Cylons (TOS-DE alternate)

The Cylons known to the Colonials during the Thousand-Yahren War are robotic creatures, whose origins are mired in a deeper mythological morass than is suspect. While it is known that the robots usurped the mantle of their biological creators, whose natures are reptilian bipeds, the internal machinations that lead to this usurpation are unknown to the wider galactic history, involving external influences. Notably that of the infamous Iblis.

Diaspora

Reptilian Cylons

Originally, the reptilian Cylons created a race of robots to service their needs. While Kali, the inventor of the machines, believed the robots to be the means of Cylon domination throughout the galaxy, other Cylons abhorred this approach—including her mate (^{(Comics: Battlestar Galactica vs. Battlestar Galactica #5)}).

With Kali removed either by force or choice from the proceedings, the machines engaged in a conflict with their makers, all but wiping them from the universe and supplanting them as a force to be reckoned with.

Robotic Cylons

Society

Cylon society is bent on perfection, leading to either subjugation in the form of the "Alliance" or extermination of races who do not submit.

As of the seventh millennium of time, the Cylon Empire is expansive and sprawling insofar as the Colonials know, and thus the Cylons are a continual threat to Galactica and her rag-tag, futigive fleet during their ongoing exodus.

Castes

There are numerous types of Cylons:, in order of importance:

Imperious Leader

Reigning supreme above all other Cylons is the Imperious Leader, a being who dons the visage of their former creators.

IL-series

The IL-series (or the "IL group") are machines that typically take on the administrative duties of the Cylon Empire.

Each IL-series has its own unique personality, leading to conflicts within their own order as each vies to carve their own niche within the Cylon Empire.

Notable

Command Centurion

Centurions with gold plated armor are analogous with commanders in the Colonial Military.

Such Centurions may also be used in special offensive operations, and were instrumental in the seeming victorious capture of Galactica (^{(Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #4)}—^{(Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #5)}).

Command variants of a lesser statue may also be in bronze armor, e.g. Vulpa.

Centurions

These are the chrome plated foot soldiers, pilots, and labor force for the Cylon Empire.

Heavy Weapons Unit

The Cylon Heavy Weapons Unit is a machine featuring an upper body and head shaped similarly to the "face" of the machine Cylons, the Centurion, appropriately portioned and installed upon a tank chassis. These units are employed for ground assaults, and Colonial Warriors associate them by their ozone smell and heat vents (^{(Comics: Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #1)}).

Civilians

Cylon "civilians" conceivably fill out the other non-military and non-leadership roles. Civilians appear in a humanoid form, often robed and featuring a face laden with circuitry (^{(Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #2)}).

Such civilians reside and operate in Cylon cities, such as Tessida (^{(Comics: Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse #3)}).

Cylon craft

There are three known Cylon spacecraft:

Basestar: Capital ships of the Cylon military force, analogous to the Colonial battlestar.
Raider: The primary fighter of the Cylon forces, manned by two pilots and a ship commander.
Freighter: Ships used throughout the Cylon sphere of influence to provide fuel. May be used to support an offensive operation, as demonstrated at the Battle of Cimtar ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}.