PREFACE: REGARDING THE TIMELINE …
To alleviate confusion, let us walk back through time to pinpoint the major events in Colonial and Kobollian history.
Four years after the Colonies' destruction - A planet inhabited by prehistoric humans is named "Earth" and settled by the survivors of the Battlestar Galactica, the rebel Cylon Basestar and the ragtag fleet.
Three years after the Colonies' destruction - The dead planet named Earth, settled by the exiled Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol, is discovered by Galactica and her fleet.
The Destruction of the Twelve Colonies - Occurs after a peace of about forty years.
Fifty-two years before the Colonies' destruction - The revolution of the Colonies' mechanical servants begins and lasts for about twelve years.
Fifty-eight years before the Colonies' destruction - Cylons are created. A simulacrum of monotheist Zoe Graystone's consciousness inhabits the first functioning unit while monotheist terrorist leader Sister Clarice Willow spreads her beliefs among the burgeoning population of artificially intelligent automatons.
About two thousand years before the Colonies' destruction - On Kobol, Cylons revolt, gods war among themselves and humans flee for what will become the Twelve Colonies. This "Final Exodus" is the key chronological point alluded to at the heading of each chapter. Elsewhere, a Cylon revolution on Earth eliminates all but five members of the exiled Thirteenth Tribe.
About three thousand, six hundred years before the Colonies' destruction - The oracle Pythia writes her famed contributions to the Sacred Scrolls.
About four thousand years before the Colonies' destruction - The Thirteenth Tribe, later revealed to be organic Cylons, depart Kobol for Earth.
About four thousand, six hundred years before the Colonies' destruction - Humans on Kobol create organic Cylons.
About four thousand, nine hundred years before the Colonies' destruction - Humans on Kobol create mechanical Cylons.
About seven thousand, six hundred years before the Colonies' destruction - The Lords of Kobol descend Mount Olympus to assume godhood over humanity …