One Week later
Confederación Sudamericana Earthforce Cemetary
Morón Military Space Port
Morón, Buenos Aires province, Argentina.
With all the protocolar services concluded, now Captain Sheridan decided to walk away from the stage, while the Earthforce Fleet officers exchange salutations and greetings. Spanish and English conversations filled his ears, while his eyes looked for his wife. Suddenly, the peaceful but strong presence of Commander Adama of the Colonial Fleet was in front of him.
-Captain Sheridan- said after a sharp salute.
-Commander Adama, nice to see you, sir.
-Mixed emotions fill you, the sadness of losing your comrades, and the joy of getting recognition for your actions. At least that was in my case after the Cylon War-say with a smirk.
-I think not having Captain Sterns around here is something I won't be able to get used to, sir. I feel a little guilty about being promoted just because he is dead.
-Don't. If he had survived, he would recommend your promotion anyway sooner or later. His death in battle is not your fault, those are the rules of war. Do they give you the command of the Lexington?
-Thank you, sir. And yes, but only until the first new destroyer class ship is ready. I heard they planned to call them the Warlock Advanced Destroyer, do you know something about it, sir?
-Let's say some old friends in Aquaria and Picon mentioned something between Ambrosia cups. And also something about a new Battlestar. But no matter what fancy laser weapon they put on them, my old ship would be my only love.
-I don't think I will forget the lady Lex in the foreseeable future either, sir.
-I hope to see you again in your new ship, Captain-said, with a salute-It has been an honor.
-The honor was mine, sir.
Finally, his wife and his father appeared in the crowd.
-Congratulations, captain!-said his father with a hug.
-Thanks, dad!
-Congrats my love-she said, whispered-I have a present for you tonight-and give him a short kiss.
-So, you will take command of the Lexington?
-Yes, but for now Lex will be in the drydock for three months at least. So I'll be grounded most of the time.
-That's good to hear-said Anna. -I have no new missions with IPX at least until the Kobol survey is completed.
-I thought they would take you there
-Not yet, the first survey will be a joint military expedition only. The Colonials insisted.
-Any idea of why, dad?
-I think it's because of their religion, but officially they have concerns about the Cylons.
-They haven't attacked since our confrontation. But I don't think they were eliminated.
-No, I don't think that either.
Captain Adama walked straight to his father right after Sheridan leave him. The trees near the INAC -CIATA building (what in the gods' name were those acronyms for anyway) give them some shadow, the sun reminds him of Tauron in spring, but here on Earth was summer. The smell of the barbecue was calli g everyone and he wanted to share with his father the Earth cuisine.
-Son
-I think the barbecue is almost ready.
-Let's go there, before the locals eat everything, for frak sake!
-You know, though I will finally come to Earth. But I'm a little disappointed
-It's not what you expected?
-Well, it... you know, it is not very... impressive.
-Don't let the surroundings fool you, captain. This is just a military facility near a suburban area. Not precisely a tourist attraction. But if you're interested I have been invited to different places. The regional capital is called Buenos Aires. Some place called Bariloche in the mountains. Or if you prefer beaches there is a called Punta del Este.
-Maybe.
After a few minutes, they arrive at the barbecue, and both were guided to a table where the Colonial delegation was sitting. Several tents were placed to add shadow, a soft wind give them some coolness, and the smell of the fire and the meat made everyone fill their mouths with saliva.
President Adar stood up to shake Adama's hand, and his son's after being introduced. After they took a sit right in front of him, a waiter came and fill their glasses with wine. Several types of bread and tables with cheese and jams were there, and the Colonial delegation enjoyed themselves tasting them.
-Do you like it, Commander?-asked Adar after Adama tasted the red wine.
-Too soft for my taste, sir.
-Yes, I thought the same. Aerilon wines are far better, but we don't want to offend our hosts, right?
-Absolutely, sir.
-Their cheese, on the other hand, it's excellent. And everyone I meet speaks volumes of the meat, for the Lords' sake!
-Yes, and I had several invitations for the beaches.
-Ha! I have been to... some city called Rio... Rio de Janeiro or something! I had to avoid it because my wife would kill me if I go to an Earther beach again!
-Why so, sir?
-You have no idea how small the women's beach clothes are here, Commander.
Adama smiled, but his son started to go red at the idea.
-Don't worry, Captain, you are single and you will be able to enjoy the view a lot more than I- he said, and everyone started to laugh.
After some words from the Earth's Defense Secretary, and a small prayer from the chaplain of the Base, everyone started to eat. Several waitresses served, and the President decided to ask Adama.
-The performance of the Galactica was outstanding, Commander. And we have more than enough data to complete the upgrade of the entire fleet in the next three months.
-Thank you, sir. My crew was as professional and dedicated as I expected, and more.
-Please give them my congratulations, Comma der. But I think your expertise should have, how can I say, higher responsibilities. Before you say something, I'm aware of how the Fleet rewards you after carrying on the orders others would not have the guts to o ey. So, I think you should be promoted. If you agree, of course, I have a task for you.
-Thank you, sir. I'm... grateful.
-Tell that face! Don't worry, refuse if you want to, you have served the Colonies long enough to earn a peaceful retirement. But we are creating an entire fleet to expand our borders and look for the toasters at the same time. We will work with the Earthers and the Minbari, something we have all seen is how green our forces are. We need to change that.
-I think I should think about it, sir.
The Colony
Uncharted system, 70 lightyears forward from Armistice station
The probes launched to the fourth planet on this system showing a barren planet, with almost no life except for some fungus and bacteria, and some primitive insect-like fauna. The planet's surface was covered by large craters, and dozens of falls across them, some filled with water, others turned into rifts and chasms dozens of kilometers deep. Two great seas where all that remains of ancient oceans, and hundreds of deposits of rare minerals like iridium, uranium, etc. produced a strange impression on the Cylons. The red giant that ruled this system created a huge distortion in the so-called hyperspace, according to the maps and charts recovered by them from Human and Minbari databases. Whilst their computers and nets were far beyond the ability of the Cylons to hack, just looking into some parts of it was not so difficult.
after a deep survey of the system and its surroundings, they concluded it was abandoned. Whatever disaster occur on this planet, the crust was pierced and cracked causing anything on the surface to be destroyed, and no one else of the known spacefaring races ever visited since, t least as far as they could see.
There were two big asteroid fields full of minerals and dense enough to keep the Colony and the remaining Basestars out of sight, and the barren work would discourage anyone from coming down and settling. Underground bases could be built, once the stability of the tectonic plates was checked.
The Cylon would build their civilization from scratch, beyond the reach of its enemies.
PSI Corps Secret Facility
Siria Planum
Mars
Alfred Bester was reading the reporting in the office, according to the scientists, with the expertise of the One models four strings of telepaths, two males and two females, all P12 level, we're ready to start cloning. However, to avoid the inherent risks of massive cloning in the subjects' DNA, each clone was altered to create some diversity in the gene pool. Hair, skin color, height, etc. were slightly altered. The Corps decided to create the first batch of 40 individuals, 10 of each string, and after their maturing, they will be married to create more powerful telepaths. Then, of this offspring, they would take more samples to clone the second line, and so on and so forth. If the process were successful, in each step the numbers would be increased.
The other project was the creation of hybrids, and used them s CPUs in their Motherships, and eventually, in Capital ships. Soon, the Corps would be able to have it is own Earthforce.
Geminon
Undisclosed location
Bellow the huge mountain, a small bunker craved in the rock, hidden at the end of an old iron ore mine, became the conference room for several men. Without ever mentioning a single name, twelve men took to sit at the oval table.
-The numbers don't lie. Since the Earth Alliance and the Twelve Colonies sign the accord, more than 7 million of our citizens apply for citizenship in the earth Alliance. 2,5 million of them asked for asylum, claiming to be under religious persecution.
-And how many earthers applied for coming with us?
-Less than 300000...
-That's absurd! Their planet is overly populated, and half of their colonies are on planets not suitable for humans!
-Maybe, but it is what we wanted. We just don't expect the exodus, but thinking properly, getting rid of all those monotheists and atheists is a blessing.
-According to social media, most of the polls on Earth stated we are considered "religious nut-jobs", "fanatic", "intolerant extremists", etc. all of it since the bombing of their food place.
-So, we made to get rid of their fleet and main forces, but we ruined the reputation of the Colonies between them.
- Gentlemen, we need to understand things as they are. The Earthers are a threat to our society, our beliefs, and our way of life. A threat we can't destroy, so we must nullify, by severing the ties with them, one by one. The dar administration is clearly Earth-friendly, we need to reverse that. And I think I had an idea.
-We're all ears, brother.
-The sympathy of this government is based in the idea the earthers are our thirteenth tribe. But according to their records, and the Cylon pPOWs and databases, they're not. So, we will use the Kobol expedition to say just that, and the Earth Alliance will support it. With that, we will use that to state we don't have any reason to stay with them and a lot of reasons to stay away. Mostly their heretic religions.
-Agreed-answered one of them, and soon the other 10 repeated his answer.
The End
