Cavil's Run – The Fall of the Twelve Colonies

01 - Picon

"C'mon, we're gonna be late!"

James ran after his room mate, knowing he could beat him in a sprint. But he and Liam had been running for 15 minutes now, and Liam always had the endurance to go for longer.

Racing past a fruit stand, James almost knocked a bowl of Aerilon melons to the ground, not to mention the greengrocer trying to keep his stall from tipping over. He heard the man yell obscenities in his native Tauron language, but James had never learnt Old Tauron, and kept running. Both men rounded the nearest car parking building, finally catching sight of their goal.

Picon Fleet Headquarters lay before them, a large sprawling complex of buildings and structures no more than 15 storeys high, fully defended by armed sentries on the roofs and walls. Their dorm was already inside the perimeter of the headquarters but security never gave anyone an inch. Even now James could see a couple of Marines beginning to remove their side arms, prompting both men to slow to a jog.

"What time do you call this?" said an authoritative voice. James saw an older man step through the cordon, putting his hand on the nearest Marine's gun, signaling it was ok to let these two through. James spotted the strips on the man's arms and knew they were in more trouble than they thought – this guy was a General.

"You both are extremely late for the ceremony, GET INSIDE!" he yelled, and both James and Liam suddenly found themselves sprinting for the main doorway up the stairway entrance.

…

Once inside, both men were treated to the mandatory security checks, including pat downs, x-rays and several layers of identity confirmations. After the check points the General indicated both men should follow them down a hallway. Despite being physically fit, James found it surprisingly hard to keep up with the General.

"Gentleman, I do not wish to concern myself with the antics of what went on with the two of you last night, but when you get up in the morning the first and only thing you should think of it the uniform, is that understood?"

"Sir yes sir" both men said in unison.

They stopped in front of a foyer, which lead through a pair of double doors into a large meeting room. James saw several cadets like themselves standing around, nervously waiting.

"Not you two" said the General. "You're with me."

James and Liam followed the General down at least three flights of stairs into a control room, which was manned by four technicians. Outside, two Marines against requested identification from all three men.

Inside, the General turned to face the two cadets.

"Men, my name is General Cavil, it's my job to make sure the security of this installation is maintained to the highest degree. Since both of you decided to be late to this Armistice Day commemoration it's only fitting that I detain you even further."

Cavil eyed both men for a reaction of disappointment or resentment, but he was proud that neither showed any emotion of the sort.

"You have one hour to calibrate the primary DRADIS array. Back room. Go."

"Sir yes sir" they said again, and moved to the small computer annex in the back.

After 15 minutes they realized the problems they were facing. Calibrating a single DRADIS station could be done in 25 minutes, maybe even 20. But the entire array for all of Picon Fleet Headquarters would take nearly three hours, and would require some stations to be taken offline to complete.

"I have to say" began Liam, half buried under a console, "I've never met a General Cavil before."

"Me neither" said James, monitoring the display above the console with a calibration tool. "Then again given the importance of today they've probably got people from all over the colonies here."

"Should've of had those extra drinks last night. Knew it would come back to bite us in the ass. Either that or those hookers we met."

It took Liam a few seconds to register James had responded. He pulled himself out from the console.

"You alright?"

James hadn't taken his eyes of the screen. Liam hauled himself up to see what the fuss was.

On DRADIS, the skies were full of hundreds of red blips. All of them registering as ENEMY TARGET.

"What the frak is this?" said Liam.

"I don't know… but we're the only ones that can see it. I've shut down the other DRADIS screens so we could calibrate this one."

"But… but that means we gotta-"

High-calibre weapons fire filled the air as James and Liam instinctively ducked down under the console. Screams filled the air as other consoles and monitoring equipment exploded around them. After about a minute the firing stopped.

James and Liam quickly scuttled out from under the console and moved to a sheltered wall, trying to see who the attacker was. The fact they were at present unarmed the foremost on their minds.

"You can come out now."

James and Liam heard the familiar voice, glanced at each other and ran out into the main room, seeing General Cavil standing over the fallen bodies of the technicians and the Marines, rifle in hand.

"Sir what happened?" asked Liam.

The General looked up, smiling at the two men.

"The beginnings of a new day. A day without human rule. Soon, humanity will be extinct and all of this will be reborn."

James took a step back, not knowing what he was hearing.

"Sir?" said Liam.

Cavil brought the rifle up and blast Liam in the chest, sending him into a bank of computers. James tried to turn and run but tripped over a fallen technician.

"Don't bother" said Cavil, "I mean not unless you can run several miles in a few seconds. I've seen you run, you're terrible."

James kept his eyes on the man, still not comprehending.

"You're confused. Let me explain. Me bad man. Bombs come soon. You all die. Understand now?"

"Why?" said James.

"Because I'm right, that's-"

Cavil was interrupted by the intercom. "Actions stations, set condition one throughout the base, incoming enemy targets-"

"My friends are here. Time to meet your maker."

James, still in shock, had time to comprehend that quite possibly he was about to die.

"Oh just smile" said Cavil, sitting back in an empty chair. "It'll all be over soon."

The intercom squawked again. "Incoming ordinance. Radialogical alarm! I repeat, radiological-"

Explosions began to shake the base as Cavil closed his eyes. For a brief millisecond James felt his atoms become one with the universe as Picon Fleet Headquarters disappeared in the blinding flash of a nuclear blast.

…

Cavil emerged from his resurrection tank, and wiped off the goo. Donning a robe he strode into a meeting room, a long table with twelve chairs dominating the room.

"Looks like I'm first" he said to himself, and took a seat. He knew it wouldn't be long before eleven identical selves would join him.

…

Next Colony - Aquaria