Battlestar Galactica - The Original Series

Those who fight the Cylon menace and are in flight on a journey to the fabled 13th Colony.

In Battlestar Galactica (BSG) were made up of Colonial Warriors (pilots / operatives), command crew and civilians on board the BSG, colonists and so on.

Comander Adama is in charge of the Battlestar Galacta. He is a father-like figure and cares for all those under him deeply. Not normally given to rash actions and is careful not to risk the fleets survival on rash actions.
A very spiritual leader who is intelligent and a wise commander.
He is able to discern the ancient texts, thus aiding them greatly on their journey.
Adama is leader of the Quroum of 12; A council that formerly governed the 12 colonies but since their destruction now operates under martial law, with Adama in overall command.

He is tactically aware and astute; foiling a cylon plan to destroy the Battlestar Galactica during a sneak-attack under the guise of a peace conference, as well as many other instances.
A widower with three children - Apollo, Athena, and Zac (killed-in-action)

The son of Commander Adama and in charge of the lead viper squadron on the Battlestar.
One of the fleets best pilots, measured, level-headed but lacking Starbucks wilder edge.
Best friends to Starbuck, his wingman.
Having witnessed his own brother killed by the cylons he is no stranger to tragedy.
His later marriage to Lieutenant Serina was tragic as she was killed on Kobol by the cylons.
Later becomes close to Lieutenant Sheba.

Starbuck is one of the characters in Battlestar Galactica that everyone remembers the most.
Beloved by the male fans and some female ones he is often considered the single-mans hero in the sci-fi world.

A brilliant Viper starfighter pilot, second only to Apollo.
A gambler, smoker and ladies man.

A carefree womaniser; involved with Lieutenant Athena and later protector and lover to Socialator Cassiopeia.
His manly prowess sometimes earns him the rebukes from other members of the female ranks he makes moves on.
He is the best friend of Captain Apollo. Often flying as a team.
Despite Starbucks maverick tendencies Commander Adama considers him 'like the son he never had.'
An orphan and bachelor.

Current Status: Left stranded on the desert planet after a gritty and violent skirmish with cyclon foot-soldiers. Believed to of been rescued.

A thoughtful, reserved Viper pilot who is Flight Sgt Jolly's wingman.
Like many of the fleet he's lost loved ones on Caprica.
The logical and wisest of the viper pilots who is often forlornly trying to show Starbuck to show some restraint.

He is later promoted to Colonel once the fleet reaches Earth.

Athena is the daughter of Adama and sister of Apollo.
An attractive and capable officer.
She serves primarily as an officer in Core Command, manning a scanner.
But is also a reserve viper pilot.

Love interest of Starbuck and rival to Cassiopeia.

Saved by Starbuck when threatened by some colonists.
A former socialator or courtesan from before the colonies destruction.
Her past calling does not bother Starbuck for whom she becomes a love interest.
Once on board the Galactica she works in the medical bay as a med tech.
A love rival to Athena.

The world of Battlestar Galactica is one of advanced technology, lasers, faster-than-light travel and large spacecraft plus more.

A space-built battleship commisioned by each of the 12 colonies. All but one are destroyed by the cylons sneak-attack at the beginning of the series.
Only one survives to lead the remains of the fleet to safety.

The Galactica is capable of light-speed travel, although while escorting its refugee fleet it must limit her speed to that of the slowest ship.
It has a complement of about 150 Vipers:

She also has a complement of shuttles.

In addition the Galactica has armored, tracked ground vehicles known as landrams and snowrams
Galactica carries a large number of manually-aimed laser batteries, both for anti-aircraft defense against fighters and for engaging other capital ships.

As to purely defensive measures, the Galactica is protected by both "electronic shields" and a heavy metal shield that covers its panoramic bridge window. However, while these might provide limited protection, they are insufficient to guard against suicide ramming runs by Cylon raiders or pulsar-cannon fire from Cylon base ships

The Galactica also has the ability to project a broad cone of energy, wide enough to cover much of one hemisphere of an Earth-sized planet, that is powerful enough to destroy ballistic missiles and their nuclear warheads.

Housed in the landing bays of Battlestar Galactica are scores of fast and lethal fighters known as Vipers that give the mothership a vital defensive and offensive capabilities.

Not only are they useful for intercepting enemy attackers they are a versatile craft allowing for flexible operations. For a small craft they have a fairly long range (although turbo-boosting reduced this).

The Viper Infiltration, atmospheric operations and landing, plus ambushes and suprise attacks.

Rapid acceleration (and braking thanks to retro-thrusters and flaps) and manoverability are it's hallmarks.
It's armed with 2 laser-torpedo's but no missiles or bombs giving it slightly less of a punch than a Cylon Raider, which carries heavier armaments.

Lead by a reptilian-android being who commands a vast army of robots they are the sworn enemy of the Colonial.
Created by a race of reptilians to mimick humans (who they saw as a very practical) but be superior in strength and, as robots with replaceable parts, live forever.
The reptilians were overcome by their own creation which, due to a fault in the programming, considered them flawed.
The robotic hordes still bear the name Cylons from this.
Typically incapable of independent thought but a formidable enemy when faced in numbers.
They constantly outnumber the Fleet of Battlestar Galactica and have near-infinite forces and ships commited to the destruction of the last battlestar.
This is one reason why the Colonial fleet must constantly remain one-step ahead of the pursuing Cylons

The rough equivalent of the Colonial Battlestar.
A capital class ship reckoned to be tougher and formidable challenge for any battlestar.
It supports Cylon operations with the fighter-craft housed deep inside it.
It's slower than the Galatica but has a superior scanning range, the pursuing Basestar and fleet often tends to 'shadow' the Galatica while planning when and where to attack it next.

Used for re-fueling and in support of a large-formation attack.
The Galactica often goes about capturing these craft to help refuel the fleet and keep ahead of the pursuing Cylons.

A heavy fighter that poses problems for lighter war-craft who fly against it.

Operated by six crew including synthetic cylons it possess' a number of advantages:

Increased range

Communications jamming

Shields are powerful enough to repel laser-torpedo fire easily.

For all the advantages it is cumbersome compared to a Raider and encounters are incredibly rare. Indicating that it may be a protoype or experimental model.

A concentrated barrage from several vipers or even ramming may be one of the only ways to destroy one of these craft if encountered by Vipers.

The Cylons equivalent fighter is a slightly larger and more heavily armed craft than the Viper. Distinctly shaped and recognisable it is crewed by 3 Cylon centurions - A commander who sits behind both the pilot and weapons operator.
Armed with 2 lasers, bombs and missiles (for planetary bombardment).

Like the colonial fighter it operates from a large 'mother ship' but can (via escorting fuel tankers) conduct long-range strikes and sorties. This is a contrast to the Viper which normally can cruise at long range without fuel tankers.

Perhaps due to the heavy design or possibly due to a human pilot having quicker, instinctive reactions than the Raider, the Viper is considered a better fighter and often emerges unscathed from combat when outnumbered.
This could also be down to the skill and prowess of the Colonial pilots.

The Leader of the Cylons.

Believed to be either of Reptilian origin or possibly a robotic emulation of their former Reptilian masters.
Super-intelligent and seeking the destruction of the human race.

Not above using human traitors to further the Cylon cause, they are a cunning and shrewd foe.

Base commanders, mission specialists and other tasks such as human liason duties.

Highly intelligent and often showing an emotional range.

The one pictured is Lucifer and it accompanies Baltar (the renegade human).

Betrayer of the human race to the Cylons.

A Count and ambassador for his colony.

Under the guise of a peace-treaty he convinced nearly all the colonies Battlestars to peacefully meet Cylon representatives during a ceasefire to achieve a lasting peace.
It was a trap.
Baltar was ruthlessly gambling on the Cylons sparing his own colony and installing him as dictator.

All 12 of the colonies were destroyed thanks to his insidious plans and the Cylons ruthless actions.

Only the Battlestar Galactica, under Adama's suspicious command, managed to survive and flee the genocide.
He narrowly avoids being killed in turn by the Cylon leader, who dies in a planetary explosion and Baltar is instead allowed to set out with the pursuing Basestars on the trail of the Battlestar Galactica.
Adama and the other colonials later corner him on a planet, despite wanting to kill him outright the other
s prevent this.

He's later pinned underneath falling rubble and left for dead...

Usually in charge of positions on-board base-stars and positions of command in the Cylon military.
Recognisable by their gold-plated armour

The backbone of the Cylon forces are the centurions. Ground-attack, pilots and general all-rounders they are the most likely enemy encountered by the Colonial forces.
Usually operate in large numbers.
Despite their name the centurion Cylons are typically the foot-soldiers and make up the majority of the combat troops facing the colonials
Centurions are commonly armed with bayonet-equipped laser rifles, as well as swords for close combat and execution

Responsible for the day-to-day activities on Cylon planets, freighters and some installations.
Clad in robes with their robotic faces showing.
They are often armed though and will attack humans if they are nearby.