Sorry the update took so long, but I had to make this pivotal chapter sound right. I also just got to college, so further updates may be somewhat sketchy. I am NOT however, abandoning this story.
As always, reviews and constructive criticism are welcome. Thanks all to those who have previously reviewed and posted. Your kind words and suggestions are always appreciated.
Chapter 11: Stand Up and Be Counted
"More than two hundred years ago, in the closing months of the Second Colonial War, elements of the second and fifth Caprica-Arillon Infantry regiments liberated a Gemenese Biological Testing Facility, a site where civilian 'Undesirables,' mainly atheists and 'deviants' and residing citizens of other colonies were experimented on by the facility scientists, and worked to death in the fabrication plants near the labs.
The soldiers of the regiment immediately began summarily executing guards and scientists alike, until Lance Cpl. Decius Shaw, a young farmer from Arillon appealed to his fellow soldiers over the Facility intercom to cease their cold-blooded killing, and try the accused for War Crimes. His exact words have been lost from time, but one line has been remembered by every soldier present, recorded here;
'If we hate our enemies, and then behave like them, torturing and killin' them in cold blood, we become our own worst enemy. And there's no going back.'
The surviving guards and scientists were tried at the Scorpio War Tribunal, most sentenced to solitary confinement for life. The rest were executed for Crimes against Humanity.
The Biological Testing Facility remains standing to this day, and has been maintained as a War Memorial in the now-bucolic Gemenese countryside.
Shaw was later elected by popular vote to the position of Arillon Prime Minister..."
-Excerptfrom; Bloody Hands: An Accounting of Human Evil, and Those Who Ended It, By Mira Soren. Required reading in most Colonial Universities.
BIRNHAM QUADRANT
RAG-TAG FLEET
After the Reaver vessel had been destroyed, and the Adriatic had jumped away, Admiral Adama had put the fleet on high alert, and ordered a military conference with Lee and President Roslin aboard Galactica.
Although he could have allowed someone else to fly him over to "the Bucket," after leaving now-Lieutenant Hoshi in command or even taken a Raptor, Lee insisted on taking his personal Viper for the short flight. It was the same one he flew to Galactica before the attacks. Chief Laird had kept it in tiptop shape, and Lee needed to keep in practice.
Besides, he loved to fly.
It gave him time to think about all sorts of things including the crew of his ship, the tactical situation, even Laird, who was competent on a professional level, but the loss-say it, Lee, Murder, of the man's entire family by the people on same vessel he was pressed onto, had to be taking its toll. Lee resolved to watch him carefully.
The discovery of other humans, which resulted immediately in another war, (albeit through Cylon tampering,) reminded him of the Scroll of Pythia, in which the dying prophet leads her people to the Promised Land, only to be denied entry herself.
The whole fleet feels like Pythia now, not just Roslin, and she was cured. Lee mused.
But if the Cylons made it here before us, then why not conquer all? They have superior FTL, and can sustain a higher loss rate.
So, why weren't we greeted by an entire fleet of Basestars right after we arrived?
His reverie was interrupted by Capt. Kelly in the Galactica's landing bay control room,
"Viper Four-Five-Zero en route to Galactica, you are requested to make a small detour to allow us to replenish the water of the Gemenon Traveler, Please come port five degrees."
A small detour. Small. Lee thought, as he made the course correction.
That was it! The Cylons in this 'Verse, as Mal had called it, must only be a small group, catapulted here by whatever had sent the remaining Colonials.
"Green light for hands-on approach, Apollo, you are cleared to approach," said Kelly,
"Roger that,"
"Checkers are green, call the ball…"
GALACTICA BRIEFING ROOM
TEN MINUTES LATER
Bill Adama and Roslin sat and listened to the conclusions Lee had made on the flight over.
"So," Lee was saying,
"That was why they had had to take over secret. They probably only had a Heavy Raider's-worth of people. Only holds around ten Centurions or twenty skinjobs. Moving into the Alliance Government clandestinely was the only way to gain control. They simply didn't have the resources to conquer the 'Verse right off."
Roslin raised her hand to pause him,
"We can also assume that the group Demand Peace has taken Vice President Baltar to attempt to meet with the Cylons in the Alliance government, which leads me to believe that the Demand Peace group may be controlled by Cylons as well.
It also poses the question of precisely when they got here; if they did orchestrate the Unification War to take overall control of, and weaken humanity, when did they start moving in? Unification War was twelve years ago."
"We don't know that," said Bill, "but I know someone who may. Come with me."
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA BRIG
The three leaders of the fleet and the Marines guarding them looked intro the cell and observed its single occupant, The Cylon Sharon Valerii, was talking on the cell's phone link to the man who still loved her, and was spending all of his off-duty time in that cell.
As Sharon saw the Adamas and Roslin, her face fell, and when Helo turned to see what was the matter, his face hardened. He rose.
"Last time you just took blood. Are you here for the whole child this time, Sir?"
Bill looked him in the eye.
"Stand at ease, Lieutenant. I'm just here to talk to i-…her. I'll allow you to come in and visit when I'm done me."
He nodded at the Marine guarding the door.
"Open it."
The door swung open, and the older man entered. Sharon rose, stood to attention, and saluted.
Adama was halfway to returning it before he realized;
She's not in the military. This one never has been. Not for real.
His hand returned to his side as he looked her in the eye, searching for a glint of mischief, like Kara got when she was being sarcastic.
Only while off duty, of course. Except when she wasn't.
He didn't find one, she just looked earnest. But a small grin snuck onto his face, and was just as quickly banished to the back of his mind.
"Sir?" she asked.
"Sit down. You're not in the military."
"You're still the Old Man."
Sharon sat down on her cot.
Adama settled in the chair that had been bolted to the floor across from it. He leaned forward;
"I need the answer to one question, and than I'd like to talk. About your past and your foreseeable future."
She nodded; "Ask away, sir."
"Within the past fifteen years, did any Cylons go missing at or near these co-ordinates?"
He handed her a piece of paper with the nebula's location.
She stared at the paper, and then off into space, as if trying to see through the bulkhead. Then she nodded.
"Thirteen years ago, a force of three Heavy raiders was lost investigating some strange energy spikes near the end of the mon-Oh. They were sent her like we were."
"And they've taken over the local government." He said. Then Bill Adama gave an internal shrug. Now was the time.
"I have some things I'd like to say. I ask you to wait until I am finished to respond to anything."
Valerii's eyes widened, fearful, but there was hope in there. Good.
"All right."
"After aiding Capt. Thrace and Lt. Agathon in surviving on Caprica, you voluntarily surrendered to Colonial Forces. You aided in the discovery of the Tomb of Athena, and have provided vital information ensuring the survival of this fleet. You single-handedly disabled a cylon attack fleet.
If you were a human, civilian or military, you would have been awarded a decoration for valor.
However, the fact remains. You are a Cylon. You aided in the attempted Genocide of our people, and the experimentation on a Colonial officer-"
"I didn't ask to be-" Sharon interrupted.
"-that is reality. It is also a fact that, during Admiral Cain's time in command, and despite your loyal service and aid to us, you were forcefully interrogated and nearly raped by an officer of the Colonial Fleet. That action was unconscionable, unacceptable, and morally bankrupt. I wish to extend my sincerest apologies."
He extended his hand to her.
"Go ahead."
"It wasn't your fault, sir. Cain was in command, and you didn't...know"
"I should have."
She nodded.
As a Cylon, a machine, you have no legal status. Neither you, nor your child has any protection from government intervention,"
He glanced at Roslin, who was listening to a mike feed, and looking puzzled.
"You have shown you are worthy of my trust many times over. We have-I have taken information and time from you, and given nothing in return. That's about to change."
Roslin was looking very confused now.
"I'm going to offer you a position as a Lieutenant in the Colonial Fleet, an assignment that carries with it guaranteed citizenship and legal protection in the Colony of your choice. And full citizenship in said Colony for any offspring."
He saw Laura's mouth drop open, ignored it. Saw Sharon start to cry.
"I'll do it" she said through tears.
"Come with me."
He looked at the Marines outside.
"Open it"
They left the brig, and made their way down the corridors to the CIC, Sharon for the first time being unfettered and unescorted.
When they entered the large room, he turned to Sharon, and she stood at attention.
The bridge crew looked at them in amazement
"Raise your right hand and repeat after me."I, Sharon Valerii …"
"I, Sharon Valerii"
"Do now pledge my faith and my loyalty..." said Adama,
"Do now pledge my faith and my loyalty..."
"To the protection of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol." He stopped, took a breath,
"To the protection of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol." Replied Sharon.
"And will carry out the lawful orders of my superiors..."
And will carry out the lawful orders of my superiors...
"As an officer... "
"As an officer..."
"In the Colonial Fleet."
"In the Colonial Fleet."
As Sharon finished, Bill Adama reached into his pocket and removed a small jewelry box, handing it to her.
She opened it; saw it contained a lieutenant's insignia and a set of pilot's wings. It also contains a set of enlistment documents, folded into the box.
Adama handed her a pen, and she signed the bottom of the page.
"Welcome to the fleet, Lieutenant Valerii."
"Until your child is born, you will be on maternity leave, and afterwards, return to duty as a raptor pilot."
Roslin glared at him and jerked her head to the side, a come here now!
If he ever saw one.
Bill nodded at Helo, and the lanky ECO embraced the woman he loved.
Laura took Adama aside, away from Lee and the Marines, to a deserted corner of the CIC.
"What the hell are you thinking?"
She hissed
"I'm thinking she's loyal to us," he responded calmly,
"Has provided us with good information and will continue to do so. It's enough. We've done enough to her. You have done enough to her"
"You can't do this Bill."
"Actually, Laura, I can. It's a military decision. As an Admiral on detached service during a time of war, I can grant Field Commissions."
"But the child-"
"Let me put this as simply as I can, Laura; that child stays with its mother. Where he or she belongs. You do not study or monitor them further. Stay the frak out of my back yard."
"I hope you can be as contrite if this one shoots you as well. You're making a mistake."
She said, conceding but not content to leave him with the last word.
"Well, then it'll be my mistake. I won't let humanity become its own worst enemy."
Adama turned back to the couple.
Lee watched at a distance, and listened to his father.
"Lt. Agathon, Lt. Valerii, please rise."
They rose, separated and stood at attention.
"At ease. Someone once said commanding a Battlestar is a demanding job,"
Lee smiled, as his father continued;
"That may be true, but it is also not without its perks. One of those being the authority to join two souls in Sacred Union, if they so chose. And while marriage in the service is highly unusual, these are unusual times, and you have both shown the ability and responsibility to carry out your duties first. Do you wish to be joined in matrimony?"
He looked at Sharon and Helo, who glanced at each other, and nodded simultaneously.
He continued;
"Lieutenant Karl C. Agathon, Lieutenant Sharon Valerii, do you swear to love, honor and protect each other as long as you both shall live?" He glanced at Sharon first.
"I do." She said
Then Helo.
"I do."
"Then by the authority vested in me by the Colonial Fleet Command, and as Commander of the BattlestarGalactica, I pronounce you husband and wife. I wish you peace and long life."
Adama looked at Helo;
"You may kiss the bride, Lieutenant"
Helo smiled. "Yes sir."
Helo and Sharon kissed in the middle of the CIC.
Lee looked around the room, his gaze lighting on P.O. Dualla. Their eyes met, and then he looked away. They had tried another date after the Abinell crisis and Billy's death, but something had never felt 'right' between them, like they were just together out of circumstance, or need for human contact, and, after talking about it, with Dee providing her trademark honesty, they had decided to end it.
Whatever 'it' was, thought Lee, giving himself an internal shake.
As if I was ever meant to be happy with someone.
Adama turned to Tigh.
"Find the Agathons some larger quarters."
Tigh nodded, and turned to his old friend. "I've said it before," he rasped, "and I'll say it again; you are one surprising sonafabitch."
"Thank you." Bill said.
"How do you know you can trust her?" Tigh asked, eyebrow raised.
"I don't." Said Bill, "That's what trust is."
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CIC
Adama, Tigh, Lee and Roslin were clustered around a console containing a printed map of the Birnham Quadrant. Laura was still inwardly seething;
How dare he judge me? She thought, and then remembered his final words; I won't let humanity become its own worst enemy.
Well, frak me, she thought. Bill Adama an intellectual?
She still saw Leoben spiraling out into space on some nights, even as the faces of the human dead, her friends and family grew fainter. How would she be remembered? As Madam Airlock? Or the woman who led her people to safety? Her mind wrestled with the question as she turned back to the discussion.
Adama was speaking;
"The Alliance has tracked us so far, so we can't stay here. We're almost full up on Fuel, raw materials and water."
Lee pointed to a system on the map;
"How about here? It's isolated, and we can make it in two jumps."
Roslin looked at the map, and saw his finger on stellar co-ordinates labeled: Miranda.
She closed her eyes to blink, and saw an empty city, dust gathering on the windowpanes, and not a soul in sight.
"Miranda." Said Tigh. "The direction that Reaver ship came from? Are you off your rocker-Sir?"
Lee smiled. "Maybe. Or maybe common knowledge places the Reavers at a point here-"
He gestured at a point between Miranda and the rest of the sector,
"Where they base their incursions. We can jump past that, and put the Reavers between the Alliance fleet and us."
"Good thinking," said Adama. "Saul, get a-"
He stopped as he saw Laura clutching the map table, as if to keep from falling over.
"Are you all right, Madam President?" he asked.
She nodded. "I am now. I saw something-a vision. An empty city. Completely empty but there was something decayed there. Decayed and evil. We should use caution when we recon."
"Jump in close to the atmosphere," said Lee. "We're going to need a good pilot."
Adama turned to Tigh again. "Get Captain Thrace and Gunny Matthias' team to the briefing room."
He picked up the intercom phone;
"Hangar deck, Nylan speaking"
"This is Galactica Actual," rumbled Adama. "Prep a Raptor for launch."
"Yessir"
