It's my understanding that in the new BSG, humans created AI (kinda like Terminator and Matrix). After awhile, the cylons revolted and there was a long war. In the end, either the humans won or the cylons just decided to retreat into space. However, every year the humans would send an envoy to meet at some space station to see if the cylons would show up and create a lasting peace. Instead, the cylons showed up and killed the envoy, signaling the attack on the human colonies.
Now, I'm still not sure if there is one planet with 12 major cities on it, or if there were 12 planets, one for each colony. I beleive that there are 12 planets though.
The cylons had been infiltrating both the fleet and Federation life for years with their look-alikes. One had gone so far as to give advanced technology to Baltar to create advanced tactical controls for all of the Fleet. However, they had set up the programs to fail when the attack came. Therefore, all the new stuff just shut off and left the fleet floating in space when the attack came. Except for the Galactica, the last of the old style battlestars with the old pre-Baltar controls. She was to be turned into a museum, so she also had a complement of old-style Vipers.
That's why she was able to fight her way to the anchorage and RV with what civilian ships had jump capabilities and had escaped. Since then they have been trying to stay ahead of the cylons while the "human" cylons who infiltrated the fleet have been sabtaguing (sp) it when they can. And there is somewhat of a power struggle between Adama and the new president, who was education secretary when the attack came and got the job because she was just about the only official left alive.
BTW, BSG r teh roxxor!!!111!!!
