Spectre (alternate)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Berkley Novelizations separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

Spectre is an IL Series Cylon ambulatory sentient computer who serves as commander of a base star in pursuit of Galactica and the Fleet. He orchestrates an elaborate infiltration mission designed to destroy the battlestar from within.

Spectre is an ambitious and calculating Cylon who has risen through the ranks by manipulating situations to his advantage. He possesses "a special ability to turn defeat into victory," having previously transformed disasters into apparent successes through false reports to Cylon headquarters. This skill helped facilitate his rise to command after displacing Baltar from leadership of the base star.

Following his appointment to command by the Imperious Leader, Spectre faces immediate pressure to succeed where previous Cylon commanders have failed. The Leader tasks him with capturing Galactica and its fleet, demanding that he "turn the Galactica into a floating derelict and bring its commander to your pedestal personally... in chains." This immense responsibility leaves Spectre to "ponder the hardship of the mission he had just accepted," knowing that failure could result in his own destruction.

Spectre's command style reflects his cybernetic nature combined with acquired ambition. He finds "unexpected pleasure in being able to boss Baltar around instead of treating him as commander," a satisfaction that "apparently bypassed any restricting circuitry." His relationship with the demoted Baltar is characterized by mutual manipulation, with Baltar noting that Spectre has become "such overweening ambition and become so calculating a monster" compared to more trustworthy Cylons like Lucifer.

Attacking the Galactica

Recognizing that conventional attacks have failed against Galactica, Spectre develops an infiltration strategy using Baltar and Lucifer as covert agents. He arranges for Baltar to undergo extensive facial reconstruction surgery and for Lucifer to be disguised as a Borellian Noman, enabling them to infiltrate the human fleet through Dwybolt's theater company. Spectre also reprograms Lucifer to serve as an assassin, removing the Cylon's previous humanitarian programming and making him willing to kill Commander Adama.

The infiltration plan represents Spectre's most sophisticated strategy, coordinating multiple elements including sabotage, assassination, and direct military assault. His diversionary attack creates the conditions for Baltar and Lucifer to slip into the Fleet undetected, while their mission to plant explosives aboard Galactica is timed to coincide with his main assault. Spectre watches the launch of his forces "with satisfaction," confident that his strategy will succeed where previous attempts have failed.

Despite the apparent success of the infiltration phase, Spectre's overall strategy ultimately fails. The humans manage to overcome the sabotage and repel his attack, leaving Spectre in "an awkward position" when Baltar returns to the base star. Baltar's successful completion of his sabotage mission, while Spectre's military assault fails, provides Baltar with leverage to challenge Spectre's command authority and potentially regain his former position.

Spectre's long-term ambitions extend beyond merely defeating the human fleet. He harbors dreams of eventual supremacy within the Cylon hierarchy, believing he could "even execute a palace revolution and take the place of the Imperious Leader himself." His cybernetic nature gives him confidence that he could "go on forever once he ascended to the throne," unlike biological leaders who must eventually "retire and die."