Paradis (TOS-RH)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch novelizations separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

Paradis is a habitable planet orbiting a red giant star discovered by the Fleet approximately twenty-five yahren after the exodus. The planet becomes humanity's temporary refuge before its catastrophic destruction by Cylon weaponry.

Discovery

Galactica detects Paradis while conducting long-range scans of the red giant system. Initial analysis reveals a world rich in resources, with equal amounts of water and land distributed across its surface. The planet's biosphere teems with evolved life forms despite the astronomical improbability of its existence—when stars enter their red giant phase, they typically devour any planets in the habitable zone, making life-bearing worlds around such stars extraordinarily rare.

Dr. Salik theorizes that Paradis only became habitable after its sun expanded into a red giant, meaning life either evolved remarkably quickly or was brought to the world from elsewhere after the solar expansion. The red giant itself faces an uncertain future, potentially remaining stable for half a billion years or cycling between expansion and white dwarf contraction before ending as either a black dwarf or neutron star.

Commander Apollo conducts the first reconnaissance mission, flying his Viper through Paradis's atmosphere to survey the planet's surface. He observes pristine forests, sturdy trees, large feathered flying creatures, and evidence of the greatest concentration of humanoid habitation at coordinates provided by Athena. Apollo makes the deliberate choice to land his Viper outside the native settlement rather than flying over it, considering such a dramatic arrival to be bad manners for first contact.

Geography

Paradis presents a verdant world with lush forests illuminated by its giant red sun. The planet's surface features equal proportions of land and ocean, with the landmasses supporting diverse ecosystems. Rivers snake through forested terrain where emerald lizards dart among the vegetation. The planet's trees develop reddish boles, possibly influenced by the radiance of the red sun.

The coastal regions support Colonial resource stations that extract drinking water from the salty oceans, separate useful minerals from brine, and harness tidal energy. The planet's mountains contain rich deposits of iron ore and other minerals, with particularly exceptional tylium ore discovered in what architect Ryis dubs "Kobol Mound"—a mountain whose energy readings exceed all expectations.

The atmosphere proves entirely compatible with Colonial physiology, requiring no artificial life support. Apollo savors breathing the fresh air and standing on solid ground for the first time in years, viewing Paradis as embodying freedom as both spiritual condition and physical place. The planet's water tastes remarkably pure, with Gar'Tokk discovering a creek whose water surpasses anything he has previously experienced.

Native Population

Paradis is inhabited by the Gamon, a humanoid species bearing striking resemblance to the Borellian Nomen. The Gamon leader Yarto meets Apollo during first contact, with both leaders agreeing that initial encounters should be conducted by elders rather than young warriors. The Gamon possess planet-wide telepathic communication, allowing every member of their species to communicate with every other Gamon instantaneously.

The Gamon maintain a subsistence-level agricultural society, utilizing simple technology such as water-wheels for irrigation. Their villages feature elegant structures with clean, simple lines. Gar'Tokk suggests that the Gamon have deliberately chosen their technological level rather than being limited by capability, noting similarities between Gamon language and Borellian Nomen dialects that facilitate communication.

Yarto presents Apollo with an ancient tome bearing insignia of the Thirteenth Tribe, suggesting previous contact between the Gamon and humanity's legendary lost colony. The Gamon welcome the Colonials as guests, though Gar'Tokk emphasizes to Apollo the importance of remembering their status as visitors rather than owners.

The planet's fauna includes creatures twice the size of a lupus, with violet eyes on flexible stalks, tube-like mouths, and golden-brown hair. These herbivores feed on multi-colored insects as large as human hands that emit sweet fragrances. The planet hosts sea creatures substantial enough to threaten Colonial resource stations.

Colonial Settlement

Upon discovering Paradis's habitability, the Fleet begins systematic settlement operations. The Council of Twelve authorizes the deconstruction of terminally damaged civilian ships to provide building materials for temporary shelters and to concentrate the population into vessels capable of deep space travel. Many Colonials, exhausted after twenty-five yahren of fleeing through space, hunger to stand on solid ground, breathe natural air, and escape their cramped quarters.

The settlement effort divides into multiple initiatives. Scientists establish ocean-based resource stations that extract drinking water, separate minerals from seawater, harness tidal energy, and deploy robot probes searching for underwater tylium deposits. Mining operations target the planet's rich mineral deposits, particularly the exceptional tylium ore discovered in the mountains.

Architect Ryis emerges as a controversial figure, organizing construction efforts and coordinating between civilian authorities, warriors, and the Gamon population. He envisions building "New Caprica City" as a permanent settlement, viewing Paradis as his opportunity to create an entirely new world. Ryis's grand ambitions and preference for civilian projects over military needs create growing tensions, particularly when he diverts building materials and tylium away from Fleet repairs toward his construction projects.

The Colonial presence gradually expands across Paradis as dismantled ships transform into shelters. The population hammers, digs, plants, and sweats to create infrastructure including housing, medical facilities, and foundations for eventual shipbuilding capabilities. Those who heed Gamon advice construct superior structures, benefiting from native understanding of the planet's environment.

Despite the apparent paradise, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Some Colonials, particularly those aligned with Ryis, grow resentful of warrior authority and begin advocating for permanent settlement rather than eventual departure. The debate between those who view Paradis as temporary refuge versus those who see it as permanent home creates political friction throughout the settlement period.

Destruction

Paradis meets a catastrophic end when the planet is destroyed by Cylon long-range weaponry. The destruction begins with flashes of light racing across the planet as tectonic plates shatter from the strain. Volcanic eruptions burst forth everywhere, with entire island chains rising in columns of smoke reaching the stratosphere.

The continents crack and the oceans boil as millions of degrees of heat build from the planet's interior. The forces unleashed prove unstoppable. Paradis comes apart, flinging a billion trillion fragments into the void. The Colonials view the spectacle from a safe distance aboard their ships, having barely escaped the doomed world.

Dr. Salik observes the planetary destruction with scientific interest, recognizing that the scattered fragments represent valuable raw materials—iron ore, hydrogen, nickel, lead, zinc, mercury, tin, chromium, silver, gold, bismuth, and more. The destruction creates a potential resource field for space-faring technology, though the Fleet's most qualified scientists and engineers depart the system rather than remaining to exploit the debris.

Young warriors including Dalton, Trays, Troy, and Raya launch their Vipers to witness Paradis's final moments from closer vantage points, unable to resist observing the death throes of the world that briefly sheltered them.

The planet's destruction forces a brutal decision upon the Fleet. With insufficient time to repair all vessels for deep space travel, approximately one-third of the Colonial population faces being left behind in the Paradis system. This "Great Selection" creates profound trauma as families and individuals confront separation and potential death, with some choosing suicide rather than facing abandonment.

Baltar, during his mysterious coma connection to the Cylons, witnesses the destruction as if viewing from close orbit. Imperious Leader ensures Baltar understands with absolute clarity that the Cylons deliberately destroyed Paradis using long-range directed energy weapons. This revelation confirms Apollo's suspicions that natural phenomena alone could not have caused such complete planetary annihilation.

Aftermath

Following Paradis's destruction, the Fleet engages in frantic reconstruction efforts to maximize the number of ships capable of hyperspace travel. Military vessels are outfitted with additional quarters, and cargo containers are converted into living spaces where possible. Boomer, Trays, Dalton, and Troy fly dozens of missions daily, ferrying goods and materiel from planetary orbit to the Fleet's foundry ship and other destinations.

The Council of Twelve issues a proclamation of imminent emergency, placing ultimate authority on Apollo's shoulders as the Fleet prepares for departure. Severe ion storms confirm Dr. Salik's predictions that the red giant star is contracting, adding urgency to evacuation efforts.

Before leaving the system, Gar'Tokk translates the ancient tablets discovered in a space ark near Paradis—a message from the Thirteenth Tribe that becomes crucial intelligence for the Fleet's continued quest. His translation work makes him briefly famous among the Colonials, though as a Borellian Nomen he finds such celebrity uncomfortable.

As Galactica, Daedalus, and the cobbled-together Fleet depart Paradis's orbit, Apollo stands on the bridge flanked by Cassiopeia and Starbuck, unable to take his eyes from the visual display of the seemingly perfect world growing distant. Cassiopeia reflects that their stop at Paradis represented an important waypoint, demonstrating that they remain under the guidance of the Lords of Kobol.

The Fleet must travel approximately three light years at maximum hyper-speed to reach the next potentially habitable planet, requiring careful rationing of supplies and fuel. The experience of Paradis—discovering apparent salvation only to have it destroyed by their relentless enemy—reinforces the bitter reality that the Colonials can find no lasting peace while the Cylons continue their pursuit.