58 years before Battlestar Galactica, an astonishing breakthrough is taking shape on the planet Caprica. The creator of a failing urban combat robot project tries to bring a virtual copy of his dead daughter into the real world, using a stolen processor, his combat chassis and her code. He thus creates the Cybernetic Life form Node or CYLON. The rapidly evolving spheres of human and mechanical engineering have collided, along with the fates of two families. Joined by tragedy in an explosive instant of terror, two rival clans led by powerful patriarchs, Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) and Daniel Greystone (Eric Stoltz) duel in an era of questionable ethics, corporate machinations and unbridled personal ambition as the final war for humanity looms.

Zoe's avatar tries to adapt to her new life inside a robot's body while the Graystones and the Adamas cope with their losses. Elsewhere, Lacy dines with Sister Clarice, and young Will Adama spends some quality time with his shady uncle.

Following Amanda's public revelation that their daughter was responsible for the MAGLEV tragedy, the Graystones must face the wrath of angry Capricans.

Daniel preps himself to go on the popular Backtalk with Baxter Sarno to put a good spin on his daughter's role in the bombing tragedy, despite protests from Amanda who is unaware that Sam is waiting for his moment to carry out his brother's requested hit.

The avatar of Tamara Adama wanders V-World, unaware that she died nearly a month ago in the MagLev bombing and discovers a new side to V-World -- New Cap City, a place where people live random lives of violence and crime in search of the game’s elusive meaning.

Tomas Vergis confronts Daniel over the theft of the meta-cognitive processor and the two workers who were murdered in the robbery. However, his means of revenge aren't quite what Daniel expects.

Amanda’s life spirals out of control as she begins to see visions of her brother, who died years earlier. As a result, Clarice sees an opportunity to gain her trust and we learn a dark secret from Amanda’s past that could have major implications for her life with Daniel.

Daniel is beginning to suspect that Zoe-Avatar is in the robot, but his pleas for his daughter to reveal herself go ignored. In an effort to flush her out, he launches a campaign of psychological torture, resulting in escalating tests that force Zoe into a choice she cannot take back.

When Daniel finally sets a deadline for resetting the U-87 Cylon - and unknowingly ending Zoe-A’s existence as she knows it - she makes a desperate attempt to save herself. But when her plan backfires, she finds herself out of time and out of options.

Having lost both his wife and company, Daniel approaches the Ha'la'tha with a deal to capitalise on virtual avatars as a means of defeating grief.

Daniel's deal with the Ha'la'tha leads to some unpalatable choices.

Lines of loyalty have been drawn. Where do you stand?

Graystone Industries provides an opportunity to never lose a loved one thanks to breakthrough technology. Others are staring down the same path as the deceased when held at gunpoint, and even still others are doing the gun-holding against another life-force. What the frak will they do?

Amanda tries to get more information from Clarice, but can't get close enough. In order to provide her with the equipment to do so, Duram would have to give her up as his CI, a dangerous confession given the possible leak within the department.

As the Adama brothers rise to new positions in the Ha'la'tha, they are haunted by the mission of their late parents and the different direction the Guatrau is taking them. Daniel hopes to use this with Sam by offering Cylons for Tauron, in exchange for refraining to carry out the ordered hit.

As the "Avenging Angels" change code inside New Cap City, Daniel is able to track them down, but an early snafu in trying to reach out to Zoe leave the Graystones to enter the game only under its strict rules. With only one chance, Daniel asks help from Sam who has no interest in disturbing his brother's peace of mind.

The Graystones' search for Zoe leave them oblivious to the danger of Clarice and her two husbands invading their home. At the same time, the Adamas are targeted by the Ha'la'tha. One family will finally begin the move forward, while the other will experience yet another tragedy.

Clarice and Olaf move forward with the plan to blow up Atlas Arena when they learn of their powerful ally in the GDD. Singh covers their tracks by framing the Graystones as terrorists, forcing them to go on the run.

The grieving Adamas confront the Guatrau for his string of recent decisions in the hopes of avoiding further violence.