Cylon Centurion: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:19, 4 August 2007

For Centurions from the Original Series, see Centurion (TOS).

The basic footsoldier of Cylon ground forces, the Cylon Centurion appears to represent a significant (if not radical) evolution of the Cylon Centurion Model 0005. Unlike the Model 0005, a single Centurion is more than enough to terrorize a squad of Colonial fighters. They have long, talon-like fingers with multiple joints and a double-barreled automatic projectile weapon mounted on the end of each arm. These make counterattacks by Colonials very difficult since they are effectively machine guns. In addition, their fingers can be used as bladed close-combat weapons. They are also capable of fielding larger, more powerful weapons not built into them, such as mortars and missile batteries.

These newer, fiercer Centurions are also more agile than their predecessors, capable of extremely fast bipedal locomotion and jumping over obstacles.

It is unknown whether the Centurions can "speak". It is certainly possible that they communicate with each other via wireless network, making verbal speech unnecessary.

Some Cylon Centurions wield markedly improved armor. For instance, the small number that wreak havoc after boarding Galactica are destroyed only by explosive rounds (Valley of Darkness).

The Centurions encountered on Caprica react more slowly, act less intelligently, and are more easily destroyed by small-arms fire. This may be due to the Cylons' plans for Helo and Caprica Sharon; killing him would render their experiment worthless. Centurions on Kobol, on the other hand, display an increased group intelligence, working together to construct an anti-aircraft battery out of parts of their Heavy Raider (Fragged).

It may be that the Centurions are very simple soldiers that, despite their menacing statistics, are limited in their evolution and programming. Centurions are not sentient, and are not downloaded upon destruction.

On New Caprica, the Centurions serve a variety of functions, such as guards, soldiers and executioners.

While primarily mechanical, as opposed to the biomechanical Raiders and basestars, it has been hinted by humanoids during a discussion of the viral infection that the Centurions have at least some biomechanical components. Their adverse reaction to the virus, however, could also be a result of the wireless link to the Hybrid, as a Number Three states, and that the Centurions started shutting down as soon as the ship's Hybrid became infected (Torn).

When the Cylons created their new Centurions, they did not give them sentience, making them rely solely on programming. Ironically this was done (according to Sharon Agathon) to prevent another rebellion similar to the one the original Cylons orchestrated against the Colonies. Moreover, the Centurions are programmed not to harm any of the Significant Seven humanoid Cylon models, and they cannot distinguish one copy from another (Precipice). However, if ordered to do so they can terminate humanoid Cylon models and be ordered have the logs erased to prevent the discovery or knowledge of the act (Hero). It is believed that Centurions are unaware of the identities of the Final Five, as they have fired upon them before.

"Bullethead", "clanker" and "chrome job" are common Colonial nicknames for these advanced and deadly Cylon constructs ("Downloaded", "Rapture", Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance).

Cinematic Notes

The creators of the Re-imagined Series decided that using actors in an elaborate Cylon robot outfit (as was done in the Original Series) would detract from the realism of the series. They decided to make fully computer-generated Cylon Centurions for the new series.

Inaugural director Michael Rymer wanted the new Cylon warrior to blend in and avoid detracting from the live actor's performances. However, the new designs were eye-catching, and the new robot became a popular addition to many scenes. The virtual Cylons are designed with full articulation in the hands and joints that gives a realistic appearance to the viewer. Initially the new warrior was built with more human movement, such as swaggering. However, the movements did not fit the robotic attitude that the writers wanted to convey and were later discarded.

Actors interact with a life-size cardboard stand-in when filming a scene that will later have virtual Cylon warriors inserted. Some times human actors (production assistants in reality) stand in for the CG Centurions in more complex shots. As revealed in a Video Blog entry on SciFi's Galactica website, stand-ins portraying Centurions are made to wear thick black vests with the word CENTURION printed across them. Much like the cardboard stand-ins the "actors" are then digitally painted out of the shot and replaced with virtual Centurions.

Related Imagery

Centurion in action during the boarding of Galactica (Valley of Darkness).
Centurion leaving the crashed Heavy Raider (Scattered).
Centurion investigating a garage (Downloaded).
Centurion guard on New Caprica (Occupation).
Centurions carrying mortars (The Eye of Jupiter).
Centurion firing a mortar (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).
An improvised anti-aircraft missile launcher (Fragged).

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 [[Image:CylonCenturion.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Centurion, Warrior of the Cylon Army.]]
-The basic unit of Cylon ground forces, the '''Cylon Centurion''' appears to be an upgrade to the [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005]].  They have long, talon-like fingers with multiple joints and have a double barreled automatic projectile weapon mounted on the end of each arm.  These newer, fiercer Centurions are capable of moving extremely fast via [[w:bipedal locomotion|bipedal locomotion]] and are capable of jumping over obstacles. The projectile guns built into each arm are so powerful that they make counterattacks very difficult by Colonials since the barrage is, in effect,  much like a [[W:machine gun|machine gun]]. Unlike the Model 0005, a single Centurion is more than enough to terrorize a squad of Colonial fighters. They also use mortars in combat. In addition, their fingers can be used as bladed close combat weapons.
+The basic footsoldier of Cylon ground forces, the '''Cylon Centurion''' appears to represent a significant (if not radical) evolution of the [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005]]. Unlike the Model 0005, a single Centurion is more than enough to terrorize a squad of Colonial fighters. They have long, talon-like fingers with multiple joints and a double-barreled automatic projectile weapon mounted on the end of each arm. These make counterattacks by Colonials very difficult since they are effectively [[W:machine gun|machine guns]]. In addition, their fingers can be used as bladed close-combat weapons. They are also capable of fielding larger, more powerful weapons not built into them, such as mortars and missile batteries.
-It is unknown whether the Centurions can "speak." It is certainly possible that they communicate with each other via some sort of computer network, and thus have no need for verbal speech.
+These newer, fiercer Centurions are also more agile than their predecessors, capable of extremely fast [[w:bipedal locomotion|bipedal locomotion]] and jumping over obstacles.
-The Cylon Centurions may also have different armor options.  For instance, a small number of them wreaked havoc when boarding ''[[Galactica]]'', and could only be destroyed using explosive rounds ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
+It is unknown whether the Centurions can "speak". It is certainly possible that they communicate with each other via wireless network, making verbal speech unnecessary.
-Centurions encountered on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] reacted more slowly, acted less intelligently, and were more easily destroyed by small arms fire.  This may be due to the Cylons' plans for [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|the copy of Sharon Valerii]] with him; killing them would render their experiments worthless. Centurions  on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] on the other hand, displayed an increased group intelligence, working together to construct an anti-aircraft battery out of parts of their Heavy Raider ([[Fragged]]).<br\>
+Some Cylon Centurions wield markedly improved armor. For instance, the small number that wreak havoc after boarding ''[[Galactica]]'' are destroyed only by explosive rounds ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
+The Centurions encountered on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] react more slowly, act less intelligently, and are more easily destroyed by small-arms fire. This may be due to the Cylons' plans for [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Caprica Sharon]]; killing him would render their experiment worthless. Centurions on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], on the other hand, display an increased group intelligence, working together to construct an anti-aircraft battery out of parts of their Heavy Raider ([[Fragged]]).
 It may be that the Centurions are very simple soldiers that, despite their menacing statistics, are limited in their evolution and programming. Centurions are not sentient, and are not [[Resurrection Ship|downloaded]] upon destruction.
-On [[New Caprica]], the Centurions are used for a variety of jobs. Among them guards, soldiers and executioners.
+On [[New Caprica]], the Centurions serve a variety of functions, such as guards, soldiers and executioners.
-While primarily mechanical, as opposed to the biomechanical Raiders and basestars, it has been hinted by [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid]]s during a discussion of the viral [[Lymphocytic encephalitis|infection]] that the Centurions have at least some biomechanical components. However their adverse affect to the virus could also be a result of a wireless link to the [[Hybrid]] when it died, as a Number Three states, that the Centurions started shutting down as soon as the ship's Hybrid became infected ([[Torn]]).
+While primarily mechanical, as opposed to the biomechanical Raiders and basestars, it has been hinted by [[Humanoid Cylon|humanoid]]s during a discussion of the viral [[Lymphocytic encephalitis|infection]] that the Centurions have at least some biomechanical components. Their adverse reaction to the virus, however, could also be a result of the wireless link to the [[Hybrid]], as a Number Three states, and that the Centurions started shutting down as soon as the ship's Hybrid became infected ([[Torn]]).
-When the Cylons created their new Centurions, they did not give them sentience, making them rely solely on programming. Ironically this was done, according to information from [[Sharon Agathon]], to prevent another robotic rebellion similar to the one the Cylons themselves originally orchestrated. Moreover, the Centurions are programmed to not harm any of the [[Significant Seven]] humanoid Cylon models and they cannot distinguish one copy from another ([[Precipice]]). However, if ordered to do so they can terminate humanoid Cylon models and have the logs ordered erased to prevent the discovery of this act or unit knowledge of the act ([[Hero]]). It is believed that Centurions do not know the identity of the [[Final Five]], as they have fired upon them before.
+When the Cylons created their new Centurions, they did not give them sentience, making them rely solely on programming. Ironically this was done (according to [[Sharon Agathon]]) to prevent another rebellion similar to the one the original Cylons orchestrated against the Colonies. Moreover, the Centurions are programmed not to harm any of the [[Significant Seven]] humanoid Cylon models, and they cannot distinguish one copy from another ([[Precipice]]). However, if ordered to do so they can terminate humanoid Cylon models and be ordered have the logs erased to prevent the discovery or knowledge of the act ([[Hero]]). It is believed that Centurions are unaware of the identities of the [[Final Five]], as they have fired upon them before.
 "Bullethead", "clanker" and "chrome job" are common Colonial nicknames for these advanced and deadly Cylon constructs ("[[Downloaded]]", "[[Rapture]]", [[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance]]).