Cylons (RDM)

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Origins

In the reimagined series, Cylons are a creation of man, used primarily for dangerous work. The Cylons revolted against their masters, resulting in a costly and protracted war between them and humans. Eventually, they declared a truce and the Cylons left the Colonies to establish their own planet, the Cylon homeworld. They returned forty years later and killed all but approximately 50,000 humans.

Evolution

Cylons eventually evolved or created new models of Cylons known as Humano-Cylons. The evolution is most likely a result of self teaching capabilities incorporated into the early Cylons. With the exception of a glowing red spine, it is quite difficult to determine the difference between a Humano-Cylon and a "pure" human. (TPTB have expressed that the glowing red spine was, in retrospect, a continuity error that was visually appealing at the time.) Another significant difference is the presence of Silica Pathways which are vulnerable to radiation. Dr. Gaius Baltar was able to successfully build a Cylon Detector based on this principle with the help of Number Six; however, he has determined it is simpler for everyone "if all the results are green." An interesting new step in the evolution came about with the conception of a Cylon-human hybrid, the child of Sharon Valerii and Lt. Karl Agathon.

Religion

Cylons are monotheistic while their human creators are polytheistic. Cylons view the worship of multiple gods as blasphemies against their God. Like the Cylons themselves their religion seems to have evolved from its human origins. The Cylons seem to derive their faith from that of the humans, using human writings and prophesies as the biases of their own religion.

Sometimes it seems that the Cylons worship an actual entity, a physical being, possibly another Cylon (the leader of the rebellion against humanity?) but other times it seems that they are worshipping a supernatural being, something beyond creation, something that wishes for all to believe in it and love it, human and Cylon alike. It maybe both.

The Cylons seem to use their religion, their beliefs, their interpretation of the prophesies to rationalize their hatred for humanity. They seem to use it as a justification for their actions. An example of a Cylon argument may go something like this:

God is perfect and God can only make perfection.

He created humanity and humanity is imperfect. How can this be?

God created the imperfect humans to create the perfect Cylons.

Humans are only a step in God's plan. Humans are not the completed creation.

Once the Cylons were created there was no need for humanity.

The imperfection must be wiped out.

Known current Cylon models

• Centurion - Presumably an upgraded Model 0005, with greater physical capabilities and projectile weapons built into the forearms.

• Humano-Cylon - The series has established there are 12 models of Humano-Cylons. There are currently six known models. They appear to be almost entirely human in physiology, with a few exceptions: their vaguely-alluded-to Silica Pathways, which enable their consciousnesses to be downloaded into Cylon computer systems upon their death, and their difficulties with sexual reproduction.
  • Number Six a.k.a. Shelly Godfrey a.k.a. Gina
  • Leoben Conoy - Mini-Series - Mini-Series, Flesh and Bone
  • Aaron Doral - Mini-Series - Mini-Series, Bastille Day, Litmus, Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down
  • Sharon "Boomer" Valerii
  • Simon - The Farm
  • D'anna Biers - Final Cut

Historic Cylon models

• Centurion Model 0005 - The "basic" model from the Cylon War. When Number Six tells Gaius Baltar that the "chrome toaster" models are still in use, she may be referring to this model in particular, or its descendant, the Cylon Centurion. This model also bridges the reimagined series to the Original Series. This is a 40-year old model and likely obsolete—no operational models have been shown, and the current Centurion seems to replace it entirely. In the miniseries, Baltar remarks "the last time anyone saw a Cylon they looked more like walking chrome toasters," to which Six responds, "Those models are still around. They serve their purpose." Some interpret this remark as referring to the Model 0005, while others believe it refers to the current Cylon Centurion.

Cylon spacecraft

There is no definitive statement either way whether or not the spacecraft themselves are considered to be Cylon models.

• The Raider is an autonomous attack fighter with a metallic carapace and a largely organic interior. The Galactica copy of Sharon Valerii offers the following "guess" at its nature in the episode "Six Degrees of Separation":
  • "It's not really a thing, y'know? It's probably a Cylon itself. More of an animal, maybe, than the human models. Maybe they genetically design it to perform a task. To be a fighter. [You] can't treat it like a thing and expect it to respond. [You] have to treat it like... a pet. At least that's my guess."
  • Not knowing she is a Cylon, Boomer would presumably have some intuition but not a complete recollection of how to treat a Raider. Also, the Raider in question was already "dead", as its brain was removed by Starbuck (and there was a bleeding hole in its head even before that).

• Heavy Raider is a manned spacecraft that is also likely autonomous, like the Raider.
  • When the Resistance on Caprica plans to capture one in the Episode The Farm, Kara Thrace anticipates having to "blow its brain out" before it can be comandeered. It is not known whether the Caprica copy of Valerii, who comandeered the craft that Thrace and Karl Agathon escaped on, performed such a procedure.
  • The Heavy Raider in Scattered and Valley of Darkness crashes into Galactica's hangar bay and deploys Cylon Centurions. If the Heavy Raider is autonomous, it performed its mission in concert with the Centurions and Cylon commanders at the battle. On this principle, perhaps Caprica Boomer, with a more complete knowledge, managed to coax, command, or convince the Heavy Raider on Caprica to carry her and her companions about, like a jockey riding a horse.

• Reconnaissance Drone is a spacecraft. It is unknown whether this is manned, autonomous, or intelligent.

• Cylon Basestar is a very large manned spacecraft of partly biological design. There is no indication that this craft is autonomous other than the circumstantial evidence provided by the Raider.

Depending upon whether the spacecraft are counted as Cylon models, and whether the original Centurion is still in service, anywhere between seven and twelve known Cylon models are currently in service.

The twelve models

In the miniseries, Baltar and Six have the following conversation:

Six: Gaius, I can't die. When this body is destroyed, my memory, my consciousness will be transmitted to a new one. I'll just wake up somewhere else in an identical body.

Baltar: You mean there are more out there like you?

Six: There are twelve models. I am number six.

This suggests many possible interpretations discussed at Twelve Cylon Models.