Cylon (TOS-RH)

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Cylons (TOS-RH)Cylon (planet) (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.

For the canonical counterpart to this race, see: Cylons (TOS).

The Cylons are a hybrid race of genetically-engineered warriors created through the combination of reptilian alien DNA and human genetic material by Count Iblis, with the primary purpose of exterminating humanity and conquering the universe.

Origins

The Reptilian Ancestors

The original Cylons were a sentient reptilian species native to the planet Cylon. These creatures were warlike, truculent, and savage in nature, possessing intelligence but lacking advanced technology. The reptilian Cylons still exist on the Cylon homeworld, though they remain separate from the hybrid race that bears their name.

Count Iblis and the Creation of the Hybrid Race

Millennia ago, an outsider arrived on Cylon—a human filled with anger and savagery that the native reptilians admired. This individual was Count Iblis, a member of humanity who had split from the House of Kobol and been exiled with his followers to the hostile planet Cylon. Rather than perishing as intended, Iblis chose to nurture the planet's life forms along an evolutionary path, instilling in them an insatiable hatred for humankind.

Iblis was an expert in genetic engineering and advanced biological techniques. He introduced technology to the reptilian Cylons, keeping them indebted to and fearful of him for decades. During this time, he conducted extensive experiments, promising to transform them into the fiercest, most perfect warriors the universe had ever seen. Because of this promise, the Cylons allowed him to do whatever he pleased with their species.

Over many generations, the Cylon race was artificially evolved into bipedal form to better utilize the technology Iblis had introduced. Human DNA—specifically, Iblis's own genetic material—was used for this evolutionary process. Iblis hated all human instincts and attempted to breed those aspects out of his Cylon creations. He established the extermination of humankind as the Cylons' primary directive.

Iblis introduced a cloning process using pure genetic material, which made Cylon females unnecessary; consequently, they died out. He also introduced the cybernetic implants that became part of every Cylon Centurion. Through genetic manipulation, Iblis eventually bred all emotion out of the Cylons—with the exception of hatred.

The terraforming of Cylon created numerous problems, including the activation of long-dead spores that caused breathing difficulties for everyone except Iblis, who developed a cure but chose not to share it with fellow humans. His interest remained almost entirely focused on the hybrid race he was creating.

Cylon Hierarchy

Centurions

Centurions are the most common type of Cylon warrior encountered by the Colonial Fleet. They are viewed by some Cylon factions as pseudo-machines rather than true members of the species. Centurions are manufactured on the Cylon homeworld, which serves as the primary production facility for the Cylon military.

Centurions feature cybernetic implants and heavily armored exteriors made of saligium. Advanced models of Centurions are larger, possess harder armor, and have flesh that is more resistant to heat than earlier versions. Some newer Centurions are equipped with a Human Logic Function brain implant, making them far superior and more deadly than their standard counterparts.

Two-Brained Cylons

Two-brained Cylons represent the upper echelons of Cylon society and are sometimes referred to as Cogitators. These Cylons possess both reptilian and human DNA and are the only Cylons capable of meaningful conversation with humans. When the bio-labs producing two-brained Cylons become depleted, they work overtime to meet required quotas.

Three-Brained Cylons

The creation of three-brained Cylons represents the pinnacle of Cylon evolution and is the most closely guarded secret of the Cylon Empire. The Imperious Leader is always a three-brained Cylon, and a replacement is kept in preparation on the Cylon homeworld should the reigning leader die or be destroyed. The transition process from two-brained candidate to three-brained leader is methodical and deliberately complicated.

The Cylon Civil War

At some point in Cylon history, a damaged genetic program caused a virus that destroyed the Iblis programming in certain two-brained Cylons. These Cylons began to reject the purposes for which Count Iblis had created their race, concluding that the human element in the Cylon genome was a weakness preventing them from conquering the universe.

A clandestine movement developed among these reptilian purists, who preferred purely reptilian Cylons over those with human DNA. They created a new religion to defy the orthodoxy of the Iblis Faith, insisting that not only must pure humans be destroyed, but any human element in the Cylon race must be expunged. Under this doctrine, any two-brained Cylon with human DNA would be treated the same as a full human.

The reptilian faction labored to create their own three-brained leader using stolen technology and equipment. They succeeded in generating Alpha Leader, creating a situation unprecedented in Cylon history—two three-brained Cylons existing simultaneously. The loyalists to Imperious Leader sarcastically referred to him as "Omega Leader," intending him to be the last of his kind.

The civil war between these factions became increasingly brutal. During attacks on Cylon settlements, pale-green pulsating sacs with metal arms would grab two-brained Cylons and extract their human DNA through spinal injections, leaving desiccated mummies behind.

Biology and Technology

Cylon blood is purple in color. Their bodies contain organic components, including spinal cords with small knobs protruding from them. Cylon biological research facilities include tanks containing spinal cords of varying lengths, suggesting plans to create even larger Cylon warriors than standard Centurions.

Advanced Cylon facilities feature biological computers consisting of tanks of floating brains suspended in blue-green liquid, with wires connecting them to control consoles. These biological systems operate at a motor-function level and integrate with surveillance systems featuring living, sentient walls, ceilings, and floors that can see and hear.

Military Capabilities

The Cylons possess vast military resources, with countless warships forming armadas that appear endless as grains of sand. They have developed advanced teleportation or rapid deployment technology that allows them to replace destroyed Raiders with seemingly instantaneous speed, circumventing traditional space travel.

The Cylons have formed alliances with other species, including the Chitain, operating on equal terms rather than in the traditional Cylon xenophobic manner. This represents a significant departure from typical Cylon behavior and suggests strategic adaptation in their conflict with humanity.

Notable Cylons

• Imperious Leader - The three-brained supreme leader of the Cylons
• Alpha Leader - The three-brained leader of the reptilian purist faction
• Lucifer - A Cogitator who served as an advisor

References

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.

Cylon is a planet and the homeworld of the reptilian race that Count Iblis manipulated to create the Cylon race. Described as the most hostile and uninhabitable planet in the galaxy, Cylon served as the site of exile for Iblis and his followers from the House of Iblis after their banishment from Kobol.

Planetary Characteristics

Cylon is characterized as an arid, desert planet—a "stinking desert planet" and "hell world" even by the standards of those exiled there. The planet's environment was so hostile that Iblis's enemies never believed he or his followers could survive it. The world was home to the most vicious, predatory species ever discovered—the reptilian Cylons, who were warlike, savage, yet sentient creatures.

Despite its hostile nature, the planet possessed biological resources that Iblis exploited for his genetic experiments. The world's environment created unique challenges, including long-dead spores that became activated during terraforming efforts, causing respiratory problems for the human inhabitants.

Native Species

The indigenous population of Cylon consisted of reptilian creatures that were sentient but undeveloped when Iblis arrived. These beings were warlike and savage, operating above the animal stage in their mental powers but below human level. The reptiles were highly volatile and violent—too unpredictable to be properly controlled even by someone with Iblis's persuasive powers.

Through rudimentary communication, Iblis ascertained that with proper training and selective breeding, these creatures possessed the potential to be the finest warriors in the universe. This discovery drove his decision to combine human and reptilian DNA, creating the hybrid species that would eventually exterminate their reptilian progenitors and adopt their planet's name as their own.

History

Exile of Iblis

Generations after the founding of the House of Iblis, the Kobollian forefathers cast Iblis and his followers out of the House of Kobol. They were exiled to Cylon—described as the most hostile and uninhabitable planet in the galaxy—where they were expected to die. The exile was intended as capital punishment in all but name, sending Iblis to a world where survival seemed impossible given the vicious, predatory nature of the native species.

Iblis's Experiments

Rather than perishing as intended, Iblis survived and began conducting genetic experiments on the native reptilian population. An expert in genetic engineering, Iblis had mastered every ethical argument for using advanced biological techniques to improve health and intelligence. However, his experiments on Cylon went far beyond any ethical boundaries his original colleagues on Kobol would have tolerated.

Iblis's somewhat callous manner toward the backward but highly volatile alien species drew objections from weak-willed members of his staff who protested the pain he inflicted on the reptilian beings. He asserted his authority repeatedly, reminding critics they were stuck on a dismal planet and the only resource at their command was biological material. One colleague who attempted to stop his human-reptilian DNA experiments was killed, and Iblis reflected that her death provided more human genetic material for his work. Other members of his party met similar fates.

Iblis combined human genetic splicing with cybernetic technology to create a new race with two goals as a species: the conquest of the universe and the extermination of humanity. He introduced his own human DNA into the Cylon genetic structure, evolving the reptilians into bipedal creatures. The physical combination became a literal metaphor for the philosophical—if humans couldn't appreciate what he offered them, he would make his point with a new species that would conquer all.

By this time, Iblis had developed a new religion ensuring fanatical followers who believed his every utterance to be revealed Truth and had no desire to end up on his laboratory table. He rather enjoyed being a god. Even those of his original crew who survived came to believe in whispers that the old man must be crazy to enjoy the hell world.

Terraforming and Environmental Challenges

Iblis's efforts to make Cylon more habitable through terraforming created new problems by activating long-dead spores. Everyone developed respiratory problems from the revived fungus that invaded the lungs. Everyone except Count Iblis himself—in a spare moment, he developed a cure but didn't bother sharing it with his fellow humans. His interest was almost entirely focused on the hybrid race he was creating.

Rise of the Cylons

The reptilian Cylons were introduced to technology by the outsider filled with as much hatred as they themselves possessed. Iblis promised to make them the most ruthless, fearsome warriors the universe had ever seen, and kept that promise through genetic manipulation. Cloning followed the initial genetic alterations, making females of the species redundant and unnecessary. Genetic manipulation bred all emotion out of the reptilian creatures except hatred—they had plenty of that, as did their creator.

Predictably, the Cylons eventually turned upon Iblis himself, destroying his human body and leaving his brain under their control. However, Iblis proved more resilient than anticipated—though his brain remained enslaved to the Cylons, his consciousness continued to evolve until he could project his esoteric body through space and time.

Manufacturing Center

By the time of the Great Betrayal, Cylon served as the manufacturing center for the Cylon race. Both Centurions and Cogitators were manufactured on the planet, and an Imperious Leader was always kept in preparation should the reigning leader be destroyed. Baltar never had occasion to visit the home planet during his time with the Cylons, noting he doubted he would have enjoyed it very much.

The planet housed the bio-labs where the upper echelons of two-brained Cylons were created to maintain the Cylon leadership hierarchy.

Cylon Civil War

The planet Cylon later became central to an internal conflict within the Cylon race. When bio-labs worked overtime to meet production quotas, a damaged genetic program introduced a virus that destroyed the Iblis programming in some two-brained Cylons. These Cylons concluded that the human element was the virus weakening the race and preventing universal conquest. A clandestine movement began advocating for purely reptilian Cylons over those with human DNA, creating a new religion to defy the orthodoxy of the Iblis Faith.

Experimental Archives

The planet maintained extensive archives of Iblis's original genetic experiments. In section four, category ten of the human DNA experiments, Iblis had not only created diseases but also developed cures—closing the circle of his research by exhausting all possibilities before abandoning a project. These archives proved valuable millennia later when the Colonial Fleet desperately needed a cure for a plague ravaging the population.

References

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