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| {{Cylons Series}} | | {{Cylons Series}} |
| In the events of the [[Miniseries]], the Cylons quickly established the initiative and used overwhelming force in both symmetric and asymmetric methods of operation to effect the total devastation of the [[Twelve Colonies]] and to nearly succeed in annihilating of the human race. Since the initial [[Cylon attack|attack]], combat operations have persisted between the surviving [[Original Battlestar (RDM)|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'' and [[Mercury class battlestar|advanced battlestar]] ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' and their Cylon pursuers.
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| ===Symmetric Threat===
| | The Cylon M.O. as seen on [[Sesha Abinell]]'s computer monitor in "[[Sacrifice]]" lists the following: |
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| The symmetric threat posed by the Cylons resides chiefly in the large, well-[[The Hand of God (RDM)|supplied]], technologically sophisticated and well-coordinated space-based naval forces. These are comprised of [[Cylon Raider|space-superiority fighters]], [[Heavy Raider|armored personnel carriers and light bombers]], [[Cylon Basestar|large capital warships]], associated support vessels, and at least one [[Unknown Cylon Ship|Resurrection Ship]], which is responsible for the downloading of killed [[Humano-Cylons]] into new bodies ([[Pegasus (episode)]], [[Resurrection Ship, Part I]], [[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]). Throughout the engagements between [[Original Battlestar (RDM)|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'' and the Cylons, the Cylons have consistently demonstrated themselves to be capable warfighters across the full spectrum of military operations, including but not limited to the following:
| | *Sleep Deprivation ("[[33]]") |
| | | *Assault on Natural Resources ("[[Water]]", "[[The Hand of God]]") |
| *Infantry Combat: The fast, heavily armored, and well-armed [[Cylon Centurion]] has proven its lethality in multiple close engagements with armed ''[[Galactica]] personnel''. Small numbers of Centurions can pose a significant threat to the entire crew ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
| | *Emotional Manipulation ("[[Flesh and Bone]]") |
| *Intelligence: The regular Cylon forces have proven to be quite capable at intelligence collection not only by forced reconnaissance - often by Cylon Raiders - but also through exploitation of Humano-Cylon sleeper agents ([[Mini-Series]], "[[33]]"). This implies very developed [[Wikipedia:Command, control, communications and intelligence|command and control]], and an unprecedented coordination between the conventional and unconventional forces of the Cylons. | | *Suicide Bombing ("[[Litmus]]) |
| *Precision Strike: The Cylons have demonstrated the capability to insert a strike team onto an [[Original Battlestar (RDM)|battlestar]], while it was still combat-worthy and indeed while it was engaged in combat ([[Valley of Darkness]]). Such was the degree of preparedness and competence of the strike team that, had it not been for the foresight of the commanding officer [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], the Cylons would have gained access to [[Aft Damage Control]], probably captured ''[[Galactica]]'' and destroyed the rest of the fleet. | | *Cylon impregnation and reproduction ("[[The Farm]]") |
| *Electronic Countermeasures [[Wikipedia:Electronic countermeasures|(ECM)]]: The uncanny ability of Cylons to compromise the security of networked computer systems has been well-documented. Aside from the success of the initial [[Cylon attack]] which may be partly attributable to asymmetric infiltration of key defense systems by Humano-Cylon sleepers (see [[Command Navigation Program]], [[Colonial Defense Mainframe]], [[Gaius Baltar]]), the Cylons have proven remarkably adept at compromising ad hoc [[Computers|computer networks]] ([[Scattered]]). This ECM capability is so superb that even when the security firewalls of ''[[Galactica]]'' were still operational, the Cylons were able to implant a highly adaptible and sophisticated [[Logic bomb|logic bomb]] which was ultimately could be removed only by a [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Cylon defector]] ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]). Advanced ECM is perhaps the most awesome combat support implement of the Cylons, since they preclude the development of sophisticated electronics by ''[[Galactica]]''. | | *Multiple models ([[Miniseries]]) |
| | | *Sleeper agents within the fleet ("Water") |
| ===Asymmetric Threat===
| | *Takeover by brute force ("33", "[[Scattered", etc.) |
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| [[Humano-Cylon]]s, more even than the large space-based conventional force, pose the most fundamental threat to the security of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] and to the remaining [[Cylon Attack|survivors]] of the [[Twelve Colonies]]. Because (as of the time of [[Pegasus (episode)|this writing]]) at most five models of Humano-Cylon have been revealed as such by the characters of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|series]], and these Cylons are visually indistinguishable from true humans, they form an [[Wikipedia:Asymmetric warfare|asymmetric]] threat to the densely packed and defenseless civilian elements of the Fleet. The Cylons have expressed a remarkable expertise and even flair for a broad range of irregular combat and combat support operations, such as planting many [[Wikipedia:Sleeper agent|sleeper agents]] in sensitive positions (such as [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]]), targeting sensitive supplies ([[Water]]), laying ambushes ([[Home, Part I]]), assassination ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), and possibly high-level subterfuge and manipulation ([[Gaius Baltar]]). Most importantly, because many or most Humano-Cylon sleeper agents may be consciously unaware of their true nature and [[Cylon detector|detection]] is unreliable, the risk of continued infiltration is substantial.
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| Battlestar ''[[Galactica]]'' has enough resources to stymie even a determined conventional Cylon attack long enough for the Fleet to flee to safety, and ultimately to disengage and retreat. However, the low morale among the crew, the generation of a culture of fear and suspicion among the entire Fleet, and the wasteful political diversions engendered by distrust are all evidence of the success of the ''asymmetric'' Cylon threat, which exerts its destructive influence even when no attack takes place. The power of the asymmetric attack, as so many guerrilla leaders have shown, lies in the psychological fatigue, stress, and suspicion caused by the unseen enemy and the unexpected betrayal of a turncoat. It is unfortunate that [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]], in this regard, is a case of art imitating life.
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| [[Category:A to Z]] | | [[Category:A to Z]] |
| [[Category:Cylons]] | | [[Category:Cylons]] |
| [[Category:RDM]] | | [[Category:RDM]] |
