- 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.
The original Cylon Centurion[1], 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.[2] Before the Cylon War, the model earned the nickname of "walking chrome toasters" due to their physical appearance (Miniseries).
Design[edit]
The original Model 0005 are bipedal androids. Physically stronger than a human, the Model 0005 is designed with sufficient dexterity for using weapons as well as tools.
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.
It is generally assumed that Cylon brains are made up of a complex network of silica-based pathways which are able to mimic the cognitive functions of the human brain and thus allow for sentient thought within the Centurion.
Demeanor[edit]
The Colonial-designed Centurion used artificial intelligence, and was designed as sentient.[3]
Sometime, 52 years prior to the Fall of the Colonies, the Model 0005 rebels against humanity. For twelve years, the Cylon War pits the Colonial's constructs against them. Eventually, these models accept an armistice and leave the Colonies to form their own homeworld.
Saul Tigh, a veteran of the Cylon War, recalls the Cylon boarding of the Brenik, and how he could sense the hatred that the Cylons had for humanity, despite the physical inability for the Cylons to show emotion on their faces (Deleted scene from "Scattered"). This reflection of animosity and intensity is also apparent in the stylized Monclair painting in William Adama's quarters, which shows Model 0005s fighting using relatively primitive weapons.
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 of Kobol, the Model 0005 is apparently no longer in use, as the Cylons have evolved themselves to the enhanced, agile, non-sentient Centurion version and the sentient, humanoid Humanoid Cylons.
Connection to the Original Series[edit]
The readable text of the Armistice Officer's Cylon Specifications sheet shows:
-
CYLON SPECIFICATIONS -
Cylon Centurian [4][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.[5]
It is clear from looking at the Armistice Officer's paperwork on the Centurions that the original Cylon design presented here is a homage to the original 1978 version of Battlestar Galactica. It is, however, unclear whether these Cylons behaved in the same way or followed the same hierarchical command structure.
Notes[edit]
- Because the Re-imagined Series does not use laser pistols or other weaponry from the Original Series, it is unwise to assume that the Centurion Model 0005 fought or acted the same way as their Original Series counterpart.
- Unlike the Original Series version, this Re-imagined Series android likely developed the evolved humanoid Humanoid Cylons (An episode where humanoid Cylons appear in Galactica 1980 are excluded from this; their origin is unknown).
- In a scene in the Miniseries, some children can be seen running around in costumes which are patterned after this model.
- The typical catchphrase of the Cylons in both series is the iconic statement "By your command."
References[edit]
- ↑ This model is identical in appearance to the Original Series version of the Centurian as an homage to the original characters. Except for the museum copy, this version has not appeared in any episode of the Re-imagined Series.
- ↑ Some information was gleaned from the paperwork on the Cimtar Peace Accord reviewed by the Armistice Officer in the Miniseries.
- ↑ William Adama and Sharon Agathon confirm this point in season 3 episodes that explain why the advanced successors to the Model 0005 are not sentient: To prevent an intra-Cylon uprising between the Humanoid Cylons and their creations.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ A continuity error or gaffe appears in the Armistice Officer's documents with the use of the word "yahren" (an Original Series measure of a year).