The Warriors of the One: Unveiling Battlestar Galactica's Enigmatic Soldiers

Roger D. Moore's reimagined Battlestar Galactica captured the attention of viewers with its captivating storyline. It gained such popularity that it led to the creation of several spin-offs, including the intriguing prequel called Caprica. Set sixty years before the events of the iconic 2004 series, Caprica explores the origins of a powerful monotheistic religious group called the Soldiers of The One (STO).

Against a backdrop of mounting tensions and religious unrest, the STO rose as a formidable force, fundamentally altering the structure of the Twelve Colonies. Their mission to eradicate the existence of multiple gods planted the seeds of an ideological conflict that would resonate throughout the lore of Battlestar Galactica.

From Self-Defense to Offense

The Soldiers of The One were originally founded on Gemenon, where monotheistic theology faced strong opposition from those who believed in polytheism. Despite facing threats from terrorist groups supporting polytheistic beliefs, the STO protected a small enclave in the Gramadas mountain range, which served as their church and central command. Over time, their monotheistic beliefs spread to other colonies, leading to the expansion of the STO.

As the STO grew in strength, they transitioned from a defensive to an offensive stance. They launched their own terrorist attacks on the peaceful world of Caprica. However, their activities were forced underground when authorities began police operations to uncover their operations. This left the general population unaware of the true nature of this secretive organization.

The leadership of the STO remains centered on Gemenon, with a mysterious figure known as "The Mother" in charge. This enigmatic religious leader holds control over the church and handles diplomatic relations with various polytheistic faiths, much to the dissatisfaction of many within the STO. Sister Clarice Willow is among those who are unhappy with this arrangement.

Clarice Willow serves as the headmistress of the Athena Academy on Caprica and leads the STO in that colony. Initially, she reported to Barnabas Greeley, but eventually orchestrated a coup on Gemenon, which led to her taking over leadership of all STO cells on Caprica. Her recruits include Lacy Rand, Ben Stark, Zoe Graystone, Keon Gatwick, Pann, and Hippolyta.

Tragedy struck when a planned STO exodus to Gemenon took an unexpected and devastating turn. Ben Stark, wearing a suicide vest, detonated it on Maglev 23, resulting in the tragic deaths of Zoe Graystone and himself. Sister Willow described this incident as "premature" and "unauthorized." However, the shock continued when a second attack occurred on an unoccupied building in Caprica City.

The conflict between STO factions in Caprica City escalated, with Clarice Willow and Barnabas Greeley, the initial leaders, becoming deeply entangled. The tension reached its peak when Barnabas attempted to assassinate Clarice. The internal strife pushed Clarice to seek sanctuary in the church's headquarters on Gemenon. It was there that she proposed an extreme plan for a suicide attack on the Atlas Arena in Caprica City.

The Unraveling of the STO

Clarice revolutionized the use of holobands to generate avatars for deceased bombers, envisioning it as a persuasive recruitment tool that would offer people a glimpse into the afterlife while still living. These groundbreaking ideas unsettled Obal Ferras, a prominent elder of the church, who sought permission from The Mother to eliminate Clarice. Despite the granting of his request, Clarice ingeniously outmaneuvered Ferras by rallying other members of the STO to her cause, ultimately ensuring his demise. Reluctantly, The Mother granted Clarice command over all STO cells on Caprica, while clearly displaying signs of distress. Returning to Caprica, Clarice proceeded to eliminate Barnabas and his devoted followers.

Lacy Rand, who was initially a part of Barnabas' faction, was dispatched to Gemenon by Clarice with the intent of providing her with an opportunity for introspection. Ironically, this decision ultimately resulted in the eventual downfall of the STO leadership on Caprica. Lacy had become disenchanted with the STO's merciless training program. She succeeded in enlisting U-87 Cylon robots and, together with her fellow recruits, staged a revolt against the STO and Monad Church hierarchy. Her uprising proved triumphant, leading to her ascension as a revered mother herself.

Controlling all STO assets on Caprica, Clarice Willow made preparations for apotheosis and the Atlas Arena terrorist attack. However, the Graystones foiled these plans, crippling Clarice's group and preventing the achievement of their goal. Despite this setback, Clarice managed to survive and redirected her focus towards convincing the Cylons to rebel against their human creators.

Upon returning to Gemenon in search of support, Clarice encountered Lacy Rand, who had taken over leadership of the STO. As the new head of the Monad Church, Lacy harbored hostility towards Clarice. The STO's violent agenda seemed to be put on hold, as Lacy's faction preferred non-violent methods.

The Cylon Uprising

In the aftermath of the Atlas Arena attack, Clarice Willow secretly held the position of a Monotheist priestess, actively supporting terrorism. During this time, she acknowledged the sentient nature of the emerging Cylon race. Lacy Rand, who had risen to the esteemed role of the Blessed Mother, also shared this belief. Willow boldly invited Cylons to partake in her V-World sermons, where she prophesied a violent uprising of the enslaved. These extreme actions and ideologies among the Cylons eventually sparked the devastating Cylon War.

The STO's Importance in Battlestar Galactica Lore

Caprica represented a notable deviation from its precursor, as Ronald D. Moore underscored the significance of avoiding duplication of the Battlestar Galactica formula. The prequel delved into a society teetering on the edge of chaos, fueled by ambition and relentless pursuit of success. Moore believed this stark contrast offered an intriguing counterpoint to the depiction of post-apocalyptic struggles in the original series:

It portrays a society hurtling towards an abyss, driven by an untamed fervor in its gaze.

The Soldiers of The One played a crucial part in the growth of the monotheistic belief in the Twelve Colonies and its subsequent clashes. Though Caprica varies from its predecessor series, it delves into religious fanaticism and social unrest, adding a profound comprehension of the complex and captivating universe of Battlestar Galactica.

Editor's P/S

The Soldiers of The One (STO) are a fascinating and complex religious group in the Battlestar Galactica universe. Their evolution from a defensive force to an offensive one, and the internal conflicts that arise as a result, are compelling elements of the show's mythology.

The STO's mission to eradicate the existence of multiple gods is a central tenet of their faith, and it brings them into direct conflict with the polytheistic beliefs of many of the Twelve Colonies. This ideological conflict is a major driving force behind the events of the series, and it's fascinating to see how the STO's actions shape the world of Battlestar Galactica.