Humanoid Cylon
(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 no apparent 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, excepting the molecular level.
Humano-Cylons have the capacity to emulate many human physical acts, including sex, as demonstrated by the Number Six and Sharon Valerii models.
Humano-Cylons can also be programmed to believe that they are human.
Although they cannot do so remotely or wirelessly, humano-Cylons can interface with a computer system or computer network through subdermal physical contact with input cables connected to the devices. Caprica-Sharon connected to the Galactica's computers by this method in "Flight of the Phoenix" when she inserted a fiber-optic cable through her left palm and into her arm.
Like other Cylons, humano-Cylons utilize 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 Thrace 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 Thrace 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 Galactica copy. When under duress, the copy of Sharon Valerii known as "Boomer" on 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 tested numerous methods of sexual reproduction, yet these failed due to a known flaw in the humano-Cylon design. Humano-Cylons cannot reproduce with each other biologically, and, attempting to subvert this deficiency, they have been trying to interbreed with humans to create hybrid offspring. "Farms" were apparently set up across all the occupied Colonies where survivors, specifically, young fertile women of child-bearing age, were rounded up, placed under heavy sedation and turned into "baby machines" through artificial insemination. However, this method has not met with success. Another drastically different approach was taken by attempting to conceive a child through a bond of love. It seems that Helo and Boomer's love-child is the lone success story of the relatively short history of Cylon sexual reproduction (The Farm).
Known Humano-Cylon Models
There are twelve models of humanoid Cylons (Mini-Series).
*. Six models have so far been identified as humano-Cylons, although only five are actually known to the Colonials as Cylon agents as of the episode, "Pegasus."
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
Leoben Conoy was the fourth model witnessed by viewers (although viewers would not know until the end of the Mini-Series that they had already met the third humanoid Cylon, Sharon Valerii). The Conoy 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. Leoben copies have likely been encountered by the Caprica Resistance movement, as Samuel Anders recites in jest some comments made by another Leoben copy captured in the Fleet (Flesh and Bone, The Farm).
Aaron Doral
This model attempts to sow the seeds of discontent or confusion, particularly during crucial life-threatening situations, and endeavors to undermine authority that threatens his objectives. (Mini-Series) Doral models are more covert, assuming an ordinary "everyman" appearance that's blended in what may seem to be insignificant behind-the-scenes issues (such as converting Galactica into a museum). Of all the models thus far, the Aaron Doral models are the most militant, fanatic and consistent in message and objectives to the Cylon objectives, whether he is dispassionately discussing the fate of humanity with his comrades or attempting to kill or maim Colonials in a suicide bomb attack (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 found by Helo 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
The Simon model was encountered by Kara "Starbuck" Thrace Cylon-occupied Caprica. Posing as a doctor, Simon was actually involved with the Cylon hybridization program. Simon resembles a tall, somewhat thin middle-aged black man who speaks in a comforting strong voice (The Farm) Unlike other models, Simon doesn't seem to have many military aspects to his physical or mental configuration, and was easily overcome by a wounded Thrace. Simon may be a model based primarily on human intellectualism.
D'anna Biers
This model was witnessed by viewers posing as a reporter from the Fleet News Service and was revealed to be a Cylon at the end of "Final Cut" when a second copy was shown living on Caprica. Of all the Humano-Cylon models revealed to viewers, the Colonials are not yet aware that D'anna Biers is a Cylon agent as of the mid-season 2 cliffhanger, "Pegasus".
Part of Bier's mission within Galactica's fleet (which fits her work as a journalist) likely involves the relay of important intelligence within the Fleet, such as the status of the pregnant Caprica copy of Sharon Valerii.
Speculated Infiltrators
Ellen Tigh?
In light of her statistically-defying survival of the Cylon holocaust and her manipulations of her husband during Commander William Adama's incapacitation ("Scattered" through "Resistance"), Ellen Tigh's actions have demonstrated the possibility that she may be a Cylon agent. For someone who seems so intelligent 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.
In an October 2005 webcast, Ronald D. Moore indicated that the likelihood of Ellen Tigh being a Cylon was low. Essentially, this was due to the feeling that having her be a Cylon agent would not only be convenient, but unrealistic from a story point-of-view as well. Moore's comments don't eliminate Ellen Tigh from consideration, but reduces the likelihood of this speculation. Some viewers surmise that Moore may have meant that revealing Tigh as a Cylon in her debut episode in addition to the character's many other complexities, would stretch the overall believability or integrity of the character at that point, but that he was not refering to her actual status as a Cylon or not at the time.
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 possibilities: that the Cylon device in Baltar's brain is, like Cylon technology in general, indistinguishable from other tissue; that Baltar 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 Speculation section of Gaius Baltar's article for arguments for and against this possibility.
William Adama?
Of all the suspected infiltrators, the case against William Adama appears to be the weakest.
In the Mini-Series, 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 Mini-Series 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 in that he does not treat the Caprica copy of Sharon Valerii inhumanely, despite what was done to him by the Valerii copy known as "Boomer".
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. Further, Adama is a veteran of the well-documented Cylon War, back at a time where Cylons were purely mechanical and not biosynthetic.
When the recent revelation by Ron Moore that Humano-Cylons are unique beings and not copies of existing humans is added to this, the likelihood of William Adama as a suspected infiltrator could be all but ruled out. This also throws the validity of Leoben Conoy's final words to Roslin accusing Adama as a Cylon in "Flesh and Bone" into question (which were almost certainly meant to just spread paranoia).
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 behavioral 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 replacement fighters (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 nosy human journalist following his superior’s equally devious wishes has yet to be determined.
Ron Moore elaborates on the twelve models
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 twelve 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.