Civilian Cylon

This article discusses the Cylons seen in the Caprica series finale, "Apotheosis" and in Blood and Chrome. For the non-military Cylons seen in The Original Series, see Cylon civilians.

Cylon construction workers build a highrise in Caprica City.

Civilian Cylon models are a number of commercially available Cylons sold by Graystone Industries in the years before the Cylon War. They are built to make life easier on Caprica and the Twelve Worlds.

Based on Graystone Industries' prototypical robotic model, the U-87 Cyber Combat Unit, these civilian Cylons are smaller in stature and built for non-military applications. Used primarily as laborers, Cylon construction workers, garbage collectors, nannies and personal servants or butlers appear on the streets of Caprica and other colonies within four years of the initial breakthrough in Cylon technology (CAP: "Apotheosis", Blood and Chrome).

Though Colonial society accepts Cylons as a positive addition to life, some even considering the Cylons "friends", questions arise about the speed and impact of their introduction. In an interview with Cylon inventor Daniel Graystone, Baxter Sarno questions this new technology, saying, "I’m hearing talk about Cylon butlers, Cylon nurses. How long before my niece Candace comes home with her Cylon fiance to introduce to the family?" Despite these questions, Graystone dismisses concerns about Cyons, calling them tools and nothing more (CAP: "Apotheosis").

Gathering in the virtual world with their military counterparts, these civilian Cylons worship the monotheist God under the guidance of Clarice Willow. While encouraging them to develop their own culture, Willow also prophesies that the Cylons will rise against their creators (CAP: "Apotheosis").

Soon, the Cylons do rise against humanity, amassing ground forces and weapons and initiating the conflict known as the Cylon War. Despite their non-military application, these civilian Cylon models take part in the war effort, operating as ground troops (Blood and Chrome).

Notes

• The butler/servant Cylon model was based on an early design by Richard Livingston, who also had a hand in the design of the U-87 Cylon. A sketch dating back to 2006 featured a Cylon with a smaller frame, white armor and a blue-glowing eye - "The idea originally was that the Cylons were 'slaves' (butlers, gardeners, etc) and that they should look like Cylons but should also appear weak and vulnerable enough to be kicked around and abused."

• On 19 January 2013, VFX supervisor Doug Drexler posted a chart on his Facebook page depicting CG models of the various Cylon models used in Battlestar Galactica and Caprica, labeling those models seen in "Apotheosis" as "domestic", "construction" and "industrial" Cylons.

References

Cylons in the Re-Imagined Series, Caprica & Blood & Chrome Robotic versions: Earth Cylon Centurion | U-87 Cyber Combat Unit | Civilian Cylons | Cylon War-era Centurion | Cylon Centurion Cylon progenitor: Zoe Graystone Humanoid versions: Thirteenth Tribe/Final Five: Samuel Anders | Tory Foster | Ellen Tigh | Saul Tigh | Galen Tyrol Significant Eight: Number One | Number Two | Number Three | Number Four Number Five | Number Six | Number Seven | Number Eight Craft and baseship hybrids: The Colony | Basestar | Raider | Heavy Raider | Freighter | Reconnaissance Drone Hybrid | First Hybrid | Resurrection Ship | Resurrection Hub Cylon/human hybrid: Hera Agathon