Radiological alarm

A radiological alarm is a special sensor aboard a battlestar and its fighters or other Colonial support vessel that detects the unique and powerful radiation signature of a nuclear device, particularly that of a nuclear weapon such as a missile. On battlestar Galactica, any radiation detection and corrosponding alarms appear to be tied into the central communications console at Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla's station in the Combat Information CenterTemplate:Ref. It is likely that the detector is tuned to detect plutonium radiation frequently used on nuclear weapons used by Cylon fighters and basestars.

While it is likely that a battlestar has its own radiation detector, the radiation detection process appears to be greatly extendable throughout wireless telemetry from a battlestar's Viper or Raptor intercepts, which have radiological detectors/alarms as well. When a Viper or Raptor detects a radiation signature, that information appears to be immediately relayed by the craft's wireless telemetry back to the home battlestarTemplate:Ref. This method of detection in using Colonial fighters and support craft creates an effective method against the likelihood of a Cylon nuclear sneak attack against the Fleet. It's likely that the radiation detection sweep is maintained at all times through the Combat Air Patrol during Condition Three threat levels.

Sources

1. Template:Note In the Miniseries, Dualla receives a radiological alarm moments before Lieutenant Thrace destroys a Cylon Raider and two of the three nuclear-tipped missiles that it launches during the first dogfight for Galactica in the Cylon attack. Given that many other missiles were fired at Galactica at the time, it reasons well that Starbuck's Viper identified the specific Raider with the radiation signature through her in-flight instruments, and her Viper relayed this data back to Galactica and to Dualla's station.
2. Template:Note This sequence of events from "33" supports radiological detection via wireless telemetry from interceptors:

Aboard Raptor 478, accompanying Viper pilots Apollo and Starbuck:

Crashdown: Cylons o­n intercept course. They'll be in weapons range, within...two minutes. Oh, frak me--radiological alarm!

Aboard Galactica, in the CIC, seconds later

Dualla: Radiological alarm!

Colonel Tigh: From where?

Dualla: The Olympic Carrier, sir. They've got nukes o­nboard.