Humanoid Cylon
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(Credit: Sci-Fi Channel)
Overview
Following the end of the Cylon War, the Cylons withdrew from Colonial space to a planet of their own. For some 40 years, nothing was heard of them and apparently no attempt was made by the Colonials to keep an eye on them. The only contact expected between the two was at annual meetings at Armistice Station. However, while the Colonials sent a repesentative to the station every year, the Cylons did not (Mini-Series).
During their forty years of isolation, the Cylons developed or evolved a humanoid form that very closely mimics Human form, down to the cellular level.
Humano-Cylons have the capacity to emulate many of the same acts that humans do, including sex acts, as demonstrated by the Number 6 model. (Mini-Series)
Humano-Cylons can also be programmed to believe that they are human.
Humano-Cylons can also connect fiber-optic cables inside their wrists and communicate with computer systems as Caprica Sharon did in Flight of the Phoenix.
Like other Cylons, this model utilizes a synthetic, silicon brain that is susceptible to damage from certain types of radiation. Upon the death of the "body," a Humano-Cylon transfers its consciousness into another copy of itself, though this is limited by distance and perhaps signal integrity (hindered by interference). (Mini-Series, Flesh and Bone) Based on Caprica Sharon Valerii's conversation with Kara Thrace in the episode, The Farm, it appears that all humano-Cylons may share a collective knowledgebase of data from other active or deactivated humano-Cylons. Valerii spoke of a conversation between Kara and a captured Leoben Conoy copy in the fleet. This information would only be known to that now-dead Leoben copy if sharing were not possible. Kara Thrace's call sign, Starbuck, was also a likely bit of information gleaned from the collective knowledgebase that Simon knew of the Viper pilot, although Kara never told him of her call sign and used it to strike back at her abductors (The Farm). Also, during Flight of the Phoenix, Caprica Sharon asked Dualla if she still carried her pocket knife, a fact which would have been known only to the Galatica copy. When under duress, the copy of Sharon Valerii on the Galactica was able to tell Gaius Baltar the number of remaining humano-Cylon agents in the fleet, information that would be impossible to gather without a collective knowledgebase (Resistance).
Some or all Cylon "female" models may have the capacity to bear children seeded by Human males. (33, Flesh and Bone, Hand of God. Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II). The Cylons had been testing numerous methods of sexual reproduction yet all seemed to fail. Humano-Cylons cannot reproduce with each other biologically, and to try and get around this deficiency they have been trying to reproduce with humans to create hybrid offspring. "Farms" were set up apparently across all 12 Colonies where survivors, namely young fertile women of child-bearing age were rounded up, placed under heavy sedation and turned into "baby machines" through artificial insemination. However, so far this method has not met with success. Another drastically different approach was also considered; producing a child from a bond of love. It seems that Helo and Boomer's love-child is a lone success story in the relatively short history of Cylon sexual reproduction. ("The Farm")
Known Humano-Cylon Models
There are twelve models of Cylon (Mini-Series)*. Six have so far been identified as humano-Cylons.
Number Six
This model utilizes the human need / desire for sexual relations to her advantage. She is religious and monotheistic. She desires to know what it is to be alive.
Typically she is the alpha female, as demonstrated on multiple occasions. (Mini-Series, 33, Water, Six Degrees of Separation).
Copies of her have appeared under the names Shelly Godfrey and Gina.
Leoben Conoy
This model has shown to be religiously oriented, using dogma and intermixing truth with falsehoods. It was first discovered on Ragnar Station, claiming to be a scavenger / arms dealer. (Mini-Series)
He can be likened to the serpent of the Genesis tale in the Earth Christian Bible, taunting people with knowledge then watching as the negative consequences come into devastating fruition.
Aaron Doral
This model attempts to sow the seeds of discontent and endeavors to undermine authority that threatens his objectives. (Mini-Series) Doral-model tackles more of the behind-the-scenes issues, but at times takes it upon himself to execute certain tasks, such as becoming a suicide bomber. (Litmus)
Sharon Valerii
The Valerii model is generally a saboteur designed to infiltrate Colonial military units and is likely programmed to use any Colonial munitions to cause havoc (Water). The Valerii model is the closest witnessed Humano-Cylon model to show its abilities as a soldier. This model has shown naiveté in many matters. She is apparently not as religious as other Cylon models, but has demonstrated that she can love, and is capable of being impregnated by a human (Six Degrees of Separation, Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II). She may be "defective", as the Cylon programming within the sleeper agent known as "Boomer" on Galactica conflicted multiple times with its human personality (Water). Also, the fully aware Sharon Valerii on Caprica has fully switched alliances from Cylon to Colonial after falling in love with Helo and is now aiding the Colonials (several episodes, most notably "Flight of the Phoenix")
Simon
A model that Kara "Starbuck" Thrace encountered on Cylon-occupied Caprica posing as a doctor, who was actually involved with the Cylon hybridization program. Resembles a tall, somewhat thin middle-aged black man who speaks in a comforting strong voice. (The Farm)
D'anna Biers
This reporter from the "Fleet News Network" was revealed to be a Cylon at the end of "Final Cut". It was also revealed that part of her mission on Galactica was to keep tabs on Sharon Valerii's baby. There are two models revealed so far: one on Caprica, and another on Galactica. It has been speculated as to whether her assistant is also a Cylon, for he has exhibited the same type of behaviors as D'anna. Whether or not he actually IS another Cylon, or if this is just run-off from D'anna's reporter-ish ways is yet to be determined. (Final Cut)
Speculated Infiltrators
Ellen Tigh?
Ellen Tigh's initial actions, especially in light of her survival of the Cylon holocaust out of billions of people and her manupulations of her husband while Commander Adama's life hung in the balance ("Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II" through "Resistance") do call her character and motiviations into question. For someone who seems so intellegent and far-sighted she should be well aware that pushing her husband to strong-arm the rest of the fleet to conform with his (and her) views would only end in chaos. If she is a Cylon looking to destroy the fleet from within, then the best weapon in her arsenal is the man she's married to.
RDM, in an inteview with "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" veteran on "The Chase Show" on an audio webcast on TheFandom.com on October 24, 2005, puts Ellen's possibility as a Cylon to rest:
- Chase: ...I was actually wondering if she was a Cylon.
- Ron: Yeah, I played with that motion myself for awhile, then I thought--I figured it was a big enough coincidence that she was alive. That's like the one 'bye' I was willing to go. OK, Colonel Tigh's wife, out of all the billions that are dead, we've going to say that she is found alive. And I thought it was pushing it one step too far to say, 'and she's a Cylon.'
- Chase: Yeah, I hear ya. No, I completely hear ya...
Unless TPTB change their minds, the likelihood of Ellen being a Cylon is now officially next to moot.
Gaius Baltar?
Gaius Baltar's ability to see and communicate with a virtual Number Six was initially attributed to some kind of device implanted in his body. However, after tests performed on him by Dr. Cottle (Home, Part II), no devices were found, suggesting three alternatives: that whatever device that the Cylons used was organic in nature, and indistinguishable from other tissue; that Baltar is inorganic in origin, that is, a Humano-Cylon; or that his Six is a supernatural being, as she claims to be. How did Baltar survive the outer shockwave of a nuclear blast near his home on Caprica, shielded only by Six's body, which is just as frail as a human's? Is the Baltar we see in fact, a copy? See the Gaius Baltar page for arguments for and against this possibility.
William Adama?
In the miniseries, Adama seems to know that the Humano-Cylons have "silica relays" in their brains, and that they would be affected by the storm around Ragnar Anchorage. In Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down, Commander Adama disappears mysteriously and returns with Ellen Tigh. Around the same time, a Cylon Raider shows up. However, this was all explained later in the same episode, when Adama reveals that he was reluctant to openly announce Ellen's sudden appearance because he was afraid she could be a Cylon. Adama also has exhibited strange behavior, from expressing vague Cylon sympathies (both in his speech in the miniseries and in his discussion with Tyrol in Home, Part I where he seems to concede that Boomer was more than a machine). While not openly friendly to the Cylons, Adama seems to at least respect them as persons. It should also be noted that William Adama is the father of two children, Lee and Zak. Before the conception of Valerii's hybrid child the Cylons have been unable to produce children through sexual reproduction. Much like the speculation surrounding Gaius Baltar, it could be possible that the real Adama was replaced with a Cylon infiltrator some time before the Cylon attack on the Colonies.
Felix Gaeta?
Lt. Felix Gaeta is in a good position for a Cylon—not conspicuous but nonetheless in a position where he can help the Cylons quite a bit. Gaeta arguably seems to hand something to Boomer in Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II before she shoots Adama (a frame by frame analysis shows that their hands are not in frame, leaving the question unanswered). Gaeta can recognize Cylon devices, and is close to Dr. Baltar. Gaeta has plotted coordinates to a water planet, a Cylon tyllium base, and Kobol with uncanny accuracy. He "forgot" to send updated coordinates to the fleet in Scattered, leaving Galactica vulnerable to Cylon electronic attack after having to network the ship computer systems together.
Gaeta's recent behavioral changes from the stress of working at evading the Cylons shows by "Final Cut" as Gaeta is shown in his interview drunk, smoking, and wearing a new tattoo. By the following episode, "Flight of the Phoenix", Gaeta angrily snaps at Colonel Tigh for giving a difficult order, causing surprise throughout CIC since Gaeta is normally a calm, reserved officer even under the worst of conditions. Contrast this behavior with Boomer, the Galactica copy of Sharon Valerii, who still appeared quite alert after 5 continuous days of combat status. Note the following dialogue from the first regular series episode, "33":
While even Humano-Cylons develop severe behavior and physiological issues after extended work and abuse (Pegasus), Humano-Cylons appear to be more resilient than humans, which may limit the likelihood of Gaeta's possible Cylon connection. On the other hand, if he were a Cylon, Gaeta's human personality may have finally been overtaxed by that time, suggesting that an actual human might have snapped earlier in their exodus in contrast.
Jammer?
Jammer has exibited suspicious actions numerous times. Along with Cally and Socinus, he serves under Chief Tyrol on the flight deck. Jammer consistently makes remarks that seem to be trying to divide the humans against each other. When it was revealed to the Fleet that Cylons now can look like humans in "Litmus", he kept arguing that everyone should stop trusting each other and that it was "every man for himself now", while Socinus said that if they didn't trust each other they wouldn't survive. Cally even pointed out that Jammer's kind of thinking is exactly what the Cylons want: for everyone to become suspicious and paranoid. Jammer keeps doing this through the second season: when Tyrol is accused of being a Cylon in "Resistance" he immedieately yells at Cally that the Chief must be a Cylon. Whenever Jammer appears he seems to be trying to sow mistrust among the crew. Also, he told the emotionally unstable Cally that she should be angry at Galactica-Boomer, not himself, for Tyrol being suspected, and that she should take it up with Boomer; thus Jammer can be seen as having manipulated Cally into killing Boomer (Cally need not be a Cylon; Jammer could tell she was suffering from post-traumatic stress after Kobol and that she would go after Boomer if he suggseted it to her).
One of the biggest pieces of evidence against Jammer is that when the Galactica was boarded by Cylon Cenuturions in "Valley of Darkness", Apollo and his group of marines found him hiding in a small arms locker, completely unharmed, even though the room was littered with the corpses of crewmen the Cylons had killed. He claimed to have just hid then snuck inside, but perhaps he was already there and the Centurions spared him because they knew he was a Cylon as well. (Anastasia Dualla was also found alive in a room filled with dead crewmen, but she was just in the head (lavatory), which isn't a vital area of the ship, while Jammer was in a small arms locker. Further, Dualla was wounded; she had a light concussion and presumably a Centurion knocked her unconscious, assumed she was dead, and moved on. Jammer was just standing around inside of the weapons locker).
Jammer continues to exhibit pessimistic, counterproductive, and morale-draining behavior. When Chief Tyrol was trying to construct the Blackbird, he vocally tried to convince the other deckhands that it couldn't be done and it wasn't worth trying. He may have done this to undermine the military assets of the Galactica: the Cylons may be hoping to wear down the Galactica's Viper numbers through gradual attrition, while because the Cylons have dedicated manufacturing capabilities for Raiders on the Cylon homeworld and possibly on Basestars, Raiders are easily replaceable. With this in mind, the last thing the Cylons would want is for Galactica to start constructing her own new ships ("Flight of the Phoenix")
Bell?
D'anna Biers' cameraman/assistant is another possible candidate for a Cylon infiltrator, as he has been shown willingly taking part in the same devious and manipulative activities as D'anna (Final Cut). Whether he is a Cylon working in tandem with D’anna, or just a devious human following his superior’s equally devious wishes has yet to be determined.
Are There Twelve Human 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 suggested three possible interpretations.
- There are twelve copies of Number Six, of which the one speaking is the sixth.
- There are twelve models of Humano-Cylon including Number Six.
- There are twelve models of Cylon in total, counting robotic units and/or spececraft, including Number Six.
In a 10/24/05 interview on "The Chase Show" on the SF webcast news site TheFandom.com with veteran "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" actress Chase Masterson, Ron D. Moore is interviewed and directly answers two key questions in the Twelve Models debate and the origin of Sharon Valerii in particular. Here is a transcription of that interview segment.
- Chase: ...I just have to ask something...is there one Boomer that's just human?
- Ron: No, there's not. I mean, the idea is not there was one like an original human model that they were copied from. The idea was that these were...these models of Cylon were developed out of their own study of us. The Cylons on some level looked at humanity and said, "well, you know what, there's really only twelve of you...and these are the twelve." And then if you look at them, they kind of represent different archetypes of what humanity is. Um, Sharon, in particular--Sharon-Boomer, went through quite a trans-metamorphesis because in the original mini-series script, in the first draft, she wasn't a Cylon at all. She was going to be just--I wrote her just--I wanted a youngish pilot, who was the rookie, who was sort of vulnerable in ways, who made mistakes in ways that you're not used to seeing your heroes on TV shows do, and I was really interested in this idea of the officer, the female officer in love with the male deck chief in violation of all the rules and I kinda thought, going forward, that she and the chief, in combination with Boxey, who's really only in the mini-series and one or two other episodes, would form sort of our family unit, that that was kind of a family...
- Chase: OK...
- Ron: ...and actually, after that first draft was written, it was David Eick, my producing partner, who said, "you know what, if at the end of this thing, at the very end when all the Cylons walk into Armistice---into the Ragnar station at the end...if you turn around and Sharon is one of the Cylons, he said, we're definitely gonna get picked up for a series.
- Chase: (laughs) OK...that did make...that really did seal the deal...
- Ron: ...and I just really went...that's a great idea and I realized that, because I'd had laid...I had written a story straight, I really hadn't cheated. There was no hint of who Sharon might be, and it really did suck you in, and really sort of, you believed her as a person first, and then we revealed her as a Cylon.
- Chase: ...Right....
- Ron: ...And so what happened after that was, I assumed going into the first season--well I didn't assume, I just planned...to slowly, over the course of the first year, peel back the layers--that Sharon would only start to sort of discover her Cylon nature by the end of the first year.
- Chase: Oh, God...and it was heartbreaking, watching that unfold, because I loved her much as human, and she was just adorable, with him and then with the kid, it was like, oh, what a great girl, she's um...you know, young and cute, and--who's the actress--and that whole thing, and then you're like, WHAT?
- Ron: Yeah...
- Chase: ...She's the enemy...
- Ron: I know then, she's the enemy, then she's the one that is your most worry, what's she gonna do next.
- Chase: Yeah. You really took us on quite a journey there. I was still hoping for a human one running around somewhere, but no, huh?....
- Ron: No.
- Chase: Oh, well....
With this information from the show's main creative leader, it is established as canon that:
- There are precisely twelve human Cylon models. The other varieties of Cylon spacecraft or fighters are not factored into this count of 12 models.
- Sharon Valerii was never an actual human, and neither were the other Humano-Cylon models.
- The models are based on on archetypes determined by the Cylons that form what they perceive were the specific kinds of human behavior and/or personality, distilled into twelve varieties.
Note
- The term "Humano-Cylon" is Battlestar Wiki's popular descriptive term for the humanoid Cylons, and not a canonical name found in episodes or revealed in podcasts from Ron D. Moore or David Eick as yet. Other names are also used, such as "humanoid-Cylons" (which Tricia Helfer often uses in interviews, but apparently more for convenience than an official name), or "Bio-Cylons" which is sometimes used derisively by fans of the Original Series.
- Within the show, the beings are usually just referred to as "Cylons", or "the human models" when they need to be distinguished from Cylon Centurions.