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| Introduced | Take the Celestra | ||||
| Role | Helmsman, Celestra | ||||
| Portrayed by | Richard Styles | ||||
Hermes is the helmsman for the electronics vessel Celestra.
Following Commander Kronus' award ceremony, Hermes aids Celestra's executive officer, Charka, in his mutiny against Kronus. This aid includes following Charka's orders to shut down all forms of electronic tracking, thus preventing Kronus from finding the Celestra once beyond the "point of no return". Unfortunately for him, Apollo, Starbuck, Kronus and the octet of mutineers manage to overpower Charka's supporters, including Hermes, when retaking Celestra's bridge (TOS: "Take the Celestra").
Notes
- The name "Hermes" is derived from Greek mythology. Hermes was the messenger of the gods, usually depicted with winged sandals, a hat, and a caduceus. Usually identified with the God of Mercury. No relation to Celestra's Hermes in any way, shape or form.
This article discusses the Colonial polytheistic religion as seen in the Re-imagined Series. For summary information on the Kobollian religion from the Original Series, see Religion in the Twelve Colonies (TOS).
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The dominant religion of the Twelve Colonies, which the various characters of Battlestar Galactica practice to greater or lesser extent, is a polytheistic faith[1] with a strong emphasis on the philosophy of eternal return. There are several variants of this faith, in both belief and practice.
Contrasting with this is a lesser monotheistic religion that grows during the period leading up to the First Cylon War, directly clashing with the perceived depravity and excesses originating from the dominant polytheistic faith. To further advocate their goal, a militant monotheistic arm of the Monotheist Church, the Soldiers of the One, advocate violent change on behalf of this singular God. This laid groundwork leads to the schism between humanity and its children, the Cylons.
Origin

The eternal-return aspect between the peoples of Kobol and Earth suggest a parallel or reverse-origin with humanity as a whole, or the Thirteenth Tribe that presumably populated it. See History of the Twelve Colonies for more analysis.
During the memorial following the escape from Ragnar Anchorage (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 2"), William Adama states, "Life here began out there,[2]" reminding the assembly that this was the first line of the Sacred Scrolls, the principal religious tome of the Colonial faith, told to them by the Lords of Kobol many centuries ago.
Belief
The Lords of Kobol
Colonial religion is centered on the Lords of Kobol. In the Re-imagined Series and Caprica, the following Lords of Kobol have been positively identified:
- Zeus – The leader of the Lords. Tom Zarek has twice referred to Bill Adama as "Zeus" ("Bastille Day," "The Farm," as a play on Lee "Apollo" Adama's callsign).
- Aphrodite – The lady of love and sexuality. Kara Thrace prays often to this Lord (TRS: "Flesh and Bone").
- Apollo – Zeus' son, said to be the lord of the hunt and of healing (TRS: "Bastille Day").
- Ares – The lord of war. The infant son of Cally and Galen Tyrol is dedicated to this Lord of Kobol (TRS: "The Resistance, Episode 10"). The Sons of Ares are a militant fundamentalist group, dedicated to Ares (TRS: "Escape Velocity" and "Deadlock")
- Artemis – Twin sister of Apollo, lady of the hunt. Kara Thrace prays often to this Lord (TRS: "Flesh and Bone").
- Asclepius – The lord of healing (TRS: "Escape Velocity").
- Athena – This lord committed suicide "out of despair over the exodus of the thirteen tribes" (TRS: "Home, Part II"). Her tomb holds a map to Earth (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I").
- Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn (TRS: "Maelstrom")[3].
- Hecate – Shape-changing goddess of the underworld (CAP: "Pilot").
- Hephaestus - Patron god of Canceron.[4]
- Hera – Wife of Zeus. A mountain ridge on Kobol is named after her (TRS: "Home, Part II"), and the first Cylon/human hybrid child is named for this lord (TRS: "Downloaded").
- Hermes - Patron god of Aquaria.[5]
- Hestia - Patron god of Virgon.
- Icarus - Baxter Sarno's joke about the wings of statue of Icarus melting, particularly in the aftermath of the bombing of Clarice Willow's car, is met with scorn (CAP: "Unvanquished").
- Poseidon – Gaius Baltar mentions this deity in a conversation with Tracey Anne (TRS: "He That Believeth in Me"). Deckhand Brooks also prays to this lord. (TRS: "The Face of the Enemy")
- Prometheus - Credited in the pantheon as bringing the gift of fire to mortals, and thus the light of knowledge. Cerebus of the New Cap City nightclub Mysteries retold the story of Prometheus to their patrons, and would pose riddles to patrons regarding this tale (CAP: "Ghosts in the Machine").
The Colonials appear to use multiple names for their lords, interchanging "Mars" for "Ares," "Jupiter" for "Zeus," and so on.[6]
Afterlife
Believers think that they will go to Fields of Elysium after death if they led a good life (TRS: "Faith").[7]
Paradise Lost
According to the Sacred Scrolls, the gods once shared a paradise-like existence with the people of Kobol. Later circumstances forced the exodus of the human population of Kobol to the Twelve Colonies and Earth, and lead to Athena's suicide.
The existence of the Lords of Kobol is attested to by the survival of numerous artifacts, including the Arrow of Apollo, the Tomb of Athena and the Gates of Hera. However, although she accepts their historic authenticity, Caprica-Valerii, a Cylon, questions their actual divinity.[8]
The Jealous God
Elosha states that the exodus from Kobol was precipitated when "one jealous god began to desire that he be elevated above all the other gods, and the war on Kobol began." This god was eventually separated from the others.[9] This figure may be related to or identical with "the one whose name cannot be spoken," whose temple is discovered on the algae planet (TRS: "The Eye of Jupiter").
The Path of Olympus
Tom Zarek conveys to Laura Roslin and her followers the news that Commander William Adama had resumed command of Galactica after the attempt on his life by saying: "Zeus has returned to Olympus" (TRS: "The Farm").[10] By Zarek's comment we can infer that Colonial religion appears to acknowledge the existence of a place called Olympus. It cannot yet be determined, however, if Olympus was thought of as the residence of the gods at a specific physical or metaphysical location of Kobol, as there has been no mention of Olympus elsewhere. If Olympus is a metaphysical locale, this may contradict Elosha's comment that the gods and man lived on Kobol together in harmony.[11]
Other Mythological Names in Colonial Culture
Various items have been identified which are apparently named after other gods and legendary figures of their faith, although these have not been explicitly identified as Lords of Kobol.
- See main article: Mythological references
The Cycle of Time
- Main article: Cycle of Time
"All this has happened before, and all this will happen again."[12]
According to Gaius Baltar, this line from the Pythian prophecy is very well known (TRS: "The Hand of God"). Laura Roslin later expands on it, reminding Kara Thrace,
"If you believe in the gods, then you believe in the cycle of time that we are all playing our parts in a story that is told again, and again, and again throughout eternity" (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I").
Various events have led some people to believe that they are playing out another turn of this cycle[13]. (See Sacred Scrolls for more detailed analysis).
Sanctity of Life
According to the Sacred Scrolls, abortion is "an abomination in the eyes of the Gods." The more fundamentalist Gemenese strictly adhere to this commandment, however the more secular Colonies such as Caprica apparently do not follow this as strictly: officially, Colonies-wide Federal law guaranteed a woman the right to an abortion, at least at the time of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies (TRS: "The Captain's Hand").
Individual Practice
The Colonials display a wide spectrum of religious practice, ranging from Billy Keikeya's atheism (TRS: "Home, Part II," cut scene) to Corporal Venner's literalistic readings of the Sacred Scrolls.
While not fully explained in the Re-imagined Series, it appears, based on the information from a dedication ceremony for Nicholas Tyrol and the prayers of Kara Thrace, that each Colonial is paired, or "placed in the service" with one or more of the Lords. Based on the dedication ceremony blessing, Zeus is a considered "almighty" or foremost of the gods, while other Lords are prayed to by Colonials as a proxy to Zeus.[14]
Artifacts
Despite Gemenon's fundamentalist climate, the city of Delphi on Caprica was apparently of a mind to store an important religious artifact, the Arrow of Apollo, in a museum, rather than a devotional institution (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II").
Ancient temples may be also be the repository of special artifacts such as the Eye of Jupiter, believed to be stored inside the legendary Temple of Five ("Rapture," "The Eye of Jupiter").
Confession
At least some sects of the Colonial religion practice the concept of absolution of sins through confession. Brothers, and presumably priests as well, may hear confessions as demonstrated by Brother Cavil agreeing to hear Anders' confession (TRS: "The Plan"). It is not known if this practice is uniform throughout the Colonial religion or limited to certain sects.
A confession begins with the confessor saying, "Bless me, Brother, for I have acted against the example of the Gods." The Brother or Priest will then say, "Proceed in the name of the Gods," and after hearing the confession, they will end by saying, "You are absolved in the example of the Gods."
Dress

As seen by the various separatists orbiting Kobol (TRS: "Home, Part I"), it appears that many Colonials have clothing that suggests a religious deference. In the scene, one older, white-bearded gentleman is dressed in simple colored robes and a round, flat head covering[15] Other distinctive dress styles of other characters in the scene increase the sense of the dedication of religion in the Gemenese people (which appear to comprise the majority of Roslin's separatists).
The oracle Dodona Selloi dresses in a turban and robes, suggesting a special role in Colonial society or its religious hierarchy (TRS: "Exodus, Part I").
Idols
Kara Thrace, a devotee of Artemis and Aphrodite, prays to them on behalf of Leoben Conoy using figurines that bear a similarity to classic representations of Artemis and Athena. Artemis is depicted with her bow and arrow, and Athena with her helmet of war (TRS: "Flesh and Bone").
When visting the oracle Yolanda Brenn, Thrace receives a figurine of the goddess Aurora as a gift (TRS: "Maelstrom").
Prayer

Some former Astral Queen prisoners seeking rehabilitation have turned to group prayer. They greet Laura Roslin as a prophet and she provides them with a blessing (TRS: "The Farm").
Priest Elosha sings a group prayer in a Service for the dead after the Fleet escapes from the initial Cylon attack (TRS: "Miniseries, Night 2").[16] The priest also gives a prayer after Colonial One is boarded by Commander Adama's troops to remove Roslin from power (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II").
A chaplain delivered a simple prayer at the funeral of Zak Adama, two years prior to the fall of the Colonies (TRS: "Act of Contrition")[17]:
"The burdens of this life are with us but a short time. For Lieutenant Zak Adama, son of William and Carolanne Adama, brother of Lee, the time was too short, but we take comfort in knowing his life was willingly given in service to all of us. We honor them for that. And thus, it falls upon us to repent our sins and with the help of the Lords of Kobol, make our own lives worthy of that gift. And now, we commit his body to the ground from which we were all made."
Corporal Venner asks Laura Roslin to join him in a simple prayer while Galactica is attacked as it desperately tries to find its Fleet (TRS: "Scattered").
(To Roslin:) Will you pray with me? (He begins:) Help us, Lords of Kobol. Help your prophet Laura guide us to the path of righteousness. That we might – that we might destroy our enemies. Let us walk the path of righteousness and lift our faces unto your goodness. Help us turn away from the calls of the wicked and show us the knowledge of your certain salvation. We offer this prayer.
Prayer is also seen in the Season 3 webisode series in a temple (where prayers are written and then burned before an idol), and by Kara Thrace (TRS: "Miniseries" and "Flesh and Bone").
Rosaries
As Laura Roslin begins to suffer from chamalla withdrawal in Galactica's brig, Corporal Venner, a Gemenese, anxiously clutches a set of white prayer beads (TRS: "Fragged").

Temples may have been more elaborate places on the Twelve Colonies, but the spaceborne remnants of humanity presumably use any space they can find on their ships to form a basic temple. As seen on New Caprica, a basic temple may consist of a simple altar with candles, idols of the Lords of Kobol, and what meager offerings the Colonials can give as a tithe. Some prayers are written on paper and burned (TRS: "Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance").
The temple on New Caprica was known as the Temple of Artemis (TRS: "Collaborators"), suggesting that temples are dedicated to a Lord or Lords, and may be related to the pairing of Colonials to a specific set of Lords at their dedication ceremony.
A similar arrangement to temple is found in an oracle camp (TRS: "Maelstrom").
A room used for religious services on Galactica is referred to as a temple (TRS: "Escape Velocity"). In the guise of a brother, the Fleet copy of John Cavil establishes a temple aboard Galactica for clandestine meetings with other Cylon agents regarding "the plan" (TRS: "The Plan").
Sagittaron beliefs
Orthodox Sagittaron beliefs are more anachronistic than the Gemenese's, believing that the mind and body are myths, and that medicine is "an abomination, a sin against the Gods". Sagittarons also blame physicians for the spread of disease due to their ignorance of the aforementioned "myth" of the body and mind. They traditionally do not believe in violence, even to the point of not aiding the New Caprica Resistance in their fight against the Cylon occupation of New Caprica (TRS: "The Woman King").
Other minority beliefs
A small minority of the Colonials were secretly monothiests. While it is not clear if such worship was still in practice in modern Colonial times up to the Cylon holocaust, an unusual temple found on a remote planet suggests that monotheism was prevalent in the Thirteenth Tribe.
After the Second Exodus, Gaius Baltar later founds a monotheistic cult that finds itself in conflict with the established faiths. Baltar's faith comes into direct, violent conflict with the Sons of Ares as well as the general Colonial polythiests. Mithraism is also noted in practice (TRS: "Escape Velocity")
The Clergy
The religious and government bodies of the Twelve Colonies work together. This association is likely based on the religious homogeneity of the Colonies.[18]
Priests/Priestesses


Laura Roslin is sworn into the presidency by a priestess[19], Elosha, who continues on in an advisory capacity within Roslin's administration. Priests also preside over military funerals, without regard for the beliefs of the deceased.
Priests in the Twelve Colonies are apparently not required to practice celibacy, and can be male or female. Chief Galen Tyrol states that his father was a priest and his mother an oracle (TRS: "Resistance" and "Resistance").[20]
According to Billy Keikeya, some priests use chamalla for its hallucinogenic properties. The prescient dreams it imparted to Laura Roslin may imply the use of something similar by Pythia, an ancient prophet. Oracles also use the drug.
Brothers

The term Brother is used as a title for male members of the clergy, although it is not fully apparent whether this role is similar to that of a monk or deacon.
As with priests, a brother offers consultation and leads prayer.
The only instance of this clergy is Brother Cavil, who offers guidance to Chief Tyrol.
Cavil, however, is revealed as a humanoid Cylon some time later. Because of Cavil's nature, there may be doubt as to whether Cavil is a useful example of the work of a Brother in Colonial religion.
It is probable that Brothers are lay clergy, unlike priests and oracles, who appear to have political status as well as their religious status.
Sisters

As with Brothers in the clergy, there are Sisters as well.
Sister Tivenan is briefly seen tending to business in the temple on New Caprica, guiding prayer and officiating a dedication ceremony for the newborn son of Galen and Cally Tyrol (TRS: "Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance").
It is probable that Sisters, like Brothers, are lay clergy.
Oracles
- Main article: Oracle


There is little information as to the religious functions of oracles. Dodona Selloi is one of two oracles seen in the Re-imagined Series. She confirms the dreams of a copy of Number Three and the existence of Hera. It is not clear if Selloi is sitting in a tent designated as a temple, but there are numerous ornate or curious inscriptions surrounding and inside her tent that suggest the significance of the oracle's tent or her presence. A second oracle, Yolanda Brenn, gives counsel to Kara Thrace on her strange dreams aboard Galactica (TRS: "Maelstrom").
Priests and oracles may assume their roles due to an personal, possibly inherited affinity to sense spiritual changes or conditions. Galen Tyrol, believed to be the son of a priest and oracle, detects the presence of and finds the Temple of Five alone, based only on his senses, apparently detecting the hidden temple on the otherwise-unremarkable (and undocumented) algae planet (TRS: "The Eye of Jupiter"). However, it is revealed later that he is in fact a humanoid Cylon, one of the (TRS: "Final Five"), and had visited the site before.
A Cylon Connection
- Main article: Cylon Religion
- See Also: The Destiny, Final Five, Temple of Five
While humanoid Cylons show a strict, firm belief in a monotheistic God, referring to the Lords of Kobol as "false idols," a connection between the Cylon God and the Lords of Kobol may exist. During the Cylon occupation of New Caprica, an oracle tells Number Three (who has a dream of the oracle's tent and of holding the believed-dead hybrid child Hera") that she has a message from the one that Number Three worships (TRS: "Exodus, Part I"). This poses the question how an oracle of the Lords of Kobol is able to hear the messages of the Cylon God.
The Temple of Five, which a Number Three uses to visualize the identities of the Final Five," was not built for the Cylons (who were not created until 4,000 years later) but for humans. The Temple, according to the Sacred Scrolls, was built for five priests who worshiped "The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken". It is not clear if this was the spurned "jealous god" or another fallen member of the Lords of Kobol.[21]
Kara Thrace realizes her destiny, first from the words of a Leoben Conoy model, and later, in a type of dream, through an entity that took the likeness of Leoben, but was not a Cylon. From death, Thrace returns to the Fleet, not as an illusion, but resurrected – something that, prior to Thrace, only a humanoid Cylon could do.
Notes
- In a podcast, RDM mentioned that it was intended that there would be many sectarian divisions and religious denominations within colonial society, ranging from a Hellenic-style Cult of Athena to more Buddhist and Hindu forms of worship, and including monotheistic minorities. Mithraism is presumably one such minority belief, similar to the real-life minority Mithraic religion of Roman times. This diversity was not fully shown due to time constraints, but would later be made more apparent in Caprica.
- It seems that Colonial society protects freedom of worship and encourages religious diversity to some degree. However, certain monotheistic organizations such as the Soldiers of the One and the Cult of Baltar are strongly anti-polytheistic, and some devout polytheists such as Jordan Duram take strong exception to the doctrine of monotheism.
- The Tauron funeral rite (CAP: "There is Another Sky") mirrors the Ancient Greek rite of placing a coin on the head of the dead for the Charon, the ferryman who took the souls of the dead across the Rivers Styx and Acheron to The Underworld. The idea of eternal return "all of this has happened before, and will happen again" is strongly present in many forms of Hinduism, which see the universe as cyclical. The use of oracles and icons of deities reflects many historical Indo-European religions from Ancient Greek to Hindu, as well as different shamanistic practices. Additionally the priests of the Lords of Kobol wear different vestments perhaps indicating divisions similar to Protestantism/Catholic/Orthadox in Christianity.
- The use of the names of certain real-life pagan Gods as personal names (like the Germanic Odin) as well as the presence of interchangable Greco-Roman names for the same gods (i.e. Jupiter/Zeus or Mars/Ares) may suggest that the worship of the Lords of Kobol uses different names for the same Gods depending on language. Different colonies may call the same Lords of Kobol names like the Germanic Tyr, Roman Jupiter, Greek Zeus Pater, Indian Deus Pita interchangably. Alternatively, it is possible that some polytheists in the colonies worship a different pantheon altogether, or include the worship of other gods along with the 12 Lords of Kobol, just as how there are Titans and Olympians in Greek religion, Asir and Vanir in Germanic religion, or Devas and Asuras in Hindu religion.
- The punchline of the joke that Tom Zarek tells Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson as he is escorted from the flight deck in "Blood on the Scales" suggests that pedophilia by priests may have been an issue among the clergy of the Twelve Colonies, similar to anecdotes and allegations involving the Roman Catholic Church.
References
- ↑ The Colonial deities are very similar to the Olympic gods of Greek mythology on the real-world Earth.
- ↑ This phrase is a homage to the Original Series, where each episode began with this phrase in a voice-over introduction.
- ↑ Aurora is the Roman counterpart of the Greek Eos. Eos is one of the Titans. Since the Lords of Kobol are modeled after the Twelve Olympians however, this could indicate that she is not one of the Lords, but belongs to another group of deities.
- ↑ In Greek mythology, Hephaestus is known as the god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture.
- ↑ In Greek mythology, Hermes is considered the herald (messenger) of the gods, also the protector of humans heralds, travellers, thieves, merchants and orators.
- ↑ Curiously, Laura Roslin mentions that the 134th day of the Cylon occupation of New Caprica is Mars Day (TRS: "Occupation"), suggesting that Ares may also be called by his alternate Roman pantheon's name. The same happens again in "The Passage" when Zeus is referred to by the name of his Roman counterpart Jupiter.
- ↑ This is clearly a direct parallel to the ancient Greek Elysian Fields, the part of the underworld corresponding to "heaven". The visual image of a ferry crossing a river also parallels the river Styx.
- ↑ There is a notion in fan circles that there are twelve lords of Kobol, by analogy to the twelve Cylon models, twelve Colonies, and perhaps the Twelve Olympians of Greek mythology. A post from Ron D. Moore's blog on March 12, 2005 loosely alludes on this coincidence, but further official sourcing has not been revealed.
- ↑ From a deleted scene cut from the episode "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I".
- ↑ In Greek mythology, the home of the gods on Earth resided high atop Greece's highest mountain, Mount Olympus, at a time where access to the mountain summit would be almost impossible with the inhabitants' technology of that age.
- ↑ On the other hand, according to the ancient Greek poem Theogony by Hesiod, the gods lived together with humankind until Prometheus' deception at Mecone, after which they dwelt exclusively on mount Olympus and humans exclusively on Earth. Perhaps, then, some transgression caused the Lords of Kobol and humankind to part paths.
- ↑ In a short talk he gave before a screening of "Flesh and Bone," Ron Moore revealed that he "stole" the line from the introduction of the Disney animated version of Peter Pan (lecture part 1 and part 2).
- ↑ The notion of a circular progression of time (also known as eternal return or eternal recurrence) is a common theme in other faiths, particularly Mayan mythology and is a cornerstone of the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. Moreover, Stoic philosophy did believe in the concept of ekpyrosis, the fire which consumes the old world and signals the birth of a new world, identical to the old, for a recurring cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
- ↑ This practice is similar to a Catholic practice of prayer to Mary, mother of Jesus. While Mary is a human, followers believe that, by praying to Mary, she can intercede to aid the acceptance of the prayer by the Trinity, the godhead of the Catholic faith.
- ↑ These robes may remind viewers of the tradition dress of Hasidic Jews, Islamic clerics, or Eastern Orthodox clerics of the real-world Earth.
- ↑ The language she sings is Sanskrit, a classical language of real-world Earth's Hindu/Indian peoples. More about the verses that she sings and their meaning can be found in the Language in the Twelve Colonies article.
- ↑ The prayer's mention of committing a "body to the ground from which we were all made" echoes the Biblical passage of Genesis 3:19:
- "By the sweat of your brow
- you will eat your food
- until you return to the ground,
- since from it you were taken;
- for dust you are
- and to dust you will return."
- ↑ This differs from the United States, whose government is based on religious tolerance through the separation of religious practice and legislature. While the real-world Earth has many, many religions, the Twelve Colonies, as yet, appear to have only one religion and as such does not suffer greatly from schisms or other religious factions, although colonists such as the Gemenese show a different emphasis on how they interpret the religious writings.
- ↑ In "Blood on the Scales," Baltar refers to Elosha as "the Priestess Elosha," indicating that women priests have a femanine title
- ↑ Galen Tyrol's information may be skewed by the revelation that he himself is a Cylon (TRS: "Crossroads, Part II").
- ↑ While the notion of a fallen Lord is speculative in the Re-imagined Series, there is already a parallel series of characters from the Original Series: The Beings of Light and their fallen member, Iblis. Ron D. Moore, however, has stated in several interviews that he was not planning to use this Original Series concept in the Re-imagined Series.
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Like the show, the comics or novels based on the Original Series, and its spinoff, Galactica 1980, use different terminology in order to make the universe visceral to the reader. This array of terminology, used by both the Colonials and Cylons, consists of military jargon, colloquialisms, sayings, and technical terms.
This page does not serve to regurgitate or repeat terminologies used in both series, but terms that only appear in both the comics and novels. Each section is separated by publisher (Berkley, Marvel, Realm Press, et al.), in order to make the continuities clear.
Books
Berkley
- germicide: part of a Warrior's medkit. Given the use of the suffix "-cide," this substance kills germs.[1]
- viruscide: part of a Warrior's medkit. Given the use of the suffix "-cide," this substance kills viruses.[1]
Comics
Dynamite Entertainment
Cultural
- Boray fracker: a derogatory term specifically disparaging a targeted party as "Boray shit"; Starbuck uses this when engaging on his bombing run on Tessida (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).
- countess: honorific for a Colonial female aristocrat, c.f. Sephoni (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #1).
- daggit dribble: a kinder version of "felgercarb"; Cassiopeia uses this when Starbuck lies his way out of the real reason he wants to talk to Cassiopeia before a mission to attack the Cylon mainframe at Tessida (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
- daggit fracker: a variation of "dog shit"; Starbuck tells the Cylons to "eat this, daggit frackers!" as he and Apollo take on the Centurion stealth team that boarded Galactica (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
- felger-hole: "shit hole"; Boomer calls Tessida this when making his landing run to recover Starbuck (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #4).
- for Sagan's sake: a statement issued in exasperation; Starbuck exclaims this after a red alert alarm goes off in response to Galactica's boarding by a Cylon stealth team (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
- flark: an alternative of the word frack in an alternate reality, hewing more toward the vulgarism "fuck" than "shit" (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #3).
- Larson's Apogee in C-Minor: a Colonial piano piece played by Baltar (Comics: Galactica 1980 #2).[2]
- Mother of Hermes: variation of the phrase "Mother of God"; Tassos uses this exclamation when Starbuck wrings Tassos by his tunic (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).
- nutszoidal: crazy, in a state of immense frustration (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
- perdition's name: a form of "devil's name"; Adama uses this in an exasperated inquiry regarding a Cylon stealth team boarding Galactica (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
- soil-grown mushies: a Colonial foodstuff believed by some to be a higher-quality counterpart to the more commonplace hydronic mushies; Starbuck won three cases of these in order to barter for a ring featuring Geminese sapphires for Cassiopeia (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1)-(Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).
- Spirit of Caprica: a saying often used in exaltation of an unbelievable miracle; Adama utters this—"Spirit of Caprica preserve us."—when believing they have found Earth within a storm zone (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #8).
Cylons
- alphad: equivalent to the Colonial "alpha," such a letter is used in the code confirming the legitimacy of the super basestar's critical reactor failure (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
- betan: equivalent to the Colonial "beta," such a letter is used in the code confirming the legitimacy of the super basestar's critical reactor failure (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
- cautionary myth: early Cylon conditional programming that was unsuccessful, and "remembered" only by IL-series units, e.g. Lucifer (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 #4).
- clankies: Colonial slang for Cylons; used by Boxey during Adama's Fleet-wide speech (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
- Meclons: a rogue cast of Cylons from Cylon cautionary myths, and later applied to Iblis Cylon forces (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Folly of the Gods).
- tin horn: Colonial slang for Cylons; used by the black market merchant aboard Rising Star from whom Starbuck acquires an engagement ring for Cassiopeia (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
Material
- chromium: a material used in the threading of Colonial uniform braiding (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #4).
- Geminese sapphire: a red precious gemstone used in jewelry; Starbuck acquires a ring made with these sapphires in order to propose marriage to Cassiopeia (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).
Military
General
- blue shift: duty cycle 12 centars in length, beginning in the evening and ending in the early morning (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- cerebral law: law enacted by Doctor Gaius Zee when assuming total command of the Fleet after Adama's death at the hands of the Thirteenth Tribe (Comics: Galactica 1980 #2).
- command blues: slang for the uniform worn by officers, like Tigh and Athena (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
- Command Core: alternate name for Core Command (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #7).
- contact alarm: klaxon denoting potential enemy contact (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #8).
- D-com Warrior: "Decompression Colonial Warrior," equipped to handle decompression situations; a force of D-com Warriors is dispatched to repel a Cylon boarding party that attempts to recover the nano-cybrid from Galactica's science deck (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2).
- defense net: a network of automated defenses around each of the Colonies (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #1).
- full rate: maximum firing rate during an engagement (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
- habitation chamber or hab-pod: crew quarters, such as those aboard Galactica (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
- half-cycle handover: the transition period between military shifts (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- Officer of the Watch: commanding officer in effective command during a duty cycle (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- Q-Cache: a military storage depot, many are placed throughout known space for Colonial forces to resupply (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2).
- red shift: duty cycle 12 centars in length, beginning in the morning and ending in the early evening (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- snuff dive: a terminal dive (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #2).
- time cycle: a military work shift (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- top tier: the top most tier of Core Command, where the Commander's Station is located (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
Squadrons and Forces
- Blue Flight/Blue Squadron: interchangeable designation for a fighter squadron
- During the events of leading up to Adama's Gambit, Blue Flight was lead by Apollo, consisting of Boomer, Jolly, and Sheba (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- Blue Leader: leader of Blue Flight (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- blue patrol: identifier for a patrol dispatched from Galactica (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #8).
- Bronze Star Squadron: Galactica squadron (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3).
- Red Flight/Red Squadron: interchangeable designation for a fighter squadron
- During the events of leading up to Adama's Gambit, Red Flight was lead by Starbuck, consisting of Breena, Greenbean, and Hightail (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- In 7358, Red Flight consists of Boomer, Sheba, Greenbean and Breena (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
- Red Leader: leader of Red Flight (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- Silver Spar Squadron: Pegasus squadron, reassigned to Galactica following the Battle of Gamoray, later lead (at times) by Lieutenant Sheba (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3), (Comics: Battlestar Galactica Classic #1).
Strategies
- Attack Pattern Omega: a defensive posture employed by Lucifer's Raiders against the Meclons (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 #2).
- Beton Beton Five: a defense strategy employed during Adama's Gambit, ordered by Athena (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #11).
- Diamond Spread: flight pattern employed by Vipers (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- mutli-split: Viper maneuver sprung from a formation during a battle; Boomer orders this during the dogfight outside of the super basestar (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
- quad formation: formation of four Vipers that regroup during a battle; Boomer orders this during the dogfight outside of the super basestar (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
- trailing line: flight pattern employed by Vipers (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
Technology
- braking jet: reaction control thrusters on Vipers used to arrest momentum; Viper pilots use braking jets to allow Raiders to overshoot, thus allowing the Warrior to gain targeting lock by quickly switching from being on the enemy's fore to aft (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
- datanet: an information network, e.g. internet; each colony has its own, such as the Aerian datanet for Aeries (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #2).
- deep-pulse: form of long-range scanning technology employed by the Colonials (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #1).
- emergency tracker: device outfitted on Colonial Vipers, used to track (or allow tracking of) other Vipers in need of assistance (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #4).
- environment mask: basic breathing apparatus meant for short-term emergency use; Dr. Wilker keeps such in his lab, and they are later put to use during the Cylon boarding of Galactica (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2).
- exo-lifter: a mechanical apparatus, likely an exoskeleton (ergo, "exo") capable of heavy-duty tasks (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- fusion missile: ranged offensive ordnance of battlestars (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #11).
- gamma frequency field: energy dampening field; in order to prevent communications to other Cylons, Boomer engages such a field around a Centurion prisoner while it is restrained in Galactica's detention chamber (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2).
- gravitic warhead: ordnance capable of collapsing a wormhole; Adama deploys it upon the Canopus wormhole in order to prevent further Cylon pursuit of the Fleet (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #4).
- holo-cube: a hand-held digital device in the shape of a cube, capable of projecting a holographic image (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #1).
- planetary expeditionary vehicle carrier: also known as a "PEV" craft; Gemini is such a craft and is capable of launching smaller craft (such as turbines) on a planet's surface (Comics: Galactica 1980 #4).
- pocket grenade: explosive anti-personnel device carried by Colonial Warriors; Starbuck uses a device to cause a hull breach in Dr. Wilker's science lab when the Cylons attempt to recover the nano-cybrid (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2).
- radiation charge: device capable of emitting radiation, enough to render tylium worthless (Comics: Battlestar Galactica Annual 2014).
- radiotelegraph probe: form of long-range scanning technology employed by the Colonials (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #1).
- stealth probe: clandestine Colonial reconnaissance device (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
- tractor field: technology used to ensnare spacecraft; in an alternate reality, a Raider ensnares Starbuck's Temporal Viper in one (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2).
Temporal Mechanics
- temporal storm: a convergence of tachyon and other energies capable of bridging two disparate realities (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2) & (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #5).
- temporal drive / t-drive: engine powering the temporal warper (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #5).
- temporal weapon: defensive/offensive technology capable of warping space-time for military purposes that, due to its inherently unpredictable and far-reaching nature, the Colonials have outlawed (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #1).
- time mirage: a form of temporal displacement where, to a viewer, an object is frozen in space-time, but interaction with it is impossible (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2).
- time-warp or temporal warp: a means of conveyance of an object in both space and time, either controlled or uncontrolled (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #2).
Units of Measure
- light-yahren: Colonial term for lightyear (Comics: Galactica 1980 #1).[3]
Miscellany
- aldarium belt: asteroid belt; Starbuck promises Serina that he would bring Apollo back from his mission, even if it meant dragging him a hundred hectars through this belt (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 #1).
- decompression sickness: a physically and mentally exhausting event occurring after experiencing atmospheric decompression; Starbuck blames this sickness after awakening in life sciences and mis-identifying Cassiopeia as Aurora (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #1).
- delta-class telepath: individual possessing high psionic potential, capable of being detected by hand scanners (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
- first contact: a Colonial protocol dealing with communications to a new civilization (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
- full rate: a weapon's maximum fire rate, i.e. "weapons free" (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #4).
- full retro: engine on full burn, Starbuck compares Doctor Madusa beauty to being "hotter than a thruster on full retro" (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #7).
- handshake signal: the opening transmission commencing first contact protocols (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
- Hovian: a sector containing a planet known for its unique magnetic field, capable of attracting derelict ships much like Iblis' planet (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 #1).
- hyper-fast: euphemism for extreme speed (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- ideo-psion: a mental aberration, an incongruent thought like "wishful thinking" (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #3).
- mega-static discharge: created by high energons that can accumulate around craft before they eventually discharge (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- positive array lock: a sensor lock (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
- power-dead: electrical blackout (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
- protein bar: foodstuff (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 #1).
- psionic: someone with mental powers, also used to describe aforesaid powers themselves {{(Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2) & (Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo)}}*telepathic overload: a mental condition, the result of using psionic potential beyond the human mind's ability to cope (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #9).
- ticophine: chemical in fumarello products causing withdrawal symptoms, akin to nicotine (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 #1).
- ventle steak: a type of meat, known to be served cooked (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 #1).
- void lightning: electrical discharges within a quantum storm zone (Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #6).
Marvel Comics
- armistice: a term referring to the falsely believed-in peace between the Colonials and Cylons (Comics: Annihilation!).
- liesuron: a furlough; Apollo tells Zac that he expects that all the Warriors will be given this after the armistice (Comics: Annihilation!).
- Note: This is an alternate spelling of the canonical term "leisuron," also used by Apollo when discussing his participation in the recon patrol prior to the Battle of Cimtar (TOS: "Saga of a Star World").
- quadron: a unit of astral distance; the Imperious Leader's basestar is "several hundred quadrons" away from Carillon (Comics: Deathtrap!).
- supreme star force: Cylon attack force; Imperious Leader dispatches the star force stationed at Borallus to attack the Fleet at Carillon (Comics: Deathtrap!).
Look-In Magazine
- Flexi-lock: A type of docking mechanism used by Colonial shuttles (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 3).[4]
- gyrotron: A component of a ship's systems that can malfunction, affecting its ability to keep station (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 2).[5]
- impulse microvator: A microscopic Cylon device that, when implanted at the base of a human's brain, allows the Imperious Leader to control their actions (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 1).[6]
- Kalnak scale: A navigational or sensor scale used by Colonials to denote the position of objects in space (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 2).[7]
- linear probe: A type of sensor equipment used on Galactica (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 2).[8]
- Mark Three impulse beam: An outdated class of impulse beam weapon, considered rudimentary and virtually useless against Cylon Raiders (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 3).[9]
- Parahelial Fever: A highly contagious illness that is deadly to adults but non-fatal for children (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 3).[10]
- Penetratron-beam: A delivery system for a missile, used by Apollo to deliver a modified impulse microvator into a Cylon assault ship (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 1).[11]
- reversal feedback: A modification made by Colonials to a captured impulse microvator, causing it to turn a Cylon's destructive command back on their own ship (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 1).[12]
- seismosonic detector: A Cylon surveillance device used to detect movement over a wide area (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 4).[13]
- transference bubble: A Cylon technology used to transport a person inside a protective field, presumably to prevent biological contamination (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 3).[14]
- Valnic-class: A class of Colonial freighter; Freighter Eighteen is of this class (Comics: Look-In Magazine: Storyline 1).[15]
Maximum Press comics
- ion storm: a spatial disturbance, one that creates a malfunction in Cylon 8765 (The Rebirth of Cy, Part 1).
Realm Press comics
- Psych-Med: mental health specialist, e.g. Doctor Ishtara (Comics: Fear of Flying).
- thermo-tub: hot tub (Comics: Fear of Flying).
Unproduced Scripts
- barrier wave: a wave of turbulence, such a wave strikes Galactica and the Fleet during their proximity to the Beta Triangle (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
- Fix-it: robotic machines that serve to repair ships, and are part of the salvage tug sent to repair the Gemini freighter. During Boomer and Starbuck's review of the salvage tug's checklist, they check the readiness of the "Heavy-duty Fix-it" and the "Electronics Fix-it" (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
- forcewave: another term for barrier wave (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
- quarter-milliton: a time unit (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
- gyroball: a spherical toy larger than a marble (TOS: "I Have Seen Earth").
- sentinel buoy: a spheroid spy satellite with lens-systems and sensors that is used by the Cylons. One such satellite detects Galactica as she and her Fleet skirt the outer boundary of the Beta Triangle (TOS: "The Beta Pirates").
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Resnick, Michael (1981). Battlestar Galactica 5: Galactica Discovers Earth. Berkley Books, p. 116.
- ↑ This term is a nod to both Battlestar Galactica creator Glen A. Larson and the company formed by John Dykstra.
- ↑ This term is also used in Encyclopedia Galactica.
- ↑ Look-In #18 (1980), Storyline 3, Strip 2
- ↑ Look-In #4 (1980), Storyline 2, Strip 1
- ↑ Look-In #45 (1979), Storyline 1, Strip 3
- ↑ Look-In #5 (1980), Storyline 2, Strip 2
- ↑ Look-In #6 (1980), Storyline 2, Strip 3
- ↑ Look-In #23 (1980), Storyline 3, Strip 7
- ↑ Look-In #17 (1980), Storyline 3, Strip 1
- ↑ Look-In #3 (1980), Storyline 1, Strip 13
- ↑ Look-In #2 (1980), Storyline 1, Strip 12
- ↑ Look-In #48 (1980), Storyline 4, Strip 19
- ↑ Look-In #34 (1980), Storyline 3, Strip 18
- ↑ Look-In #43 (1979), Storyline 1, Strip 1
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Note
- The name "Hermes" is derived from Greek mythology. Hermes was the messenger of the gods, usually depicted with winged sandals, a hat, and a caduceus. Usually identified with the God of Mercury.
