People talk of the Fall of Caprica (or any of the colonies) as though it were a single day event. As though the Cylons arrived in atmosphere, bombed the colony world and all it's cities back into the stone age, then rolled off to hit the next target. Those who remember Caprica city, before the fall, before the war, before surviving the war and everything that came after, know that the 'fall' was merely the tipping point for everything that came after. Those that survived the war knew that the cost wasn't ever just lives. The stories that she remembers most come from her mother, her aunts, uncles, extended family; stories that were personal. That were real and vivid and more than just something vague on the evening news. The war was never just about their city or the infrastructure or the real estate. The war did nothing short of changing everything. When Caprica city was invaded by the Centurions the fighting was bad for about a week but then tapered off. Power and utilities were pretty quickly restored - about 3 weeks or so. Nothing was bombed into the stone age. Nukes hit half a dozen cities, but they were intended to cause panic rather than kill large swaths of people. The occupation was scary and people were told to return to work. They largely did. People did starve if they weren't cooperative with the Cylons. Medical care wasn't great. Things got harder as the second year of the war went on. Then after the Cylons left it went downhill fast since the whole logistical train the Cylons had in place to feed Caprica went to crap.
Renee's (the eldest daughter of Richard & Olivia Palermo) earliest memories of the war are wrapped up in a confusing jumble surrounding her birthday, the promise of the big pink cake that no one was supposed to touch until the candles were lit, the promise that her favorite aunt would be there and the pile of presents in the corner. Everything was pink and sparkly and shining, there were balloons tied to all the chairs, brightly colored paper streamers tied around the banisters leading along the stairs and a distinct impression of the promise of a puppy. But at three, memory is as much a series of snap shot impressions as anything else. The excitement of the day that could have been is merged with the nightmare that it became, something that - at age 3 - Renee was to young to understand. The party guests and their children were temporarily stranded with Renee's family during the first few days of the war. All frivolity set aside as the sheer scope of the assault on their world and the other colonies began to slowly sink in. She knows, as much from memory as from family history, that they managed to remain in their family home for a few months after the war. She knows that at some point a decision was made to flee Cap city, that some of those who planned to flee didn't survive the journey, some were recruited to serve the APF, some simply did not survive for any number of reasons. Many died from starvation, from illnesses that could have been treated with the most simple of medical care, and many died from grief.
Some families are torn apart by war, some are eradicatedly entirely, down to the last solitary branch and stem. Some families find that the ties that bind are more important than blood, than marriage or legalities or something as simple as a single family name. Eventually the cities that were damaged during the war would be rebuilt, and those who had survived and already knew the construction business were in an opportune moment to get the job done, and get it done right. Construction jobs were the biggest source of income for years, especially for those who displayed not just a willingness to work but a genuine get the job done and get it done right attitude. Her generation learned about war in a very real, very present, way. Not from story books or dry history, or news blurbs and protests, but by living through it and seeing their world take shape in the aftermath. To Renee's eyes, the Arpay has 'always' been part of current culture. The skinjobs, the Lines as they're called, part of their culture. The APF, equally, has 'always' been a part of what she considers 'normal', such as 'normal' is ever 'normal' in the first place.
Eventually a new 'normal' would return, and save for the year the APF tried to over throw everything again, Renee's childhood settled into something resembling 'typical'. Construction never really ceased on Caprica, the long standing joke about 'construction season' continuing year round just became a way of life. Family business being what it was, Renee would spend most of her summers and holidays working at any number of jobs in the cities where her family kept crews at work year round. Schools would be built, shops would open, lives would be rebuilt. Eventually Renee would come of age and, like many of her generation, she would join the marine corps and follow in the foot steps of other family, of friends of friends, of neighbors and complete strangers, the military offering not just a way of life, but the avenue to serve, protect, to help defend. Never forget, never again.
Through the years of her military service, Renee would find a love for the corps, not just for the service, but the love of being a Marine is something that is bred in the bone; and it's a love that she understands. Demonstrating an aptitude for mechanics, for scavenging, a distinct willingness to get her hands dirty and a genuine love for vehicles of all makes and kinds, Renee is one of the many combat engineers who operates any of the Light Armored Vehicles that support and transport marines in and out of combat zones. As often as not, she's found elbow deep in the guts of the LAV she's assigned to, making sure that everything is in optimal running condition.
Equally, she's as prone to shouldering a rifle and anything else, weapon wise, she can lay hands on to get the job done. It should be noted that Renee is also one of the few marines who been fined and sentenced to civil service duty multiple times for base jumping in Caprica city.
All this said, Renee is not all work no play. She as human as any other marine, and marines come from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, from all families or the lack of same. As keenly aware as she is of her family history, of being a legacy marine, she's done her share of idiot things over the years. Few people know, outside of her immediate friends and only two of her family members (Liza & Kieve in fact), know that she did something incredibly stupid a few years ago while on a 48 hour leave on Picon. To this day, Liza will still poke fun at Renee when they're out drinking, by asking her if she's sure she wants another drink? After all, last time she was really hammered, she ended up drunk and having to arrange for a divorce the day after. Married for less than 48 hours is NOT the sort of accomplishment she had in mind. That she never bumped into that particular marine ever again is just old fashioned luck of the draw. What happens on Picon (while on leave!) stays on Picon.