One of the biggest and most important innovations of the Cylon Empire, is the Information Network. All Cylons are linked together via a vast information network. This is a very advanced network of communication and command signals that allows Cylons to be guided, controlled and given information and news updates when appropriate. The amount of the network that is available to a particular Cylon depends on their role.

Centurions are generally tied into the military network, which allows leaders to send instructions and orders to them. Silver Centurions have the ability to communicate through the network, but little else. First Centurions are plugged into the higher portion of the military network which allows them to control and guide all other centurions under their command, as well as supervise all functions on a Baseship.

Citizens and drones have access only to the civilian network which is more concerned with day-to-day news reports and the like. Communication to other Cylons on this network is also possible. Drones tend to just receive orders and instructions. The IL Series has access to a much higher portion of the network, both military and civilian, although unless they are actually present in a military role, this section is generally switched off.

The Imperious Leader has access to all portions of the network with no restrictions at all.

The amount of brains a Cylon has helps to guide and shape the information that they can access.

The Cylon network allows for many things - almost instant access to information (history, intelligence reports, ship updates, civilian news), instant communication between Cylons, the ability to run a ship (while Cylon ships have control centres, they do not actually need bridges - a Cylon can control their ship from wherever they are on that ship) and the ability to control Centurion warriors. Note that each link to a differing function (command, communication) if a different link to the Cylon, and thus destruction of one link is not necessarily going to disrupt the other.

The network is not always two way either. Drones and Silver Centurions for example, only have one way links on their command network meaning that they cannot give orders, only recieve.

The network extends to the furthest reaches of Cylon space and consists of many smaller networks. Each Baseship or ship is a mini-network. Each planet is itself a mini-network, and all these networks are linked together via FTL communications, although this is usually by no means instantaneous. If a mini-network is out of communications with other networks, then it will receive no updates, although it will not be effected in itself.

Due to the scope of this, this actually means that the Information Network has the capability to be wherever there are Cylons with a communication station of some kind. As such, the Network effectively spans the entire of Cylon space - and beyond - which makes it huge.

If the network were visible, then it would appear like a vast web connecting every Cylon to each other and to various pieces of equipment, like communicators. There would be several links to each Cylon of differing colours representing differing functions, and these links would be of various brightness symbolising the amount of control a Cylon has over that linkage.

While a great advantage for Cylons, the Information network can also be a disadvantage if it fails - Centurions will lose their control and non function as efficiently, and lower classes (like drones) may well stand around waiting for instructions. While all Cylons are individual and have their own self-will and initiative, the Information Network is an important part of their society. Because of it is sheer size, the Information Network can be slow at times (the further a mini-network is away from a main communications point will also effect access times), and sometimes the information retrieved can be false or corrupted. In addition, the network is only as good as the information that is put into it. Just because an IL Series Cylon has access to the network, it does not mean that they're going to put information on it when they do not want the entire Empire to know something. So it not 100% perfect yet.

Luckily then, the Colonials have no idea of the whole nature and scope of the network. They know that all Cylon bases and planets have a control centre which, if destroyed will severely disrupt Centurions and Raiders, and they make these prime targets for destruction, but Colonial technology is not up to detecting - let alone jamming or disrupting - the network.

Destruction of the Information Network for Cylons:

The destruction of the network for Cylons has differing effects depending on what type of Cylon it is. The imperious Leader, IL Series and some Citizens will simply lose their links to the network but will be otherwise unaffected. They will not be able to send and recieve orders, but that will not be a worry for them.

Centurions and drones are the hardest hit though. Because the network carries orders and commands, a Centurion or drone cut off from the link will be fairly useless. In effect, they will do pretty much nothing. Technically they will still be active, but in reality with their link severed their already limited initiative drops to nothing and they will not act or respond until the link is repaired. First

Destroying the link to the information network is not easy though. Infact, the only way to do it is to destroy the command centre for the Cylons. As every ground base, base ship and indeed ship and settlement of the Cylon Empire has a command centre of some sort, destroying one will only render the Cylons under that the command of that particular control centre inactive. And then, only until another base comes along and either repairs the link or takes control of it itself.

Thus as a temporary measure to render a base inoperable, destroying the control centre is a valid tactic, but only until reinforcements arrive. Destroying the control centre of a ship however, usually results in the destruction of that ship, and then fighters will simply control themselves until they can hook up with another baseship.

Even the smallest vehicle has a command link. This is enough to allow Cylons to function, just with limited iniative - enough to carry out their last orders or let let attempt to get to another command link where they will be reintegrated.

Destruction of the entire Information Network would require the destruction of the planet Cylon and all ships and bases with a command link.