Cylon Attack

Re-Imagined Series

The Cylon Attack (or technically, the "Second Cylon War") was the final attack by the Cylons on the Twelve Colonies of Kobol 40 years after the cessation of hostilities in the First Cylon War, the opening shot being the destruction of the Armistice Station by a basestar.

Carefully planned out by the Cylons, Humanity's defeat was ensured by Humano-Cylon agents, such as Number 6; Number 6 ensured that backdoors were placed in the Command Navigation Program, thus eliminating the Colonials ability to resist.

As a result of the re-emergence of network technologies (see: Cylon War), the Cylons could now repeat a tactic they had previously used.

As the Colonial Fleet, under the command of Admiral Nagala onboard the Battlestar Atlantia, was ripped asunder by Cylon forces, the Cylons began deploying nuclear warfare against the Colonies. Out of billions of humans, only 50,000 survived and escaped their Cylon enemies under the leadership of the battlestar Galactica (Mini-Series) or another surviving battlestar, while a resistance movement was formed on Caprica. Also there were other survivors that didn't make the rendezvous at Ragnar in time such as the Battlestar Pegasus, under the command of Admiral Nelena Cain

The Second Cylon War: A Strategic Analysis

An evaluation of the Cylon attack in terms of planning and execution, with regard to Colonial/Cylon psychology and capabilities.

Motivation and Planning

The reasons for the Cylon attack may never be properly understood. Most survivors seem unconcerned with Cylon motivations, being preoccupied with simple anger or the struggle to survive. Nonetheless, several theories have been advanced:

1.) Revenge. The Cylons are compensating Mankind for enslaving them and refusing to recognize their sentience. This would fit with the use of humans for incubation.

2.) Religion. The Cylons believe they are acting on the command of their God. The Cylon's desire to create human models though sexual procreation(The Farm), rather than industrial processes, also falls under this category.

3.) Self Preservation. This rather uncommon theory states that, although the Colonial civilization posed no immediate threat, they could have eventually outgrown the Cylons. At this point, it could be predicted that the Colonials would seek to enslave or eliminate them.

Once the decision was made to attack, there would likely have been a period of distant observation as the Cylons evaluated Colonial capabilities. Some suppose that Human Cylons may have been first created to study human behavior in a controlled setting.

II. Preparation

It is clear that, during the 40 years of seeming isolation, Cylon military technology had advanced beyond that of the Colonies. Although the weapons used in the attack seemed to be tailored to the situation, the basic hardware (ships, fighters, soldiers) was highly adaptive. Thus the Cylon military cannot be said to exist solely for the eradication of Humanity.

The same principle holds for Human Cylons. Although they might seem to exist solely for infiltration, they have nonetheless been utilized for many functions within Cylon society.

Regardless, they are unsurpassed in the role of espionage. Twelve models of Biocylons had been engaging in covert action within the Colonies for at least two years prior to the attack. They had entered every level of Colonial society and compromised key government personnel. They had gathered priceless information on defenses, command and control, and infrastructure. They had planted hundreds or thousands of nuclear weapons at key installations throughout Colonial space. Perhaps most damaging, they had used their superior Information Technology knowhow to write the very software used in the majority of government and military applications.

(this section will be updated with two more sections within the next week)

Original Series

Additional information is available on the Thousand Yahren War.

The Cylon Attack was a sneak attack, similar to Pearl Harbor. After 1000 yahrens of war, the Humans vied for peace under Lord Baltar. (see: Cimtar Peace Accord) The peace was to take place at Cimtar, a moon in what is believed to be neutral territory. Instead of peace, the Cylons launched their largest onslaught against the Colonials.

The Cylons began their two-pronged attack:

First Prong: Elimination of the Battlestars at Cimtar

Additional information is available on the Battle of Cimtar (TOS).

The Cylons used Cimtar as a launch platform for fighter groups, supported by Cylon tankers for fuel operations. Using their Raiders, the Cylons attacked the battlestars there. All battlestars, save the already prepared Galactica, were destroyed; the Cylons were thwarted from destroying the entire presence there. Leaving the survivors and Viper pilots of that battle, the Galactica headed towards the Twelve Colonies (TOS) in a vain effort to protect their homeworlds.

Second Prong: The Attack on the Colonies

Cylon basestars snuck by Colonial defenses, allowing an unstoppable attack on the Colonies. Whole planets were in flames and the Cylons exterminated all humans that remained, save those who were fortunate enough to flee the Colonies to join the Fleet Commander Adama assembled.