Sagittaron

Sagittaron is one of the twelve worlds within the twelve colonies, noted to be one of the poorer colonies due to centuries of exploitation.

History

Colors and symbol of Sagittaron

Sagittaron endured centuries of exploitation at the hands of the other Colonies (Bastille Day), leading to the colony becoming one of the poorest (Dirty Hands).

This continued even during unified Colonial rule, so that eventually Tom Zarek of the S.F.M. led an organized series of terrorist acts against the established government there, many years before the fall of the Colonies. One of these acts include blowing up a government building (Bastille Day). Under Sagittaron penal law, convicted felons lose their citizenship, but have it automatically reinstated after they finish serving their sentences. This included the right to vote and to stand for election (Colonial Day).

Culture

The Sagittarons practice a form of the Colonial religion that can trace its roots for at least 1,000 years. Like the Gemenese, they developed a staunch religious stance but with possibly a greater emphasis on traditional folk practice than scripture. They view medicine as "an abomination, a sin against the gods," and instead use charms and natural remedies to promote health, such as the soma braid or the burdock root. This stubbornness and their perceived backwards nature has led to a bitter dislike by members of the other Colonies. During the Second Exodus, the bitterness is reinforced by the fact that many Sagittarons on New Caprica did not help to fight the Cylons, suggesting that the Sagittarons are also pacifists by nature.

They are strong adherents of herbal medicine and reject much of modern medicine, which has lead to derogatory terms such as "stubborn rootsucking jackasses". Dr. Michael Robert expresses skepticism about its effectiveness, however his statement implies that there has not been any serious research on the subject. Many Sagittarons wear soma braids around their wrists, believing it will bring them health.

Given the long history of exploitation and persecution of Sagittaron, their rejection of modern medicine and distrust of the military may have a common source. Dualla, who is a Sagittaron herself, describes her people as "paranoid, pigheaded, and argumentative" (The Woman King).

Trivia

• In the Tomb of Athena, the statue of an archer representing the leader of the tribe of Sagittarius, is missing its arrow. The Arrow of Apollo is placed on the statue, which activates a hologram that gives the Fleet its first waypoint to the location of Earth (Home, Part II).
• William Adama's old Viper Mark II is found on a salvage yard on Sagittaron, and later rebuilt as a gift from his deckhands to the retiring battlestar commander (Miniseries, Night 1).
• Sagittaron had 5,251 natives residing in the Fleet after their colony's destruction (33).

Natives

• Priyah Magnus
• Lieutenant Anastasia Dualla
• Tom Zarek, Vice President and former Sagittaron representative to the Quorum of Twelve
• Valance
• Leon Grimes
• Portia King and her son, Willie King
• Mr. Buckminster
• Jacob Cantrell, Sagittaron's last representative on the Quorum.

In Other Continuities

Sagittaron is depicted differently (and extensively) in Dynamite Comics's comic series that focus on the life of Tom Zarek before and leading up to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. See Sagittaron (alternate) for details.