Title: The Other Side of Dawn
Genre: Drama/Angst/Romance/Action
Rating: MA/ K/PG-13
Summary: AU for miniseries. Laura Roslin isn't the Dying Leader, but as XO of Pegasus under Admiral Cain, she finds herself bereft at the End of the Worlds, trying to do her duty all while fearing the deaths of her friends William and Saul.
Note: This will only cover from the bombings of the Colonies to the reunion of Galactica and Pegasus.
I won't follow any conversations from the mini to Resurrection Ship either. More fun for me, and it doesn't make sense in my head considering the huge change Laura not being President would be.
Part 1 of 3
The End
Colonel Laura Estella Roslin woke slowly to the gentle hum of Pegasus as the electricity in the walls rose to life around her. Smiling gently, she opened her eyes to the sight of her well-lived quarters; books she needed to send off to Bill stacked on her coffee table; a bottle of Ambrosia Saul had just given her for her birthday on her kitchenette's counter; her dress greys already prepared for her on her desk chair.
She groaned. It was an ungodly hour to be up regardless of how pleasantly she woke to it. But she had asked long ago to be allowed to attend Galactica's de-commissioning ceremony and she wasn't about to ditch on her best friends. Saul wouldn't let her live it down if she didn't show because she was tired. As for Bill, this was his day too.
Groaning, she threw her legs off her rack and pulled herself up to a standing position. Moving slowly, she wandered into the head and showered. The warmth of the water woke her up and eased her muscles so that when she exited (in a fluffy pink towel, status be damned.) she was less soldier and more Laura.
She eyed her dress greys over a cup of coffee with less distaste than her friends would, but still not looking forward to dealing with the public. After her young days as a pilot, she'd begun work for Adar's Quorum run as PR manager. She'd been good at it, and even helped him in his successful run for President, but quickly resigned as Secretary of Defense after their personal involvement became a way for him to try and control her.
She'd given up on it and decided she had the ability to retire from public life in her thirties. But she'd soon found herself watching those around her explore life in a way being retired didn't allow. Bill's marriage to Carolanne had been the hardest. Not only was Laura certain the woman was no good for Bill (as she had felt about Ellen for Saul), but she had also wished she had given time to that sort of thing. Her days had become restless; her novel soon lost it's appeal even though she was proud of it; Saul and Bill were reunited after years of separation on some freighter and told her numerous times that they missed her.
And then, one day, two marines knocked at her door and told her that Major Adama had recommended her to the recommissioning board and she would return to service as a Lieutenant on the Valkyrie.. She could remember running up to a beaming Bill and Saul aboard the vessel and throwing herself into their embrace. Quickly the three showed themselves up to task and then she was chosen by Admiral Cain to be XO of Pegasus, while Bill became Commander of Galactica; Saul went with him, as his XO.
So here she was, years later, wearing the dress greys of a Colonel, off to see her oldest friend finally lay down his burdens. Well, most of them. She knew she'd meet Lee there.
The last time she saw the boy...
"IT WAS YOUR FAULT!" Lee raged, pushing past Saul to strike at his father. Kara ran to stand between them, but Laura beat her to it.
The young man immediately pulled his punch, only swatting at her stomach. His eyes grew wide and he stumbled back, looking her over to see if he had done her harm with a sudden gentleness. She'd been around him for years, often visiting or coming over to feed him and Zak when Carolanne was too drunk or out with friends for days when they were boys. They'd come to love each other as deeply as any blood relations.
"Stel.." He said, using the nickname Zak himself had picked for her, "Stel I didn't.."
"Yes, you did actually." She replied softly, her eyes shimmering with tears as the Adamas tore themselves apart.
"You're blaming Bill when Zak had a mind of his own. And you're breaking my heart while you do it."
Lee recoiled as if she'd struck him, but his eyes returned to send a smoldering glare at his father," A man isn't a man until he wears the wings of a Viper pilot." He spat. Ignoring the painful moan his father let out at the words, Leland Adama marched out of the cemetery and out of lives of those who remained.
That had been two years ago. Her heart constricted at the memory of Zak's body in that casket, the little boy she'd read to and coddled and loved like her own so unrecognizable that there was no option of looking at his face one last time.
Laura shook her head, dispelling the memory. No time to dwell on regrets, at least not this day.
She was late. First the gymbol on the Raptor she was to take was found to be faulty, then Major Moore's Viper blew a fuse and burned the knuckle dragger who was bringing a replacement. Then she had to file a report about it and order three deckhands and Major Moore to Life Station. Even with the advanced jump capabilities of the new Raptors, which narrowed her flight time down to an hour from Pegasus to Galactica, she was going to only show for Bill's party after the ceremony. Saul was going to give her a ration of crap for this...
"I'm going to get their collective asses for this." She grumbled, marching towards the repaired raptor and the mess that was the deck. Throwing her bag into the open Raptor, Laura saluted Lt. Forman, aka "Iceblock", and took a step up the ramp. Finally. She took a step, then another, and then settled herself in the copilot's seat.
And then the world went to hell.
An explosion on the Port side threw Laura into Iceblock, and both women crashed into the side of the Raptor as the force of it knocked the ship on it's side. Several more blasts shook Laura's teeth as she attempted to get off of Iceblock and get out. The pair scrambled out of the Raptor and into a greater mess. The explosion had almost breached the hull.
"Airlock! What now?!" Shouted Iceblock frantically. Laura's mind went seventeen different directions, flight maneuvers, the docking station's blueprints, Bill,Saul,the distance to CIC,Bill,how fast they could launch Vipers,Bill...
"XO? XO...AIRLOCK!"
Laura blinked and focused on the panic in Iceblock's eyes, forcing herself to narrow her world down to the solid steel beneath her feet. No time for regrets, no time for worries.
"Get to your viper! Tell the deck chief to get the squadron ready for the Admiral's orders. MOVE!" She shouted back to Iceblock, hurtling herself onto the deck and running in her heels (WHY the hell did the Fleet provide HEELS to female officers?) as fast as she could down the halls of Pegasus.
As she ran, her worries returned in full force. How far was Galactica from a colonized planet? Five, maybe six hours? How close was Caprica? Were Kara and Lee still there? Did they have any defenses?
No, her mind provided. Galactica's weapons and ammo had long since been sent to Ragnar Anchorage's Depot. They had nothing except the Viper's that she'd flown as a young woman trailing after her childhood friend into war. Oh gods, hear my prayer. Save them, please save them.
"Admiral Cain!" Laura cried, breathless as she skidded to a stop in CIC. The Admiral was already shouting orders and releasing the fighters Laura had ordered the deck crew to prepare.
"Col. Roslin." Cain said, beckoning her forward until Laura stood side by side, eyeing the Dradis.
"Helena.." She whispered," what hit us?"
Cain turned to her sharply, "Cylons. A fleet of Cylons."
Laura's breath caught. Forty years and suddenly her worst nightmare was blowing up around her. As CIC buzzed with movement, seeking escape, Laura threw herself into supporting her CO with every order barked and prayed that something would remain when the smoke cleared.
