In the *Battlestar Galactica* Miniseries, we encounter a Cylon device in Galactica's CIC.

Gaius Baltar is first alerted to the device by his Cylon companion/hallucination. He tells Galactica's commanders about it, blaming on an alleged Cylon (Doral, who ironically actually is a Cylon). Gaeta observes that it mysteriously appeared underneath the DRADIS console only days before the Cylon attack.

Later in the series, we encounter other devices of the same type. Gaeta studies them and reports that they are Cylon "transponders" that identify themselves to other transponders. The series goes on, and doesn't encounter any real plot elements that would contradict with that explanation.

**Why would the Cylons plant this device under the DRADIS console?**

Was it actually a transponder? Was Gaeta's analyis correct? If so, what good was a transponder on the DRADIS console?

Was it something more? Was Gaeta's analysis incomplete? Did it serve a purpose for the initial attack that was no longer necessary?

Was it just a "prop" for Baltar to use in his path to power?