mining and scientific outposts.
- Zeus - A gas giant located at the outer edge of the system. This gas giant is the largest planet in the four systems, with a diameter of 153,000 km at the equator. The planet has 74 moons, the largest of which are Nike and Hebe. Constant upper atmosphere lightning creates an aurora effect that can be seen with the naked eye.
- Persephone - Classified as a dwarf planet, Persephone is the last planet in the system and features an inclined and eccentric orbit. Colonial scientists believe this planet could be an escaped moon of Zeus.
This system is unique in the fact that Caprica and Gemenon share an orbit around a common barycenter. According to the Colonial map, the planets orbit each other once every 28.2 days, and are separated by a distance of 493,000 km.
Helios Beta[edit]
Helios Beta is a main sequence star of spectral class K1V and has a mass of 0.79 kg. It is the second system settled by the Colonials after the exodus from Kobol. It shares its orbit with Helios Alpha at a distance of 63 SU. The pair complete an orbit once every 373 years.
- Planets and Other Astronomical Bodies
- Troy - A small, metal-rich planet, mined extensively by Virgon and Leonis since the founding of those two colonies.
- Leonis
- Ouranos asteroid belt
- Virgon - One of only three colonies to feature a moon, named Hibernia, and the only naturally habitable moon in the 12 Colonies. It was settled several centuries ago by the Celtans, an ethnic group opposed to Virgon rule.
- Hera - A gas giant, approximately 75,000 km in diameter, and the third largest planet in the Cyrannus system. It has 29 moons, the largest of what are Iris and Eubora.
- Pallas - A small world with an inclined orbit once believed to hold a life sustaining atmosphere. It is no longer tectonically active. However, the Colonials have set up at least seven small colonies and a military research station on the planet. Efforts to kobolform the planet have failed.
Helios Gamma[edit]
Helios Gamma is a main sequence star of spectral class G9V and has a mass of 0.89 kg. It is presumably the third system settled by the Colonials. Helios Gamma shares its orbit with Helios Delta at a distance of 70 SU, and completes an orbit once every 456 years.
- Planets and Other Astronomical Bodies
- Thanatos - A small planet with a corrosive 'sulphur' dioxide atmosphere. This planet is tidally locked to the star, and aptly named for the god of death.
- Acheron asteroid belt
- Scorpia - Home to the Scorpia Fleet ship yards. The planet features a half ring, thought to be a moon that broke apart nearly 100,000 years ago.
- Sagittaron
- Libran - Features two small moons, Herse and Pandrossos, which are thought to be captured asteroids. The moons orbit so close to each other, they periodically swap positions.
- Ophion - A frigid gas giant with diameter of 51,000 km, and an inclined orbit. The planet has 14 moons, all smaller than 10 km in diameter. Studies on the planet have Colonial scientists thinking that Ragnar was originally a member of the Helios Gamma system, while Ophion was not. Scientists think that Ophion was a rouge planet that passed close to Ragnar and was caught by the star, pushing Ragnar into its current orbit around the entire Gamma/Delta system.
Helios Delta[edit]
Helios Delta is a reddish main sequence star of the spectral class K2V and has a mass of 0.74 kg. It is the last of the four systems to be settled by the Colonials. Helios Delta shares its orbit with Helios Gamma at a distance of 70 SU, and completes an orbit once every 456 years.
- Planets and Other Astronomical Bodies
- Phoebe - A small world with a high surface temperature and thin atmosphere.
- Aeolus asteroid belt
- Aerilon, Hestia, and Canceron - These planets share the same orbit.
- Hestia - The smallest gas giant in the Cyrannian star system, Hestia only has a diameter of 47,000 km. It has 17 moons, the largest of which, Kronos and Rhea, share the same orbit.
- Aquaria
- Styx - A small planet, with a dense, reducing atmosphere of carbon dioxide, and sulfides.
This system is unique in the fact that Aerilon, Hestia, and Canceron share the same orbit. The planets sit comfortably in Lagrangian Points, meaning that the gravitational pull of Helios Delta and Hestia are balanced, allowing two smaller bodies (Aerilon and Canceron) to share the same orbit in a "fixed" position, maintaining the same distance apart at all times. Aerilon sits at the L4 point, and Canceron at the L5 point.
- Ragnar - A gas giant with a diameter of 138,000 km, orbits the entire Helios Gamma and Delta system in a 899.75 year period. It sits about 110 SU away from the central barycenter. The Colonials use the planet as host to Ragnar Anchorage, an orbital refueling station and naval armory that distills hydrocarbons from the planet's upper atmosphere. It has one moon, Sigurd. During the Fall of the Colonies, Ragnar was used as cover by the Battlestar Galactica, and later her Fleet, after escaping the destruction of Caprica. It would be the last world of the Cyrannian system that most of the surviving Colonials would lay eyes on. Hours after arriving, Galactica took the gathered fleet, and fled the systems, never to return.
Notes[edit]
- The fact that the Colonies are located within one system originates from a blog entry by Ronald D. Moore.
- Jane Espenson revealed on Twitter that the Colonies are within a star cluster and share some orbits. The latter fact was finally shown to be true in the TV version of the series premiere of Caprica.
- Before the canonical figure mentioned above the original Miniseries script stated a pre-Fall population of about 12 billion. The webisodes "The Resistance" stated the death of 20 billion people caused by the Cylons.
- Serge's twitter mentions that the exodus from Kobol is believed to be true by the inhabitants of the Twelve Colonies and it was from them that animals such as cats as well as dogs came to the Colonies. Furthermore, the twelve planets are populated with a few other worlds in the star cluster but not many with the settled colonies already possessing some animal as well as plant life. Furthermore, Serge states that all the planets are not democracies but rather each has their own style of government. (TRS: Serge's Twitter)
History[edit]
- Main article: History of the Twelve Colonies
About 2,000 years prior to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, the last twelve tribes of Kobol left their planet[5] over conflicts with their gods, as well as some sort of calamity (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I").
The tribes settled on twelve worlds some distance away (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I"). The tribes' namesakes and icons originally corresponded to the twelve signs of the ancient tribes, although these names drifted over time (TRS: "Home, Part II").[6]
The early Colonies lived (and fought) more as sovereign nations. Some (particularly Caprica) prospered, while others (such as Sagittaron and Aerilon) were often considered lessers. For peacetime labor forces as well as for wars between each other, humanity created the Cylons. When these early models rebelled, the Colonies unified their governments under the Articles of Colonization sometime before or during the Cylon War as a federal republic known as the Twelve Colonies of Kobol.
The official symbol of the Twelve Colonies was the Colonial seal. The nation also had a distinctive anthem.
Downfall[edit]
- Main article: Fall of the Twelve Colonies
40 years after the end of the devastating war, the Cylons return and cause havoc among the twelve worlds of their creators (TRS: Miniseries, "The Plan"). For some time the Colonies remain occupied by Cylon forces and a small group of human survivors. After nine months, humanity and the Cylons leave the twelve worlds for good (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II").
Of the original 50 billion inhabitants, only about 55,000 survive the first days of the holocaust. Most of them leave the Colonies behind in two small fugitive fleets. The fleet of the battlestar Galactica eventually encounters both Kobol, as well as the original Thirteenth Colony Earth. Some time after that, and after the destruction of the the Cylon home world, they settle on a beautiful, rich world, leaving behind the baggage of their Colonial heritage. (TRS: Miniseries, "Razor", "Daybreak, Part II")
Fate[edit]
The ultimate fate of the Twelve Colonies 150,000 years after The Fall is unknown. Presumably, after several hundred years, their climates and surfaces would degrade until they resemble the original Earth.
It can be presumed that by the present-day radiation levels would have lowered past the point in which life would be allowed to flourish once again. However, little, if any traces would remain of the human civilizations that once thrived upon them, excluding remains in space, such as the remnants of Scorpion Fleet Shipyards or Ragnar Anchorage.
Aerilon[edit]
- Main article: Aerilon
Ancient Name: Aries
Alternative Name: Aerelon
Population: 1.2 billion
Patron God: Demeter
Capital: Gaoth
Major Cities: Gaoth, Promethea
Attractions: University of Aerilon, Promethea A & M
Pyramid Teams: Aerilon Threshers, Promethea Golden Horns
Aerilon was primarily an agricultural world. It was considered to be the "food basket" of the Twelve Colonies and ranked among its poorest members (TRS: "Dirty Hands"). The planet shares an orbit with the gas giant Hestia and Canceron, sitting in the L4 Lagrangian point. Aerilon's capital was Gaoth.[7]
The mannerisms of Aerilon's natives were considered rough and rude, at least by Caprican standards. The people of this world also spoke with a distinctive accent that was quite hard to cover up (TRS: "Dirty Hands").
One of the very last Pyramid games occurred on Aerilon, right before the Cylon attack (TRS: "Resistance"). A photograph, showcasing the destruction of Aerilon's capital, Gaoth, becomes one of the most memorable documents of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies within the Fleet (TRS: "33", deleted scene).
Natives[edit]
Notes[edit]
- On some occasions this colony's name was also spelled Aerelon. Battlestar Wiki uses the more commonly found Aerilon. There is a similar discrepancy in the pronunciation of the colony's name.
Aquaria[edit]
Ancient Name: Aquarius
Alternative Name: Aquarion
Population: 25,000
Patron God: Hermes
Capital: None
Major Cities: Heim
Attractions: Kyros Summerfest
Pyramid Teams: None
Aquaria is a "frigid" world with only one major land mass: Kryos, a crescent-shaped continent with volcanoes at both ends. Aquaria was widely known for its vast oceans (TRS: "The Plan").
Founded as a scientific research outpost, this remote world has also attracted a small (25,000 permanent) but sturdy population know for stubborn independence, social tolerance, and a unique barter system. However, the population can swell to as many as a half-million during the annual summerfest, which features music, dance, theater and epic poetry.
Despite the lack of an official capital city, the government held weekly community meetings that were open both citizens and non-citizens. A majority of issues addressed were passed by majority vote, even the election of the colony's Prime Minister.[8]
Its first Quorum of Twelve delegate within the Fleet post-Fall is Miksa Burian, who votes for Tom Zarek in the vice-presidential elections (TRS: "Colonial Day").
Notes[edit]
- On many occasions this colony's name was also spelled Aquarion. However, the name Aquaria was heard on screen during the Hybrid's monologue in "The Plan" and spoken by President Roslin when tallying the votes for vice- president (TRS: "Colonial Day").[9]
- In an LA Times article, Aquaria is described as a frigid ocean world, with small volcanic land masses and small communities. It is also said to be regarded as nothing more than a scientific research outpost by the other Colonies.
- According to Serge's twitter account, Aquaria doesn't have a capital city.
Canceron[edit]
Ancient Name: Cancer
Population: 6.7 billion
Patron God: Hephaestus
Capital: Hades
Major Cities: Hades, Prommos, Mangala
Attractions: Prommos, Ruby Range, Kor Yaz Glacier
Pyramid Teams: Canceron Hydras, Hades Vice, Mangala Krill
Canceron is the most populous planet in the twelves worlds. It is located in the Helios Delta system, sharing its orbit with two other planets, one of them being Aerilon. The planet was well known for its beaches and had at least one large coastal metropolis (TRS: "The Plan"). The capital was Hades.[7]
Prior to the First Cylon War, Canceron was a very overpopulated and poor colony. Canceron's major cities such as Hades and Mangala were known to have large slums. Its large population earned Canceron the nickname "The Largest Democracy" within the colonies, though some believed the government was nothing more than a corrupt Oligarchy.[10] [11]
During the Cylon attack, Canceron is hit with at least three nuclear devices. One of the passenger liners within the fleet, Pyxis, is one of the last ships that escapes this world when the began. Aboard is the Number Six copy Shelly Godfrey (TRS: "The Plan").
Robin Wenutu is the Canceron delegate to the first Quorum of Twelve after the Fall.
Natives[edit]
Caprica[edit]
- Main article: Caprica (RDM)
Ancient Name: Capricorn
Population: 4.9 billion
Patron God: Apollo
Official Language: Caprican
Capital: Caprica City
Major Cities: Caprica City, Delphi, Phoebus
Attractions: Delphi Museum of the Colonies, Atlas Arena, Caprica Interplanetary Spaceport, Graystone Industries, Apollo University, Pantheon Bridge, Ionian Islands, Orpheus Park
Pyramid Teams: Caprica City Buccaneers, Delphi Legion, Phoebus Suns
Caprica was a lush blue-green planet, covered by large oceans and continents. It shares its orbit with Gemenon around a common barycenter, and can often be seen in the skies above the Caprican landscape. Depending on its orbit, the Caprican night can almost be negated by intense planetshine from Gemenon, although not as bright as the Caprican sun, there is enough light reflected back to effectively turn night into day (TRS: You Can't Go Home Again, Litmus). Of curious note, Caprica features landmasses similar to a world the Colonials would eventually settle and come to call Earth.
Caprica was regarded as the center of Colonial civilization, even long before the First Cylon War. Graystone Industries was one of the Colonies' most influential technology developers and had a hand in creating the very first Cylons. Some 60 years before the Fall, Caprica was also plagued by religiously motivated terrorism (CAP: Pilot). After the war, the planet was once again the seat of politics, culture, art, science, learning and even the Colonial government. It was also one of the wealthiest colonies (TRS: "Epiphanies", "Dirty Hands").
During the Cylon attack, Caprica and it's surrounding airspace, played host to numerous skirmishes, one of which would eventually determine the outcome of the war. Caprica herself, comes under heavy attack from Cylon forces right from the start. With numerous basestars jumping directly into orbit, they are quickly able to gain the upper hand. At least four battlestars, including the Yashuman and Valkyrie, are quickly dispatched, and numerous targets, including the once proud Caprica City, are annihilated from orbit by nuclear weapons (TRS: Miniseries, "The Plan"). The attacks leave the civilian shipping lanes in the vicinity of Caprica/Gemenon shut down, but the civilian ships are relatively ignored in the opening moments of the attack, in favor of military targets. This gives them time to gather and flee the area, picking up other survivors along the way. Eventually the fleet amasses over 100 ships of all kinds, both civilian and homeless military support craft. However, only 75 FTL capable ships are able to flee Caprican airspace, leaving the sub-lights, and their passengers, at the hands of the Cylons.
At the time of the attack, the Galactica was positioned 3 hours away, and was not able to partake in the defense of its home planet. It wasn't long, however, before the Cylons located its position, and attempted to take it out. After being struck by a nuclear warhead, suffering major damage, and not having anything to shoot with, but still in one piece, the Galactica had no choice but to retreat to the relative safety of the gas giant, Ragnar (TRS: Miniseries), leaving Caprica, and the remaining survivors, completely defenseless and on their own.
After the space-faring Colonials flee, Caprica is occupied by Cylon forces, attempting to undo the damage they've done, and colonize the planet themselves. They often clash with human survivors within the Colonies, and fight on this world for several weeks. The occupation and resistance both end roughly nine months after the attack and the planet is left for good (TRS: "33", "Resistance", "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II", "The Plan").
6,250 people from Caprica join the Laura Roslin faction over Kobol (TRS: "Home, Part I"). The overall Caprican survivor population, possibly significantly greater, is unknown (see analysis here). An attempted settlement by the survivors of the holocaust is named New Caprica in honor of the original colony (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II").
The first Quorum of Twelve delegate after the Fall is Gaius Baltar. Years later this spot is taken by Lee Adama, the last Quroum delegate from that colony before Delegate Adama establishes the Quorum of Ship's Captains in the wake of the mass-execution of the Quorum during Gaeta's Mutiny (TRS: "Islanded in a Stream of Stars").
Natives[edit]
- William, Tamara, Zak and Lee Adama
- Richard Adar, presumed as he was also the mayor of Caprica City at one point
- Daniel, Amanda and Zoe Graystone
- Lacy Rand and her family
- Laura, Cheryl and Sandra Roslin, as well as their parents
- Ben Stark and his mother, Natalie
- Kara, Socrata and (presumably) Dreilide Thrace
Notes[edit]
- Caprica was and continues to be the world most prominently depicted in the re-imagined series' continuity. It wasn't until Razor that another of the Twelve Colonies was actually seen on screen.
- Serge's twitter also states that Caprica had a number of unique lifeforms on its surface though animal transplantation by early Colonists allowed them to be seen on the other planets.
- The twitter account mentions that Caprica spends the most on Colonial defense.
Gemenon[edit]
Ancient Name: Gemini
Population: 2.8 billion
Patron God: Hera
Official Language: Old Gemenese
Capital: Oranu
Major Cities: Oranu, Illumini
Attractions: Kobol Colleges, Illumini Pantheon, Gramada Mountains, Spatiu Gol Plateau, Pustiu Desert
Pyramid Teams: Gemenon Twins, Illumini Vipers
Gemenon was the first world colonized by the humans of Kobol. It shares its orbit around Helios Alpha with Caprica, completing an rotation once every 28.2 days. Its status as a twin planet gives it its name[12]. Its climate can vary wildly, featuring frozen plateaus, and searing deserts, which can make life difficult for its inhabitants.
It was one of the poorer colonies and its people, the Gemenese, were known for their religious fundamentalism (TRS: "Scattered", "Dirty Hands").[13]
Before the First Cylon War, Gemenon was home to the Kobol Colleges and a monotheistic cult called "The Soldiers of the One" (TRS: Miniseries, Night 2; CAP: Pilot). Gemenon's second-largest city, Illumini, was built around a large Pantheon complex, composed of buildings intended to worship and celebrate every deity in the Sacred Scrolls.[8]
The Gemenese were known for their literal interpretations of the Scrolls (TRS: "Fragged"). Most of the population of Gemenon was apparently very strongly opposed to the federal laws legalizing abortion (TRS: "The Captain's Hand").
The planet also had either an old or disused language, known as Old Gemenese (TRS: "Razor").
During the Cylon attack, Gemenon comes under heavy assault by Cylon air and ground forces, completely obliterating one city with a high-yield nuclear device, and causing extensive damage to another with conventional means. At least one ship, the Cybele, is able to escape the destruction of its port and occupying Cylon forces, and find Roslin's fleet (TRS: "The Plan").
Three months after the attacks, approximately 9,500 Gemenese break away from the main fleet, and join the Laura Roslin faction over Kobol (TRS: "Home, Part I"). The large and devoted Gemenese population continues to be an important political factor within the fugitive fleet (TRS: "The Captain's Hand").
Natives[edit]
- Adrien Bauer
- Jurgen Belzen and his family
- Rya Kibby
- Romo Lampkin
- Sarah Porter, former delegate to the Quorum of Twelve
- Corporal Venner
Notes[edit]
- If the word "Inviere" (meaning "Resurrection") is any indication, Old Gemenese was probably similar to the Romanian language of our Earth.
- According to Serge's Twitter account, Gemenon is the planet that shares its orbit with Caprica. This planet is seen at the beginning of the aired Caprica pilot, but is not clearly identified as such until CAP: "The Heavens Will Rise" in a visual transition from Caprica to Gemenon.
- As an Easter Egg in The Plan, the building on the lower left of the screen is the same one where the Romulan Senate assembles in Star Trek Nemesis. A detailed picture of this building is available here.
Leonis[edit]
Ancient Name: Leo
Population: 2.6 billion
Patron God: Artemis
Official Language: Leonese
Capital: Luminere
Major Cities: Luminere, Hedon
Attractions: Royal Palace of Leonis, Hedon Grand Casino
Pyramid Teams: Leonis Wildcats, Hedon Suns
Leonis is the second planet in the Helios Beta system, and was geographically known for its open plains (TRS: "The Plan"). The planet itself has no axial tilt, which supports a mild and predictable climate. It was a major hub for both education and industry, and despite Colonial unification, was able to maintain its own language and culture.
In the era prior to the First Cylon War, Leonis produced and exported a popular energy drink named "Leonis Red".[8] Leonis Estates Sparkling Wine was a type of alcohol produced on this colony (TRS: "Flight of the Phoenix").
During the final Cylon attack, Leonis is struck with at least one, low-yield nuclear device, that was able to stun its residents and disable any means of escape. Those who survived the blast, are then seen being systematically eliminated by both ground and air forces (TRS: "The Plan"). It is unknown if any are collected and used in the Four's various farms.
Safiya Sanne is the Leonan representative on the first Quorum of Twelve after the Fall.
Libran[edit]
Ancient Name: Libra
Alternative Name: Libris
Population: 2.1 million
Patron God: Athena
Capital: None
Major Cities: Themis
Attractions: Supreme Hall of Justice, Themis Arena
Pyramid Teams: None
Libran was known for its courthouses and lawyers (TRS: "The Plan"), and was the home of the Inter-Colonial Court (CAP: "Gravedancing"). The planet had no official capital.[14]
A major city on Libran was called Themis which had a large, modern pyramid arena built sometime before the First Cylon War. Yet at this time Libran had no official pyramid team.[15]
After the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, Oswin Eriku is chosen to be this colony's representative to the Quorum of Twelve.
Zephyr, a passenger liner in the Fleet, is of Libran registry.[16]
Notes[edit]
- The Colony's actual name, Libran, was not heard on screen until "The Plan" but could already be seen on a name plate in "The Ties That Bind" and "A Disquiet Follows My Soul". Before that it was often called Libris in secondary publications.
- The city that is seen when Libran is mentioned in the "Caprica is burning" monologue in "The Plan", bears a striking resemblance to Tauron City, as seen in "Know Thy Enemy".
- Serge's twitter account says that the Libran court system served as a body through which trade disputes and legal matters were capable of being sorted amongst the colonies. He also states that it is a high earning colony but is not regarded as a desirable place to live.
Picon[edit]
Ancient Name: Pisces
Population: 1.4 billion
Patron God: Poseidon
Capital: Queenstown
Major Cities: Perkinston, Queenstown, Pailyn
Attractions: Colonial Fleet Headquarters, Penrose Harbor
Pyramid Teams: Picon Panthers
Picon was a turquoise planet, containing 75% water, and famous for its harbors (TRS: The Plan). The capital city was Queenstown, a relatively small fishing village.[17][18]
During the planet's off-season, most of the landscape became cold and rugged.[17] The planet was often used as a substitute for Caprica City in Caprican films and TV series.[8]
After the Unification of the Twelve Colonies this world was the location of the Colonial Fleet Headquarters (TRS: Miniseries). Picon was also the home of Picon Laboratories, located in Pailyn, Muritolan (TRS: "Faith").
The colony came under heavy attack during the early stages of the Cylon attack. One of the last ships to leave the planet was the Rising Star, carrying many wounded people including an unconscious Ellen Tigh (TRS: "The Plan").
The destruction of Picon's Fleet Headquarters caused President Richard Adar to offer a complete and unconditional surrender to the Cylons. This offer was ignored by the invading forces (TRS: Miniseries).
Natives[edit]
Publications[edit]
Notes[edit]
- Picon's destination as a substitute for Caprica in films and series is likely a reference to Canada, and particularly Vancouver, where both the Re-Imagined Series and Caprica were filmed.
- According to Serge's twitter account, Picon has the most efficient, cooperative and responsive democracy in the colonies.
- In one post, it's said that Picon offers tax incentives for production of TV programs on the planet though Caprica remains the leading producer of such shows.
Sagittaron[edit]
- Main article: Sagittaron
Ancient Name: Sagittarius
Alternative Name: Sagittarion
Population: 1.7 billion
Patron God: Zeus
Capital: Tawa
Attractions: Acheron River
Pyramid Teams: Sagittaron Archers
Sagittaron was one of the poorest worlds of the Twelve Colonies (TRS: "Bastille Day"). The capital of this planet was Tawa.[7]
The Sagittarons were traditionalists who practiced a different form of religion from the other Colonials. They distrusted modern medicine and were generally unsupportive of the military (TRS: "The Woman King").
The Planet endured centuries of exploitation at the hands of the other Colonies. Eventually, Tom Zarek led an organized series of terrorist acts against the established government there, many years before the Fall of the Colonies (TRS: "Bastille Day").
A few days after the Cylon attack, 5,251 people from this world reside within the Fleet (TRS: "33").
Natives[edit]
Notes[edit]
- The colony's name was originally spelled as "Sagittarion" in the Miniseries, but this changed to Sagittaron when the regular series began.
Scorpia[edit]
Ancient Name: Scorpio
Population: 450 million
Patron God: Dionysus
Capital: Celeste
Major Cities: Celeste, Argentum
Attractions: Argentum Bay, Guardian Mountains, Scorpia Shipyards
Pyramid Teams: Scorpia Stingers, Celeste Storms, Celeste Lightning, Argentum Bay Silverstars
Scorpia was known for its lush jungles and hot temperatures (TRS: "The Plan"). Scorpia's capital was Celeste.[7]
Before the First Cylon War one of the major leisure spots of the world was Argentum Bay, despite the colony's trashy reputation.[19]. The Planet was also apparently well-known for its Paragliding (TRS: "Razor").
After the Unification, Scorpia was home to the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards.
During the initial Cylon attack, Scorpia falls victim to numerous massive nuclear attacks, destroying much of the population. Cylon forces also focus on the orbiting ship yards, obliterating the structure, destroying numerous Battlestars and support ships, and causing another one to risk a blind jump in order to escape (TRS: "Razor").
Eladio Puasha serves as the planet's delegate to the first Quorum of Twelve assembled after the Fall.
Notes[edit]
- In an LA Times article, Scorpia is described as having a "scorpion tail-like half-ring".
Tauron[edit]
- Main article: Tauron (RDM)
Ancient Name: Taurus
Population: 2.5 billion
Patron God: Ares
Official Language: Tauron
Capital: Hypatia
Major Cities: Hypatia, Tauron City (Minos)
Attractions: Minos, Olympia Hippadrome, Great Tauron Plains
Pyramid Teams: Olympia Stallions, Tauron Bulls
Tauron was a barren, arid planet that lacked any kind of flowers. However, it was well-known for its agriculture (CAP: Pilot). Its capital was Hypatia[18], another large city was Tauron City. The planet shared its orbit with another ringed world (CAP: "Know Thy Enemy" - see notes).
Taurons were known to be very traditional people, even speaking a very old and distinctive language (CAP: Pilot).
Some 800 years before the Fall Tauron was colonized by Virgon and Leonis. The people of Tauron liberated themselves and ever since this world has been known for its troubled and violent history.[20]
Nearly a century before its Fall, Tauron was one of the poorer colonial worlds and the center of a civil war. A few years before the First Cylon War, the crime syndicate Ha'la'tha had enormous influence over the planet, which even extended to other colonies, such as Caprica (CAP: Pilot).
During the War, Hypatia was was the location of a fierce and lossy battle against Cylon forces (TRS: "Razor", extended Edition).
After the War, Tauron was known to be a somewhat troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies, often disobeying directives decided by the colonies and pushing their luck with the admiralty (TRS: "Hero"). Yet this world was counted among the wealthier of the twelve worlds (TRS: "Dirty Hands").
Natives[edit]
- Joseph and Sam Adama
- Shannon Adama and her mother, Ruth
- Helena Cain and her murdered family
- Tomas Vergis
Notes[edit]
- The language of Tauron is remarkably similar to Ancient Greek that, thousands of years later, was spoken on a planet on the other side of the galaxy.
- According to Serge's Twitter Account Tauron only has a moon.
- Serge's Twitter account also stated Tauron's capital to be Hypatia.
Virgon[edit]
Ancient Name: Virgo
Population: 4.3 billion
Patron God: Hestia
Capital: Boskirk
Major Cities: Boskirk, Blaustad, Hadrian
Attractions: House of Parliament, Tower of Virgon, Petrus Palace, Virgon Universities
Pyramid Teams: Virgon United, Boskirk All Reds
Virgon was well-known for its forests (TRS: "The Plan") and considered to be one of the wealthier colonies (TRS: "Dirty Hands"). The capital of Virgon was Boskirk.[7]
Virgon had a declining monarchy and a strong national parliament, at least 58 years before the Fall of the Colonies.[21]
Virgon Brew was a beer produced on the planet and exported to other Colonies (TRS: "Maelstrom").
Soon after the beginning of the Cylon attack, the Colonials launch a counter-attack over Virgon. The battle ends with the destruction of the flagship battlestar Atlantia and the resulting death of Fleet Admiral Nagala (TRS: Miniseries).
Marshall Bagot is the Virgon delegate to the first Quorum of Twelve. He nominates Tom Zarek for the vice-presidency (TRS: "Colonial Day"). In public ceremonies, the Virgon delegate wears a light blue sash.
Notes[edit]
- Serge's Twitter Account states that Virgon has a declining monarchy with a strong parliament.
- Virgon draws many parallels with present-day Earth's Britain; a declining monarchy, birthplace of Colonial language, coloniser of other planets (comparable to countries) and 'Virgon United' and 'Boskirk All Reds' are similar to Manchester United, a prominent English football team, also known as the Red Devils.
See Also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Mentioned at Serge's twitter account, given that Serge's account corresponds to 58 years before The Fall.
- ↑ The formal "United Colonies of Kobol" was never used on-screen, and appears only on the Battlestar Galactica Map of the 12 Colonies.
- ↑ Anders, Charlie Jane (24 January 2010). Detailed Map Of Battlestar Galactica's Twelve Colonies (backup available on Archive.org) . Retrieved on 29 January 2011.
- ↑ In TRS: "The Plan," a Cylon Hybrid indicates that the Colonies orbit three stars.
- ↑ According to dialogue from "Torn", "A Measure of Salvation" and "The Eye of Jupiter", the Thirteenth Tribe left Kobol some 2,000 years before the twelve tribes. The Scroll of Pythia is dated as written 3,600 years before the last exodus of Kobol, and chronicles the Thirteenth Tribe's exodus.
- ↑ Flag matches with Colonies from "Encyclopedia Galactica." Battlestar Galactica: The Official Magazine. Feb./Mar. 2006: 50-55.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Serge's twitter account mentioned the capitals of Gemenon, Virgon, Leonis, Sagittaron, Scorpia, Canceron and Aerilon in this tweet.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 The Caprican article: "Top 5 Off-Beat Vacation Destinations".
- ↑ Serge's Twitter account states that both names are viable, with Aquarion being the official name and Aquaria a regional variation.
- ↑ The Caprican article: "Canceron Wants a Fourth Pyramid Team".
- ↑ The Caprican article: "Just Wondering About That Military Roadblock Thing"
- ↑ Serge Graystone's Twitter feed
- ↑ Despite this fundamentalist approach to the polytheistic Colonial religion, the Gemenese were known to be tolerant of all forms of worship, including monotheism. In fact, the monotheist movement is said to have begun on Gemenon. The people of Gemenon are consistently referred to as "Gemenese" in both the Re-imagined Series and Caprica.
- ↑ Serge's twitter account stated inthis tweet that Aquaria and Libran "don't have official capitals".
- ↑ The Caprican article: "Libran Needs a Pyramid Team Statim".
- ↑ This was stated in a Fleet overview on scifi.com. This section of the site has long been shut down.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 The Caprican article: "'P' Is for 'Paradise, 'P' Is for Picon".
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Serge's twitter account mentioned the capitals of Caprica, Tauron and Picon this tweet.
- ↑ The Caprican article: "Argentum Bay: The Ultimate Vernal Break".
- ↑ The Caprican article: "An Unacceptable Aspect of Caprican Life".
- ↑ Mentioned by Serge's twitter account.
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