Cylons (TOS alternate): Difference between revisions

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{{separate continuity|universe=TOS}}
 
The '''Cylons''' are entirely composed of robots, originally the creation of a reptilian race that were also known as Cylons.
 
= Dynamite Entertainment comics =
 
{{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Dynamite Entertainment|type=line}}
 
== Reptilian Cylons ==
 
[[Image:BSGvsBSG - Kali.png|thumb|[[Kali]], a female Cylon and creator of the machine race that assumed their race identity throughout the galaxy ({{comics|vs|1}}—{{comics|vs|5|short=y}}).]]
 
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 [[Kali's mate|her mate]] ({{comics|vs|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 ==
 
 
 
=== Cylon Society ===
 
There are numerous types of Cylons:
 
=== 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, e.g. {{alt|Lucifer}}.
 
=== Command Centurion ===
 
Centurions with gold plated armor are analogous with commanders in the [[Warrior|Colonial Military]].
 
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 ===
 
[[File:BSGv2 - Cylon Heavy Weapons Unit.png|thumb|A Cylon Heavy Weapons Unit as remembered to {{alt|Adama|TOS}} in his nightmares focused on the attack on {{alt|Caprica|TOS}} ({{comics|vol2|1}}).]]
 
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|vol2|1}}).
 
{{clear}}
 
== Cylon craft ==
 
There are three known Cylon spacecraft:
 
* [[Basestar (TOS)|Basestar]]: Capital ships of the Cylon military force, analogous to the [[Battlestar (TOS)|Colonial battlestar]].
* [[Raider (TOS)|Raider]]: The primary fighter of the Cylon forces, manned by two pilots and a ship commander.
* [[Cylon freighter (TOS)|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]] ([[Saga of a Star World]]).
 
= Berkley Novelizations =
 
In the Berkley novelizations for the [[Original Series]], which Battlestar Wiki treats as non-canonical [[Battlestar Wiki: Separate continuity|separate continuity]] sources, the Cylons' status in the Cylon Empire is determined by the number of brains they possess.
 
Centurions start off with one brain, but can achieve a "second brain" status. The Imperious Leader itself achieves a third brain status.
 
Achieving a second or third brain status resorts in the Cylon becoming a "reptilian sort of beast" mentally.<ref>{{cite_book|last=Thurston|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Thurston|authorlinkurl=|year=September 1979|title=[[The Tombs of Kobol|Battlestar Galactica 3: The Tombs of Kobol]]|publisher=Berkley Books|pages=3|location=|id=}}</ref>
 
== Cylon customs ==
 
Cylons have various customs in their society. One such custom is having both an official name and a secret name. Official names are used when communicating to non-Cylons and it is considered humiliating if a Cylon's secret name is learned by outsiders. Further, the secret name is part of the secret sector of Cylon language.<ref name="tok-4">''Ibid.'', 4</ref>
 
[[Lucifer (alternate)|Lucifer]], despite not being an actual Cylon in the novelizations but rather a robotic construct, is permitted to adopt this custom. In his conversation with [[Baltar (TOS alternate)|Baltar]], Lucifer informs him that "Lucifer" is actually an acronym of his secret name.<ref name="tok-4"/>
 
== Cylon constructs ==
 
In the novelizations, Lucifer is a Cylon construct. He is considered an "ambulatory cybernetic sentience" and is the result of Cylons' developments into different technologies during the Thousand Yahren War. Further, Lucifer claims that he can manufacture machines and that he has a soul, as he was able to create his own personality.<ref>''Ibid.'', 6-7.</ref>
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cylons]]
[[Category:Cylons (TOS)]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:TOS]]

Revision as of 15:49, 9 April 2020

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The Cylons are entirely composed of robots, originally the creation of a reptilian race that were also known as Cylons.

Dynamite Entertainment comics[edit]

Reptilian Cylons[edit]

Kali, a female Cylon and creator of the machine race that assumed their race identity throughout the galaxy (Battlestar Galactica vs. Battlestar Galactica #1#5).

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 (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[edit]

Cylon Society[edit]

There are numerous types of Cylons:

Imperious Leader[edit]

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

IL-series[edit]

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

Command Centurion[edit]

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

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

Centurions[edit]

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

Heavy Weapons Unit[edit]

A Cylon Heavy Weapons Unit as remembered to Adama in his nightmares focused on the attack on Caprica (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #1).

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 (Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #1).


Cylon craft[edit]

There are three known Cylon spacecraft:

Berkley Novelizations[edit]

In the Berkley novelizations for the Original Series, which Battlestar Wiki treats as non-canonical separate continuity sources, the Cylons' status in the Cylon Empire is determined by the number of brains they possess.

Centurions start off with one brain, but can achieve a "second brain" status. The Imperious Leader itself achieves a third brain status.

Achieving a second or third brain status resorts in the Cylon becoming a "reptilian sort of beast" mentally.[1]

Cylon customs[edit]

Cylons have various customs in their society. One such custom is having both an official name and a secret name. Official names are used when communicating to non-Cylons and it is considered humiliating if a Cylon's secret name is learned by outsiders. Further, the secret name is part of the secret sector of Cylon language.[2]

Lucifer, despite not being an actual Cylon in the novelizations but rather a robotic construct, is permitted to adopt this custom. In his conversation with Baltar, Lucifer informs him that "Lucifer" is actually an acronym of his secret name.[2]

Cylon constructs[edit]

In the novelizations, Lucifer is a Cylon construct. He is considered an "ambulatory cybernetic sentience" and is the result of Cylons' developments into different technologies during the Thousand Yahren War. Further, Lucifer claims that he can manufacture machines and that he has a soul, as he was able to create his own personality.[3]

References[edit]

  1. Thurston, Robert (September 1979). Battlestar Galactica 3: The Tombs of Kobol. Berkley Books, p. 3.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Ibid., 4
  3. Ibid., 6-7.