Tylium (TOS)

For the fuel used in the Re-imagined Series, see: tylium (RDM).

Apollo, Serina, and Jolly are led through the Ovion tylium mines ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}.

Tylium (pronounced "TIE-lee-um") is an unstable mineral element used as fuel by both the Colonial and Cylon forces in the Seventh Millennium. The substance is often mined and it can explode when energy, such as discharges from laser pistols, impact its natural form.

Following the Battle of Cimtar, the Fleet heads to the planet Carillon, believing it to have supplies of tylium based on a report from an old mining expedition. Much to the surprise and shock of many, Carillon is discovered to have tylium in mass quantities, so much so that when the Colonials ignite the tylium with energy weapons during a pitched battle with Cylon forces, the planet is destroyed in a cataclysm ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}.

The Colonials make use of a separate fuel source, solium, for fueling various ships from Vipers to freighters, like Gemini ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World", "Fire in Space")}. This implies that tylium may well be the raw mineral from which other grades of fuel are derived, in the same way that diesel and gasoline are petroleum derivatives.

Tie-in Material Information

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

Cygnus was an asteroid containing an outpost of the Picon colony, in addition to a tylium mine owned by Baltar's family. It was captured by the Cylons a century before the Battle of Cimtar and held for five yahren until the Colonials retook it. Baltar later turned Cygnus' tylium mine operation into the "largest intercolonial Tylium trading firm in the Galaxy".

The insectoid Ovions were exploited by the Cylons because of their mining abilities. In the course of constructing their elaborate burrows, the Ovions transported to the surface tons of nearly pure mineral ore. The Cylons established a glittering pleasure palace for humans and other beings on Carillon, where food, drink, entertainment, gambling and luxury were available in vast quantities. Life was so intense that no one noticed the percentage of the "guests" harvested each day. These poor souls were killed and brought to subterranean nurseries where their bodies fed the growing larvae of the Ovion young. The Carillon pleasure palace was destroyed by the Battlestar Galactica in 6570.

In the separate continuity

Tylium is mentioned in the following separate continuity tie-ins, notably:

• Deathtrap!, which adapts the third part of Original Series' "Saga of a Star World".

• Battlestar Galactica Annual 2014, where Baltar's backstory is relayed, in addition to his discovery of Carillon.

• Battlestar Galactica Classic, where tylium is a rarity and source of contention within the Empyrean Expanse.