Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Lee had no frakking idea what to do.
The team hadn't stopped for ten hours now, not to rest, eat or shit. The only relief they had were the moments they thought they heard something, had to stop and drop. Something that was in fact much more stressful; your heart instantly in your throat and your balls into your stomach. This reaction was something he hadn't experienced since his first missions into the Aeralon Jungle, looking for transport raiders.
It wasn't a comfortable feeling.
They had yet to see who in Hades name had hit them, but their presence in explosions and random gunfire was carried in the wind. That was what bothered Lee the most: he had no clue who was attacking.
Saggitaron separatists didn't have the nukes - the Colonial security bureau had spent millions making sure that didn't happen – so maybe another colony. But Intelligence said that none of the others had the attitude for it. Even if they did, the number of 'blooms' on the horizon indicated surprise on a massive scale. He doubted another colony could have hit so many targets all at once.
That left only one other possibility, and it would take a bottle of ambrosia before he started to think about that.
The nukes had stopped going off an hour ago, making it the longest day of his life. Never mind the soul crushing fact that civilization as he knew it was ending, but the uncertainty of not knowing if the next nuke would be close enough to vaporize them was enough tension to set everyone on edge. But after the dull roar had died down, the sounds of explosions and gunfire had carried up from the east.
Which was why they were heading north. Whoever the enemy was, they were well armed and well informed. The colonial security base where the Cerebus run was supposed to end was emitting a slow beep over the radio waves indicating that the base had been compromised. Which meant that the enemy knew the location of the base. Knowledge that as far as Lee knew, was held by only ten people outside each squad. If it was compromised, the enemy had the ability to cripple the whole of the worlds. Essentially, the twelve colonies were frakked. And he wasn't in the business of putting his team in a frakked situation just to die.
Re-supply at the forest ranger station, establish forward base, assess the situation; that was the best plan Lee could come up with, and right now it was the only thing making his shell shocked team move. The numb looks on their faces were enough to shake Lee to the core. They had been to every colony, every climate. Seen atrocities and injustices that civvies couldn't even imagine -- but this was something that even they couldn't walk away from with composure.
They had made good time getting through the North Caprican forest reserve just above Delphi and between the Northern and western mountain range. The thick trees and underbrush made stealth near impossible, but it also made it easy to spot any incoming foot traffic, as testified by the sound of crashing underbrush and human voices drifting in the wind. With efficiency that was telling of years in extreme training, the five soldiers melted into the foliage, training their rifles on the incoming sounds.
They watched as the newcomers approached. As far as Lee could see, thirty two men women and children were making their way down the valley. There was some kind of rough formation in their grouping, with twenty people moving in a V, eight people enclosed, and two bringing up the rear. From the inside grouping he could see two families, a man and two little girls, and beside him a man and women with three kids, two boys and girl who looked like a toddler, young enough that she was being carried piggy back by the man. The people holding the V formation were all fairly athletic and moved with some kind of sync, each carrying some kind of small arms, all leisure weaponry.
Lee knew he had to make a choice immediately: let them pass without letting them know the squad was there, or make themselves known. The newcomers were probably going to be picked off when they reached Delphi. But if his team took them to the outpost, it would slow them down and probably leave a trail big enough for anyone to find.
A part of him wanted to take what he could and quickly neutralize them just to make sure the enemy wouldn't be able to get a bead on their location or pick up their trail; this kind of scenario had been one of the earliest contingencies he'd trained for. But as the point of no return closed Lee couldn't help eye the children and wonder if he had it in him. The little girl laying her head on her fathers back as he carried her, sucking her thumb, had blond hair and a cherub face.
Warm light shining through golden strands.
In that moment Lee knew he had only one option. Glancing to his right he caught Achilla's look from three meters away. Giving a nod, she signaled to the others to lower their weapons but keep at the ready. The squad had been moving nine feet apart in a circle, a standard formation to avoid being vulnerable to mortar fire. As fate would have it the group of civvies was moving right down the middle. It meant a high risk of discovery, but if luck was on their side it would give Lee's team the advantage in case anything went badly.
"...we'll be able find any food in Delphi if it's nuked to shit."
The newcomers lack of stealth made their lack of professionalism evident; Lee's team hadn't even spoken since they had broken camp. Whoever this group was, they weren't military.
"You saw same as I did," one of the men was saying. "None of the nukes hit Delphi. If we can find some supplies and a place to bunk down, then we can figure out our next move."
Later Lee would kick himself for having the same plan, but for that moment he was focused on their movement, one of the hind points of their sloppy formation was almost on top of Dion's position. Luckily his drop had put him being a tree with a low bush snug against it, letting the oblivious flank guard pass by without noticing.
The same speaker added "Let's just hope none of those tin cans find us before we get there."
Right about the time the meat of the group reached the center of the circle, Lee let out a melodic whistle causing them to immediately panic and close the V into a circle, enclosing the two families inside.
"WHO'S THERE! Come out where I can see you."
Getting them to stop done, Lee slid up with his back to the tree he had positioned himself behind, and nearly rolled his eyes. "All right, I'm coming out."
Lee was used to volatile situations and came out slowly and relaxed, his rifle hung off the strap across his front, barrel to the ground, but his right hand never left the grip. His trigger finger was straight along the stalk, but very obviously a moment away from squeezing off a few rounds. He hoped he wasn't going to get a bullet in his ass for his trouble cause of a jittery civvie.
The man on point seemed to be the leader if there was one. He was about 6'1", dark brown hair, probably outweighing Lee by fifty pounds, wearing an athletic shirt with a vest and fatigue pants. He had noticed that the other twenty two people acting as a guard of some sort were similarly dressed.
They all seemed to relax a bit when they saw him, obviously the sight of a man in military attire was somewhat comforting. Lee's appreciation was notched up a bit when he saw that the man had lowered his gun, but still looked wary.
Lee didn't show that he had noticed and leisurely walked forward extending his right hand, which seemed to ease their minds even more.
"Major Lee Adama, Interplanetary Colonial Security."
The man grasped his hand firmly.
"Sam Anders, Captain of the C-Bucks."
The light clicked in Lee's memory: the Caprican Buccaneers, a professional pyramid team. It explained a lot about how they worked. In his periphery he could see the dark splotch that was Callisto, guarding his own flank.
Lee wasted no time.
"Mind telling me how you guys got out here?"
He could tell Anders wasn't used to his tone, but the military fatigues went a long way in demanding obedience.
"My team were up in the mountains for high altitude training when the bombs went off, we started heading to Delphi to see if we could figure out what the hell was happening, came across a small town that was being attacked and managed to get some guns and a few people out. Figured we'd find supplies in Delphi, maybe somewhere to bunk down and decide what to do next."
Lee had to contain his frustration; it was probably the vaguest report of events with little to no pertinent info. He was gritting his teeth asking a civilian this question, but his team needed the info.
"Any eyes on who was attacking the town?"
The balding man huddling the two girls, most likely his daughters, decided to speak up.
"They were Cylons! They killed everyone, everyone I knew. My friends..."
"Is that true?"
Lee demanded quickly. He could tell he wasn't making many friends by the reaction to the clear dismissal. As far as he was concerned there wasn't time to sift through everyone's story. The look Anders gave him clearly showed disdain but he answered just the same.
"Yeah, it's true,"
Anders confirmed.
"We saw silver robots sweeping through town; pretty sure they were Cylons. We're lucky to be alive. You mind telling me what exactly you're doing here all by yourself, Major Adama?"
He didn't respond for a beat, wanting that bottle of ambrosia. Figuring that the pretense was over and it was finally time to be merciful he let them off the hook.
"Who says I'm alone?"
The whistle he let out pierced the air, and the rest of his squad came out into view. The group in front of him was startled and off balance but fortunately none of them raised their weapons. The look Anders gave Lee was an interesting mix of frustration, betrayal and relief at the fact there was more than one soldier around. Lee's face, which had been impassive and blank during the whole exchange, sagged a bit and became weary. The decision he just came to sucking the energy out of him.
"How about we rest here for a bit and see if my medic can help any of you out some."
For a moment the refugees just looked at the major in amazement, which caused Lee to inwardly smile. A little part of him took some kind of enjoyment from upsetting people's expectations. He could tell Anders was thinking it over, deciding which way to go, but in the end agreed he with a nod.
Lee immediately turned to his Squad.
"Alright we rest here for thirty. Callisto, check them out, patch 'em up, make them mobile. Achilla, breakout some of our reserve MRE's and pass them out. Dion, Nestor, set up a perimeter, let me know if anything twitches."
And just like that his team went their separate ways. Turning back to Anders, who was looking at him with a hint of astonishment, Lee tilted his head, indicating that Anders follow him toward a cluster of trees out of earshot of the now sitting civvies. Once there he spoke in a clear voice, losing the obtuse tone that had pervaded it earlier.
"My squad and I were up in the mountains for what we call "Cerebus run." Basically a training run to test our survival skills. When the nukes went off we lost contact with our superiors. We were able to get the indicator beacon on the radio telling us our base of operations was compromised. We're heading west to a Forrest Ranger outpost that Dion knows about."
Anders was looking at him with his arms crossed in front of him. Clearly more receptive to the tone he was getting but not liking what he was hearing.
"Wait, why are you heading there? Why don't you just go find another base, find what's left of the military, the government? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"
Lee ignored the indignant and accusatory tone, and instead tried to press the situation. Normally he would be the most tight lipped person on the planet about what went on in his squad. But things were far from normal, and he had to make sure Anders was being realistic about the situation.
"Listen: technically me and my team don't exist. There are only one hundred people who have high enough clearance to know anything about the operations we are involved in. Only ten outside of my squad know where our base of operations is located. One of those people is the President of the Colonies. Now if it's the Cylons who attacked us, then they have access into the highest level of the Colonies government."
He could see the C-buck was starting to understand and made sure to hit home as hard as he could.
"If they were able to destroy our base, that means they can hit every military base anywhere in the Twelve Colonies. And by the light show I saw a few hours ago, it looks like they have!"
Anders slumped in defeat, the realization that if there was a war going on, they had already lost. Lee went with him, allowing himself to finally accept the same fact that had weighed down the athlete's shoulders. "I'd suggest you come with us, be safer than anywhere else."
The athlete's eyes had drifted down to the moss covered ground. The light from the morning sun shined down, sparkling the dew that had collected between the green fronds.
"What's your plan?"
"The outpost is going to be stocked with a few weeks worth of food and ammunition. From there we set up a forward base and see what we can find out about who the hell nuked our planet."
Anders' eyes drifted back to Lee's face.
"You don't believe it was the Cylons?"
Lee leaned against the tree behind him, allowing himself a small amount of rest.
"A bunch of walking toasters shouldn't be able to infiltrate Interplanetary Colonial Security. It just doesn't make sense."
The C-buck seemed to pull what was left of his will off the floor and moved to settle two feet from the reclining major.
"Well, Major, unless you know of someone else who uses silver robots as foot soldiers, I'm thinking its Cylons."
Without explanation Anders untangled his crossed arms and extended his open hand. Lee gave him a quizzical look.
"Swear to me you won't just bail on us. Swear you'll protect them."
He bristled under the demand, but managed to show nothing.
"What makes you think I'll keep my word."
"I don't."
A moment passed, and everything that Lee's father had taught him about being a man flittered through his head. As much as he disliked his father, he couldn't help but shake the tall athlete's hand. He wouldn't go back on his word. Anders nodded and walked passed him to the huddled group to explain the change in plans.
Lee was left with a moment to himself and looked up. The wind rustled through the trees, causing the light shining on his face to flicker. The pulse of the sun warming his face against the cool morning air. Closing his eyes, he settled in himself, remembering a time when the sun had felt just as warm.
Waking up, the warm sun screened through golden bangs, shining off the bob top cropped hair. The sleep smile the lips made. The tiny hairs on the collarbone lighting up under the light. The warmth of the skin against his chest.
Opening his eyes, and looking at the rest of the group, Lee moved forward. There was still a lot of ground left to cover.
AN: A second chapter yay! Thanks again to my betas
