cylon "caste" system - what gives?

[SoulReaver]

alrite so something just dawned on me, in one of the eps (not sure which one but it was in season 4 iirc), a #3 cylon - a Boomer - tries to unplug a hybrid
the hybrid then screams and upon seeing this one of the centurions shoots the Boomer


so question is, why the hell did it do that?
sure it seeks to protect the hybrid, but here it was essentially protecting a cylon not against a human but against another cylon (one of those who even chose to side with the centurions by giving them free will, at that)
I would understand if it merely tried to push the Boomer away or something, but here it actually shot her which is overacting to say the least, cause this implies there is some sort of caste which places hybrids above other human cylons and that the life of a hybrid is worth more than that of a non-hybrid. such a class system would completely contradict what is known about cylons (that they're collectivist, among other things)

so this makes no sense for there is no reason why a centurion would choose one cylon over another, not to the point of killing a cylon anyway

[thekillman]

why the hell did it do that?

it's like a passenger of a jet plane pushing the pilot away and a guard sees it and shoots.

The hybrid is the pilot of the ship. unplugging it would pose a danger to the entire ship and the centurion assessed that Boomer was trying to do harm to the ship and removed the problem.

[SoulReaver]

The hybrid is the pilot of the ship. unplugging it would pose a danger to the entire ship and the centurion assessed that Boomer was trying to do harm to the ship and removed the problem.

that would be an explanation - assuming that disabling the hybrid would actually disable the ship (let alone endanger it - any evidence thereof in any of the eps?)

[GoodMusician86]

I think there are a few ways to interpret the evidence.

The Hybrid 'screaming' was like an alarm system, a distress call, a call for protection. If I recall, by this point, the centurions were sentient (at least the ones on this ship). Also, we know that the raiders are like "pets" and perhaps the centurions are too (notice they don't speak anymore and the disdain that the 1's hold for allowing them to think).

So perhaps with that added sentience, simply hearing the Hybrid screaming for help, and the fact that the bullets are in essence an extension of the Centurions physiology, the Centurion could have shot out of a sort of automatic response without much higher thought (sort of like how if someone screams in your ear, you scream).

It could also be that because it's more "animal" like, it acted again, without thinking, as an automatic response of protection like a Dog barking or biting a perceived threat.

It could also be something as simple as a Hybrid that is screaming is a final protection against a threat (perceived or real) and no matter who it is, to unplug a hybrid is likened to opening a door on a plane mid-flight or pulling an emergency brake on a highway. In their mind, the only reason someone would do that would be to cause an accident, and is to be terminated.

[Bladed]

Actually it's due to the fact that a hybrid's mind can not be uploaded to a new body, like the rest of the cylons. This makes hybrids a very rare commodity, coupled with endangering the ship and crew. The centurion was simply doing it's duty.
Centurions have been ordered to kill other cylons before too. One in particular kept having Centurions kill her so she could experience death repeatedly.

[GoodMusician86]

You speak of the 3, yes... So Cylon-on-Cylon crime isn't necessarily a new thing. Almost how in some circles, a guy might punch another guy in the arm, but if he did that in another group of people, say business men or some such, to do so would be cause for alarm and be seen as entirely inappropriate.

As for the Cylon's consciousness not being able to be uploaded, I had no idea of that. Where was that stated as that's a very interesting idea...

[Bladed]

You speak of the 3, yes... So Cylon-on-Cylon crime isn't necessarily a new thing. Almost how in some circles, a guy might punch another guy in the arm, but if he did that in another group of people, say business men or some such, to do so would be cause for alarm and be seen as entirely inappropriate.

As for the Cylon's consciousness not being able to be uploaded, I had no idea of that. Where was that stated as that's a very interesting idea...

If you remember Starbuck's husband became a "super" Hybrid because of damage to his brain, so even if they just went ahead and killed him he couldn't upload his mind any longer.

To me it seems that due to the hybrids higher level of consciousness it could not be digitized for upload.

I realize that there were many hybrids of the same model used as ship control systems, but those could have been mass produced with a basic consciousness, and once they were hooked into the machinery they went far beyond even cylon capabilities to upload them.

Also not only did the 3's commit suicide by centurion, but a Boomer did shoot a number six to convince Helo she was the real Boomer. Also the #2's exterminated the 1's, which is why we never saw any #1's.
Col. Ty's wife and the main #2 discussed this in one episode.

[SoulReaver]

If I recall, by this point, the centurions were sentient

if anything that would be more of a reason for the centurion not to act on instinct wouldn't it

to unplug a hybrid is likened to opening a door on a plane mid-flight or pulling an emergency brake on a highway

killman also brought that up but the problem is it was never suggested that unplugging a hybrid would endanger the basestar
case in point they unplugged it & no damage was done (and it's reasonable to assume that centurions would know how this works, what is risky for the ship & what ain't)

[GoodMusician86]

Well, if the Centurions were limited in their thinking to simply following orders, and then suddenly they're allowed to think...and feel... it's reasonable to assume these are all new things to them... like an emotionally immature young adult...they would still be grappling with these urges and may not fully understand what they are capable of or what they're doing. That's my impression at least

As for the damage to the basestar, it seems that the hybrid anticipated that it would be detrimental (wether it was or not is immaterial to the fact that the basestar hybrid was pretty much commanding the centurion to protect it by screaming).

[SoulReaver]

the basestar hybrid was pretty much commanding the centurion to protect it by screaming).

but was it ever shown or suggested in previous episodes that hybrids could command centurions like that?

[GoodMusician86]

Is it mentioned that once the Hybrid got sick with that disease, to quote Sharon "the centurions began to shut down." That implies a connection. But perhaps not

Even if there isn't, one could still argue that like a Dog protecting it's owner from the "perceived" threat of the mailman/ pizza delivery guy, the threat level or need to command protection could be irrelevant: the response is the same.

But all things being equal, it is a gray area

[SoulReaver]

Is it mentioned that once the Hybrid got sick with that disease, to quote Sharon "the centurions began to shut down." That implies a connection. But perhaps not

ho! that weird bio-electric-virus thingy
good point I'd almost forgotten about that one

Even if there isn't, one could still argue that like a Dog protecting it's owner from the "perceived" threat of the mailman/ pizza delivery guy, the threat level or need to command protection could be irrelevant: the response is the same.

but here it'd be more like a dog protecting one owner from another owner (by killing the 2nd owner at that) not from some stranger

now if the hybrids do have some special control over centurions as the cylon-flu ep suggests then that would start to make much more sense
maybe it's just a subconscious or instinctive thing like when under intense stress some special cybernetic circuitry is activated in the hybrid which gives it direct control over the bots

But all things being equal, it is a gray area

just like the centurions :|

[GoodMusician86]

graystone* area is more accurate i suppose heh