Caprica (RDM)

Caprica, before the Cylon attack.

The planet Caprica was the governmental seat of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. According to Gaius Baltar, Caprica was the Twelve Colonies' seat of politics, culture, art, science, and learning, as well as one of the wealthiest colonies (Dirty Hands).

Geography and Astronomy

Caprica is a lush, blue green world. It contains large oceans and continents, including an arctic region that is remarkably similar to that of another world on the other side of the Galaxy (Daybreak, Part II). The planet's climate can be described as moderate, at least in the region around Caprica City and Delphi.

Caprica shares its orbit with another world. This red planet seems to be arid and xeric, containing no visible bodies of water. At times, the planet can be seen as a large celestial object on the Caprican sky (Caprica Pilot, TV Version). Thus far it is not known whether this world is one of the other Twelve Colonies of Kobol. However, it fits the descriptions given to Tauron or Gemenon.

History

Prior to the Articles of Colonization, Caprica has a global government independent of the other colonies. This government was led by a Prime Minister.

Approximately 58 years before the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, a militant monotheist group, the Soldiers of One, detonated an explosive device aboard a train leaving Caprica City. The explosion killed several people, including Zoe Graystone and Tamara Adama. Caprica (series)

The Fall

Caprica is devastated through massive nuclear bombardment during the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. Most of the planet's human population that aren't killed by the direct bombardment would eventually die of radiation poisoning.

Some of the humans were incarcerated by the Cylons in their attempts to create human-Cylon offspring. A very small and isolated group of humans formed a resistance group that performed hit-and-run attacks on Cylon installations and residences until the survivors of that resistance were rescued by Galactica months later.

The few surviving smaller cities were taken over the Cylons who used the planet as a base of operations for a time.

Caprica, and the other occupied colonies, are later abandoned by the Cylons in their effort to find the Fleet and attempt a forced co-existence on New Caprica as benevolent dictators (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).

Slowly but surely, among the first two years since the nuclear bombardment, the planet's ecosystem including trees and wildlife diminished, as well as the other colonies. The planet's atmosphere changed from blue, to an unmistakeable yellow. The fate of Caprica is unknown.

Cities

Caprica City in its pristine state.

The planet's largest population center was Caprica City, which served as the seat of all three branches of the Colonial Government and the capital of the Twelve Colonies. The city is completely destroyed in the Cylon attack on the Colonies. Caprica City is surrounded by other small towns and hamlets, such as Oasis. Another major city is Delphi, famous for the Delphi Museum of the Colonies and also home to a large spaceport. The Cylons spared Delphi from nuclear bombardment in order to use it as a base of operations in their occupation of the planet (Downloaded).

On their trek across Caprica, Karl Agathon and Sharon Valerii explore two undestroyed and unnamed cities.

Other

• The human resistance cell, led by Samuel Anders, operated near Delphi, having survived the nuclear attack by being in the mountains (and thus spared the initial intense radiation).
• Caprica is known for its fine Caprican cloth (which Dr. Baltar wears), fumarella leaf, Caprican cigars and art.
• A railway line can be seen below the balcony of Baltar's house on Caprica in "The Hand of God". What appear to be internal combustion engine powered vehicles, such as cars and trucks, appear extensively in shots of Caprica, particularly in the episode "Downloaded."

Natives and Residents

• The Adama Family:
  • William Adama (Born in Qualai)
  • His wife, Carolanne Adama
  • His sons, Lee and Zak
• Lee's fiancé Gianne (Presumed)
• The Graystone Family:
  • Daniel Graystone, creator of the Cylons
  • His wife, Amanda Graystone
  • Their daughter, Zoe
• Kara Thrace (Had an apartment in Delphi)
• James McManus (Presumed - editor of the Caprican Times)
• President Laura Roslin (Presumed)
• President Richard Adar (Presumed: was mayor of Caprica City (Miniseries, Night 1))
• The humanoid Cylon Aaron Doral claims to be from Oasis.
• Gaius Baltar, though a native of Aerelon, moved to Caprica after his 18th birthday, turning his back on his family and heritage.
  • Baltar is elected Quorum of Twelve delegate for the colony (Colonial Day). His replacement upon his appointment to the vice-president, and subsequently president, remains unnamed.

6,250 people from Caprica join the Laura Roslin faction (Home, Part I). The overall Caprican survivor population, possibly significantly greater, is unknown (see analysis here).

Publications and Media

• Caprican Times
• Caprican Life
• Caprica 5
• Caprica Today
• Channel 7 News

Pyramid Team

• Caprica Buccaneers

Locations

• Apollo Park
• Atlas Arena
• Caprica City
• Caprica Beach
• Caprica Transfer Station
• Cobb's Point
• Delphi
• Delphi Museum of the Colonies
• Little Tauron
• Martok Valley
• Oasis
• Pilgrim Bay
• Qualai
• Unnamed cities of Caprica

Notes

Caprica's full surface has yet to be seen, but it possesses several interesting features. An ice-covered continent of similar shape to Antarctica on Earth resides in the southern hemisphere. Most of the land masses are situated on one side of the planet, as one establishing shot of Caprica during "The Plan" shows the planet to be nearly all water. Also, one heavily metropolitan section of the planet appears to have a similar shape to the Persian Gulf / Mediterranean Sea region of Earth.

References

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• See Also
  • Caprica (series)|"Caprica," the series
  • :Category:Places on Caprica|Places on Caprica

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