Roger D. Moore’s reimaginedBattlestar Galacticacaptivated audiences with its enthralling narrative. Its popularity led to numerous spin-offs; among them, the captivating prequelCaprica. Set sixty years before the events of the iconic 2004 series,Capricadelves into the origins of a powerful monotheistic religious faction known as the Soldiers of The One (STO).
In the backdrop of rising tensions and religious strife, the STO emerged as a force to be reckoned with, reshaping the very fabric of the Twelve Colonies. Their quest to “drive out the many Gods” sowed the seeds of an ideological conflict that would reverberate throughBattlestar Galactica’s lore.
From Self-Defense to Offense
The Soldiers of The One initially sprang to life on Gemenon. On this world, the concept of monotheistic theology was met with vehement objections. Threatened terrorist movements who supported polytheistic beliefs, the STO defended a small enclave in the Gramadas mountain range, home to their church and elders. As time passed, their monotheistic beliefs spread to other colonies, and the STO followed suit.
Eventually, the STO had gained enough strength to transition from a defensive stance to an offensive one. They launched their own terroristattacks on the peaceful world of Caprica. However, their activities went underground after the authorities initiated police operations to uncover their operations, leaving the population in the dark about the true nature of this clandestine organization.
The STO’s leadership is still centered on Gemenon, governed by a mysterious figure known as “The Mother.” Thisreligious leader holds the reinsof the church and maintains diplomatic relations with various polytheistic faiths, much to the chagrin of many within the STO. Among those displeased with this was Sister Clarice Willow.
Clarice Willow is the headmistress of the Athena Academy on Caprica, where she is the leader of the STO in that colony. Initially, she reported to Barnabas Greeley, but later staged a coup on Gemenon, which earned her the leadership of all STO cells on Caprica. Among her recruits were Lacy Rand, Ben Stark, Zoe Graystone, Keon Gatwick, Pann, and Hippolyta.
Tragedy struck when a planned exodus of STO members to Gemenon took an unexpected turn. Ben Stark, wearing a suicide vest, detonated it on Maglev 23, resulting in the death of Zoe Graystone and himself. Sister Willow referred to this incident as “premature” and “unauthorized.” However, soon afterward, a second attack took place on an empty building in Caprica City,leaving the people in a state of shock.
Clarice Willow and Barnabas Greeley, the initial leaders of two STO factions in Caprica City, became embroiled in conflict, even leading to Barnabas' attempt to assassinate Clarice. This internal strife eventually drove Clarice to seek refuge in the church’s headquarters on Gemenon. There, she presented a radical plan for a suicide attack on Atlas Arena in Caprica City.
Clarice introduced the concept of using holobands to create avatars for deceased bombers. She believed this could be a powerful tool for recruitment by allowing people to witness the afterlife while still alive. Her ideas disturbed one of the church’s elders, Obal Ferras, who sought permission from The Mother to eliminate Clarice. The request was granted, but Clarice outmaneuvered Ferras, rallying other STO members to her cause,and subsequently killing him. The Mother, though clearly distressed, reluctantly permitted Clarice to take command over all STO cells on Caprica. Clarice returned to Caprica, eliminating Barnabas and his loyal followers.
The Unraveling of the STO
Lacy Rand, originally a member of Barnabas' faction, was sent by Clarice to Gemenon in an attempt to give Lacy “time to reflect.” Ironically, this decision led to the eventual downfall of STO leadership on Caprica. Lacy had grown disillusioned by the STO’s ruthless training program. She managed torecruit U-87 Cylon robotsand, alongside her fellow recruits, led a coup against the STO and Monad Church leadership. Her uprising was successful, and led to her becoming a reverend mother herself.
With control over all STO assets on Caprica, Clarice Willow initiated preparations for apotheosis and the Atlas Arena terrorist attack. These operations, however, were thwarted by the actions of the Graystones, crippling Clarice’s cell without achieving their goal of apotheosis. Nonetheless, Clarice survived and shifted her focus towards converting the Cylons, urging them to rise against their human creators.
Returning to Gemenon in search of support, Clarice discovered that Lacy Rand had taken the reins of the STO.As the new leaderof the Monad Church, Lacy expressed animosity towards Clarice. The STO’s violent agenda appeared to be on hold, with Lacy’s faction favoring non-violent means.
The Cylon Uprising
In the years following the Atlas Arena attack, Clarice Willow continued to support terrorism while serving in secret as a Monotheist priestess. She recognized the sentience of the emerging Cylon race. This belief was shared by Lacy Rand, who was now considered the Blessed Mother. Willow invited Cylons to her V-World sermons, prophesying a violent slave rebellion. This support for extremism among the Cylons ultimately led tothe outbreak of the Cylon War.
The STO’s Importance in Battlestar Galactica Lore
Capricamarked a significant departure from its parent series, with Ronald D. Moore emphasizing the importance of not replicating the formula ofBattlestar Galactica. The prequel series explored a society that was spiraling out of control, driven by success and ambition.According to Moore, this provided a compelling contrast to the post-apocalyptic struggles depicted in the original series:
It’s about a society that’s running out of control with a wild-eyed glint in its eye.
Indeed, the Soldiers of The One played a vital role in the development of the monotheistic faith in theTwelve Colonies and its eventual conflicts. WhileCapricamay differ from its parent series, its exploration of religious extremism and societal upheaval offers a deeper understanding of the intricate and compelling world ofBattlestar Galactica.
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