Cylon Centurion Model 0005

This article discusses the robotic Cylons seen in the Cylon War of the Re-imagined Series. For information on the robotic Centurions from the Original Series, see Centurion (TOS). For information on the advanced successor to Model 0005, see Cylon Centurion.

Cylon Centurion (Armor) on display. (Miniseries) Credit Sci-Fi Channel / GateWorld.net

The original Cylon Centurion, created and designed by scientists of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, is a model of Cylon used in various heavy to light labor and military applications. Before the Cylon War, the model earned the nickname of "walking chrome toasters" due to their physical appearance (Miniseries).

Physical Appearance

Cylons are bipedal and, unlike the Cylon-created update of the model, are apparently not equipped with attached weapons packages. Despite this disadvantage, they can utilize any weapon at hand and are physically stronger than a human. Also, unlike their successors, the original Centurions were sentient.

This model averages 6-foot, 6-inches in height and is silver chrome in color. It is neither a fast model nor extremely efficient, due to its bulk. Its iconic feature is the one Cylon "eye" that glows red and pulsates back and forth in a visor-like slot.

Before the second Cylon conflict, this original Cylon model was the only Cylon design known to the Colonials. With the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, the original model is apparently no longer in use, as the Cylons have evolved themselves to the enhanced, agile, non-sentient Centurion version and the sentient, humanoid Cylon agents.

Source Text

Armistice Officer's paper work on the original Cylon Centurion model. (Miniseries) Credit: Universal Studios

Some information was gleaned from the paperwork reviewed by the Armistice Officer in the Miniseries. One issue with this information is the use of the word "yahren" (term used in the Original Series meaning a year). Other paperwork visible in the same scene is labeled "Cimtar Peace Accord," which occurred in the Original Series as well, and is likely a technical mixup, as the Re-imagined Series uses minutes, seconds, and other Earth-counterpart time references.

The readable text of the Cylon Specifications sheet is as follows:

CYLON SPECIFICATIONS

Cylon Centurian [sic] Model 0005

The Cylon:

A Cylon is a bipedal robot. They are self-aware, and usually quite logical. They are not especially fast, but they are quite strong. They are artificial in nature, and are larger than a human, around 6' 6" (2m), although this varies with their type. Cylon eyes glow red, and pulse back and forth. A Cylon is powered by internal powercells which allow it to function without outside aid for around nine to ten yahrens.

Note that the word centurion is in fact misspelled on the Armistice Officer's printout.

Differences from the Original Series

This model of Cylon Centurion is one aspect of the Original Series that maintains a visual continuity to the Re-imagined Series as established by the Armistice Officer's paperwork, and their appearance in the museums on Caprica and Galactica.

However, because the Re-imagined Series does not use laser pistols or other weaponry from the Original Series, it is unwise to assume that these Centurions fought or acted the same way as their Original Series counterpart. In fact, the stylized painting in Commander William Adama's quarters shows these Centurions in battle with Colonial forces in the first Cylon War, and appear to be far more agile than the Original Series versions to use items such as swords against humans.

Also, unlike the Original Series version, this Re-imagined Series android likely developed the evolved humanoid Cylon agents (An episode where humanoid Cylons appear in Galactica 1980 are excluded from this; their origin is unknown).

Other Depictions

• The Monclair painting in Adama's quarters has Model 0005s fighting using relatively primitive weapons, although that could be just a stylized depiction of the conflict.
• In a scene in the Miniseries, some children can be seen running around in costumes which are patterned after this model.

Canonical Spelling

There is some debate among fans regarding the canonical spelling of this model's name. Centurions were professional officers of the Roman Army, and are widely acknowledged as the basis of the Cylon name. Some official material, such as the on-screen appearance of the Armistice Officer's datasheet and the packaging of the original Mattel action figures, used the spelling "Centurian." For the purposes of this wiki, the spelling "Centurion" is used throughout.

References

The Cylon Centurion model used in the Re-imagined Series is more versatile and dangerous than its predecessor, and has replaced Model 0005 in almost all, if not all, of its use over the course of the forty years between the end of the Cylon War and the holocaust, though it is implied by Number Six that some might still be around. Except for the museum copies, this version has not appeared in any episode of the Re-imagined Series.

Original Series definition: unit of time akin to a "year" (see: Yahren)