Resurrection tub
A resurrection tub[1] is a large, humanoid adult-sized vat where the consciousness of a deceased humanoid Cylon is transferred to a new Cylon body. The tub contains a thick opaque gel where the new body is suspended.[2] A blue light shines down onto the resurrected Cylon's head.
The tub apparently acts as a receiver from a Cylon download station (either planetary-based or via a Resurrection Ship) where the consciousness of a killed humanoid Cylon is re-integrated into a new body to begin life anew. Other Cylons tend to the new body as its consciousness reforms, encouraging and comforting the recovered person in a fashion that may be reminiscent to viewers as midwifery.
The copy of Number Six that plays a dominant role in the Fall of the Twelve Colonies is resurrected in the tank, as is the Galactica-stationed Number Eight model formerly known as Sharon "Boomer" Valerii (TRS: "Downloaded").
The resurrection tub plays a principal role in boxing Cylons as well. The Cylon to be boxed is apparently killed and allowed to resurrect within the tub and just like the resurrection process, another Cylon is there to receive them. Instead of helping them to adjust to their new body, the Cylon removes a small data storage device from the side of the tub which is used to transfer the Cylon's consciousness. When the device is removed, the transfer is completed and the Cylon in the tub becomes lifeless. Apparently, a newly downloaded Cylon is too weak after the transfer to physically resist, aiding in the process (TRS: "Rapture").
Separate from the Significant Seven, husks of the Final Five are ministered solely by various Number Ones, as information on the Final Five is compartmentalized to the Ones exclusively (TRS: "No Exit", "The Plan").
Pre-First Cylon War Predecessors
Circa 00BYR (2000 BCH), proto-humanoid Cylons known later as the Final Five rediscover "organic memory download," creating and installing tubs on their vessel that orbits the first Earth after receiving harbingers from Messengers. The Five download into these tubs after the machines created and enslaved by the Thirteenth Tribe rise up against their masters, forcing their exodus and two thousand year sojourn to warn the descendants of the other Twelve Tribes (TRS: "No Exit", "Islanded in a Stream of Stars").
Much later, between 42YR to 48YR (52 BCH to 58 BCH), a Caprica-made resurrection tub is manufactured by Daniel, Amanda and Zoe Graystone, allowing Zoe's digital consciousness to download into an android husk that is an earlier iteration of the humanoid Cylon (CAP: "Apotheosis").
References
- ↑ This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.
- ↑ Hybrids are suspended in a similarly-designed vat, but are directly connected via many conduits and thus are not ambulatory.