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{{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Dynamite Comics}}
{{expansion}}


[[File:BSG05Cov25Only.jpg|thumb|Cylons depicted by artist [[Alex Ross]] for {{Comics|vol2|5|prose=y}}.]]
{{separate continuity|universe=TOS}}
The '''Cylons''' are entirely comprised of robots, originally the creation of a reptilian race that were also known as Cylons. From that seed, the '''Cylon Empire''' became a dominant, aggressive force that spread throughout the galaxy. Arresting this spread were the humans of {{alt-r|Twelve Colonies of Man}}, who fought a [[Thousand-Yahren War]] where the humans were destroyed by their own hubris and the machinations of traitors, such as {{alt-r|Baltar}} and {{alt-r|Zee}}.


In an [[alternate reality]], {{alt-r|Adama}} presided over the war effort as president of the {{alt-r|Quorum of Twelve}}. Following Cylon victory, Adama relegated his role as the leader of the [[Colonial Resistance]], leading to the appointment of Baltar to oversee humanity's total subjugation or destruction, whichever suits the needs of the moment ({{comics|vol2|3}}).  
The '''Cylons''' are entirely composed of robots, originally the creation of a reptilian race that were also known as Cylons.


Exploiting Zee's talents and drive to find ways to selfishly prolong his own existence, Baltar becomes the the first hybridized Human-Cylon entity, known by his amalgamated name [[Baltifer]] ({{comics|vol2|2}} & {{comics|vol2|3|short=y}}).
= Dynamite Entertainment comics =


== Cylon craft ==
{{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Dynamite Entertainment|type=line}}
 
== Reptilian Cylons ==
 
[[Image:BSGvsBSG - Kali.png|thumb|[[Kali]], a female Cylon and creator of the machine race that assumed their race identity throughout the galaxy ({{comics|vs|1}}—{{comics|vs|5|short=y}}).]]
 
Originally, the reptilian Cylons created a race of robots to service their needs. While [[Kali]], the inventor of the machines, believed the robots to be the means of Cylon domination throughout the galaxy, other Cylons abhorred this approach—including [[Kali's mate|her mate]] ({{comics|vs|5}}).
 
With Kali removed either by force or choice from the proceedings, the machines engaged in a conflict with their makers, all but wiping them from the universe and supplanting them as a force to be reckoned with.
 
== Robotic Cylons ==
 
 
 
=== Cylon Society ===
 
There are numerous types of Cylons:
 
=== Imperious Leader ===
 
Reigning supreme above all other Cylons is the '''Imperious Leader''', a being who dons the visage of their former creators.
 
=== IL-series ===
 
The '''IL-series''' (or the "IL group") are machines that typically take on the administrative duties of the Cylon Empire, e.g. {{alt|Lucifer}}.
 
=== Command Centurion ===
 
Centurions with gold plated armor are analogous with commanders in the [[Warrior|Colonial Military]].
 
Command variants of a lesser statue may also be in bronze armor, e.g. [[Vulpa]].
 
=== Centurions ===
 
These are the chrome plated foot soldiers, pilots, and labor force for the Cylon Empire.
 
=== Heavy Weapons Unit ===
 
[[File:BSGv2 - Cylon Heavy Weapons Unit.png|thumb|A Cylon Heavy Weapons Unit as remembered to {{alt|Adama|TOS}} in his nightmares focused on the attack on {{alt|Caprica|TOS}} ({{comics|vol2|1}}).]]
 
The '''Cylon Heavy Weapons Unit''' is a machine featuring an upper body and head shaped similarly to the "face" of the machine Cylons, the Centurion, appropriately portioned and installed upon a tank chassis. These units are employed for ground assaults, and Colonial Warriors associate them by their ozone smell and heat vents ({{comics|vol2|1}}).


There are two known Cylon spacecraft:
{{clear}}


* [[Basestar (TOS)|Basestar]] (or Baseship): Capital ships of the Cylon military force, analogous to the [[Battlestar (TOS)|Colonial battlestar]]. Baltar [[Baltifer's basestar|commands such a craft]].
== Cylon craft ==
* [[Raider (TOS)|Raider]]: The primary fighter of the Cylon forces, manned by two pilots and a ship commander. Raiders have been outfitted with electronic tractor beams, capable of ensnaring craft ({{comics|vol2|2}}).


== Cylon units ==
There are three known Cylon spacecraft:


* {{inlineref|Centurion|bold=N}}, a foot soldier of the Empire in humanoid form, often armed with [[laser rifle]]s.
* [[Basestar (TOS)|Basestar]]: Capital ships of the Cylon military force, analogous to the [[Battlestar (TOS)|Colonial battlestar]].
** Centurions are also outfitted with an electric stunning weapon in their vambrace, used on {{alt|Starbuck|TOS}} during his time in custody aboard [[Baltifer's basestar]] ({{comics|vol2|3}}).
* [[Raider (TOS)|Raider]]: The primary fighter of the Cylon forces, manned by two pilots and a ship commander.
** A Centurion is [[Zee's Centurion|modified to convey]] a decrepit {{Alt-r|Zee|Doctor Zee}}, complete with necessary life sustaining equipment that Zee requires.  
* [[Cylon freighter (TOS)|Freighter]]: Ships used throughout the Cylon sphere of influence to provide fuel. May be used to support an offensive operation, as demonstrated at the [[Battle of Cimtar]] ([[Saga of a Star World]]).
* [[Cylon Warden]], a large unit armed with rotating weaponry, and center piece of {{alt-r|Zee|Doctor Zee}}'s holding cells.
* [[Tech spider]], a large [[crawlon]]-like robot used to repair, analyze, scan, and dissect technological items.


== Notable Cylons ==
= Berkley Novelizations =


* {{alt-r|Imperious Leader}}, supreme leader of the Empire.
{{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Berkley Novelizations|type=line}}
* {{alt-r|Lucifer}}, a former drone later merged with {{alt-r|Baltar}}, thus creating [[Baltifer]] ({{comics|vol2|3}}).
* {{alt-r|Red-Eye}}, a Centurion assigned as subjugator of {{alt-r|Equellus}}' population ({{comics|vol2|4}}).


== Weaknesses ==
A Cylon's status in the Cylon Empire is determined by the number of brains they possess.


Utilizing a captured Imperious Leader and other Cylon units, {{alt-r|Starbuck}}'s technicians and scientists create two distinct anti-Cylon technologies.
Centurions start off with one brain, but can achieve a "second brain" status. The Imperious Leader itself achieves a third brain status.  


=== Sensor shield ===
Achieving a second or third brain status resorts in the Cylon becoming a "reptilian sort of beast" mentally.<ref>{{cite_book|last=Thurston|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Thurston|authorlinkurl=|year=September 1979|title=[[The Tombs of Kobol|Battlestar Galactica 3: The Tombs of Kobol]]|publisher=Berkley Books|pages=3|location=|id=}}</ref>


The {{inlineref|sensor shield}} is a defensive technology circumventing Cylon electronic detection abilities, employed on the incongruous ''{{alt-r|Galactica}}''.
== Cylon customs ==


Its use requires the ship to be immobile, presumably to avoid any spatial disruption ({{comics|vol2|4}}).
Cylons have various customs in their society. One such custom is having both an official name and a secret name. Official names are used when communicating to non-Cylons and it is considered humiliating if a Cylon's secret name is learned by outsiders. Further, the secret name is part of the secret sector of Cylon language.<ref name="tok-4">''Ibid.'', 4</ref>


=== Signal disruptor ===
[[Lucifer (alternate)|Lucifer]], despite not being an actual Cylon in the novelizations but rather a robotic construct, is permitted to adopt this custom. In his conversation with [[Baltar (TOS alternate)|Baltar]], Lucifer informs him that "Lucifer" is actually an acronym of his secret name.<ref name="tok-4"/>


The {{inlineref|signal disruptor}}, or {{inlineref|signal jammer}}, prevents Centurions from acting for a time through a transmission of a signal ({{comics|vol2|3}} & {{comics|vol2|5|short=y}}).
== Cylon constructs ==


It has the drawback of also affecting Colonial systems, and thus it is deployed when units are clear from the disruptor's sphere of influence ({{comics|vol2|3}}).
In the novelizations, Lucifer is a Cylon construct. He is considered an "ambulatory cybernetic sentience" and is the result of Cylons' developments into different technologies during the Thousand Yahren War. Further, Lucifer claims that he can manufacture machines and that he has a soul, as he was able to create his own personality.<ref>''Ibid.'', 6-7.</ref>


{{Alternate Reality}}
==References==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:Cylons (TOS)]]
[[Category:Cylons (TOS)]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:TOS]]

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