By your command
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"By your command" is arguably the most popular phrase of the Battlestar Galactica saga.
Original Series usage
- "By your command" spoken by an original series Centurion: listen
The phrase is frequently said by the robotic soldiers of the Cylon Empire in the Original Series in a neutral metallic voice as the affirmative response to an order from another Cylon Centurion, the Imperious Leader, or other authority (including Baltar). The phrase is iconic of the Cylons' nature as a robotic race, becoming something of a 'catchphrase' of the series.
Re-imagined Series usage
- "By your command" spoken by a Number Six humanoid Cylon: listen
In the Re-imagined Series, the phrase has been said twice by copies of Number Six, once to a copy of Sharon Valerii in response to finding the escaped Fleet of refugee survivors of the genocidal Cylon attack on the Colonies (Miniseries), and again (barely audible) in the episode "Colonial Day".
Since these Cylons appear to run their fleet by consensus, the use of "By your command" may be less of a command acknowledgment. The use of the phrase may be more analogous to the Colonial affirmation "So say we all", particularly in light of these Cylons' practice of a monotheistic religion, complete with commandments.
The catchphrase is also used in "Razor" by old model Cylons attacking Pegasus. These old model Cylons belong to a group of Centurions known as "Guardians" who escaped being scrapped when the model was phased out.
Notes
- A friend of Ronald D. Moore, Roswell writer Breen Frazier, indicated to Moore that he was surprised that the popular phrase from the Original Series was missing from the early script of the Miniseries. Moore recalled that Breen asked how could the new show be called Battlestar Galactica, without the use of the phrase, "By your command". Therefore it was added at the very end (Source: Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion).