Thirteen
Chapter Forty-Nine
And The Winner Is…
Admiral William Adama had bought a watch some weeks ago in the Zocolo to help him keep time aboard the station, but had hardly thought to look at it despite dutifully putting it on his left wrist every morning. Now, though, he looked at it rather frequently as the time came ever closer for the polls to close. He was in the Observation Dome, the command and control center aboard Babylon 5, sitting beside his Earthforce counterpart, Admiral David Rissen, awaiting word of when the combined Cylon/Drakh fleet would attack. They both sat in what was dubbed the "captain's office" in the Dome, which was simply the console from which the commanding officer monitored events on the station and in the space around it.
"Kind of like the calm before the storm, isn't it?" Adama remarked.
"You could say that. Reminds me too eerily of the hours before the Battle of the Line." Rissen replied.
"President Hollifield told me about that. I can't imagine how hard it is, to sit there in your fighter, knowing that you're the last line of defense between the enemy and your homeworld."
"It was hard. It's somewhat indescribable, a classic 'you had to be there' moment. I managed to get through only with luck. My fighter got shot up as soon as the Minbari jumped out of hyperspace, but they managed not to breach my fighter's life pod, so I was able to survive, after a fashion."
Adama asked, "Why do you say that?"
"You're never the same after you watch your entire squadron destroyed around you. As I floated there in space, I watched ship after ship light up like quickly dying stars as their oxygen tanks were breached and the air inside ignited." Rissen shook his head. "It's something you take to your grave, because, no matter how long you live, you never forget something like that."
Over at the main console, in front of the window that peered out into space, Lt. Col. Sharon Valerii picked up something on her computer. "Jumpgate activated. Whitestars coming through the gate."
The massive vortex generator flared to life, and the Whitestars flew out of the yellow-tinged vortex and into normal space. "Starbuck to Babylon 5. This is Starbuck to Babylon 5."
Valerii replied, "Babylon 5 to Starbuck. Go ahead."
"Enemy fleet is on its way. Approximately four hours behind us."
"Copy that, Starbuck." Valerii replied.
Rissen stood up, and Adama did likewise. "Well, it's been nice knowing you, Bill. Just wanted to say that in case things don't go well." Rissen extended his hand, and Adama shook it.
"Good to have known you too. Hopefully we'll make it through all of this."
"We'd better, or Rabbi Horowitz will be pissed off at me when we make it to Heaven." The two men laughed as they made their way out of the Dome.
On board the Pegasus, Commander Jack Fisk looked over the reports coming in from the various stations all over the ship. His second, the newly promoted Colonel Barry Trammel, kept a keen eye on the DRADIS tracking system that monitored space around the massive Colonial battlestar.
"It's an impressive fleet we've been able to assemble. Question is, will it be enough?" Trammel mused.
"That's not our worry. We just have to be ready when they show up to smash them to hell. How's the pulse cannons we just had installed working?" Fisk asked.
"Once we got rid of the bugs in the programming, we've been able to get plenty of training in. The targeting systems may be automated, but I've had the crew go through as much manual targeting training as we could squeeze in."
"Good, very good!" Fisk nodded as he went through yet another report. "What about the particle beam cannons?"
"I've turned those over to Earthforce regulars for now. Our people have had training on them, but with events as they are, I want to be sure we don't make a big mistake and accidentally hit one of our own ships during the fighting. The bow and aft cannons checked out at peak performance when we went through inspection last night."
"Excellent! Admiral Adama will be pleased. Ever since Cain finally had her meltdown, we've had to make up for all that went wrong during her command."
Trammel said, "You're not thinking that Galactica's a better ship than we are, I hope?"
Fisk laughed and said, "Hell no! I know they're good over there, don't get me wrong, but I've not spent all this time whipping these guys and gals into shape for nothing! When the time comes, we'll show our mettle, that's for sure!
"Competition between ships is good, but it shouldn't go too far. That's why it's important that we don't make a big deal out of who's got the better ship, because we're all on the same side, after all."
On Galactica, Commander Saul Tigh was sitting in on the pilot's meeting before the next patrol. Lee "Apollo" Adama was going through the training exercises that they were to perform against the enemy. "It's important to remember that the Drakh fighters use different techniques than the Cylon raiders we're used to. The Starfuries and Whitestars are supposed to handle them, but we all know what can happen in battle. Don't hesitate to engage them if they crossover and come our way." He went through the rest of the mission briefing, then dismissed the pilots to head over to the flight bay.
"Apollo, got a moment?" Tigh said.
Apollo hesitated, but relented. "A moment. What do you need, sir?"
Tigh walked out with Apollo of the briefing room and towards the flight bay. "Just to say good hunting to you all. How are those thirty megawatt pulse cannons working out on the new Vipers?"
"Quite well, sir! The toasters won't know what hit them when we engage them."
"Good, good!" Tigh stopped, and Apollo stopped with him. "Listen…I just wanted to say that you were right to try and stop me aboard Colonial One."
Apollo looked at him and said, "Well, that's a first. I never thought I'd ever hear you apologize for anything."
"Well, I never thought that we'd ever meet people from Earth. But I've come to realize that the old man and I were wrong to do what we did to Roslin, and that you were in the right to do what you did, even if it was technically mutiny. Like the Earthers say, 'two wrongs don't make a right'."
Apollo nodded and said, "No they don't. I'm surprised, Commander. You've changed quite a bit lately."
"That's what I get for being too busy to even drink water, much less booze. But, maybe I have changed."
Apollo extended his hand, and Tigh shook it. "If I may be so bold, I think it's for the better."
Tigh nodded his head, "I think you're right. Now, get out there and show those Earthers what Viper pilots are made of."
Apollo smiled and saluted, "Yes sir!" He walked off towards the fighter bay and Tigh watched him go. "Just like his old man." Tigh said to himself as turned to walk back to CIC.
The polls closed and the results were tabulated at each polling station, then brought under heavy guard to the main election headquarters in Red Sector. The Quorum of Twelve, save for the three members who were running for office, served as the electoral commission, and they would verify the results.
Each machine that had recorded votes was scrutinized by the Quorum, and they compared the results from each machine with that tabulated by the polling stations themselves. The Roslin and Zarek campaigns had their own representatives witness this procedure, making sure that everything was fair and impartial.
John Sheridan and Michael Garibaldi watched all of this as well, representing the Interstellar Alliance in this matter. They had stayed out of the campaign and allowed democracy to do its work, but it was common knowledge which candidate they favored.
Robin Wenutu of Canceron had been selected as chair of the electoral commission, and when she and the rest of the Quorum were satisfied with the results, they notified Admiral Rissen, and station security notified each candidate that the results would be announced in the old Babylon 5 Advisory Council chambers.
Laura Roslin stood on one side of the room with her running mate, Sarah Porter, while Tom Zarek stood on the other side with his, Marshall Baggot. Ellen Tigh was also present on Zarek's side, while Admirals Adama and Rissen stood behind Wenutu, who was seated at the center seat of the main table. The nine other members of the Quorum sat to each side of her.
"With 45, 298 eligible voters having voted in this election, we, the members of the Quorum, serving as the electoral commission for this election, would like to announce the results of the election. If the candidates would please come to the lectern in front of the table, please."
Zarek and Roslin stood to each side of the lectern, as Wenutu walked around the table and up to the microphone, which she adjusted nervously as she prepared to make the announcement. "The results are as follows: Tom Zarek received 22,649 votes. Laura Roslin received 22,649 votes. We have a tie!"
The buzz in the room rose in volume as confusion as to what to do in case of a tie reigned. Wenutu continued, "As per Colonial law, the tie will be broken by a vote of the Quorum members. Since all are present, I move we take the vote now!"
"Wait!" said Zarek. "The last thing we need right now is division. I know that this is unorthodox, but, then again, we aren't exactly on Caprica right now. I wish to make a proposal."
Everyone looked around for a moment, and Wenutu went over to the table for a hasty conference with the Quorum members. She returned to the microphone and said, "Mr. Zarek, please make your proposal."
"It's simple. Since we're are facing imminent attack from the enemy, I move that we elect Laura Roslin president and myself vice-president."
A collective gasp went through the crowd in surprise to this proposal, and any theories to collusion between the candidates was shot down with the look of utter shock on the face of Laura Roslin. Wenutu looked over to her and asked, "Is this satisfactory, Madam President?"
"Uh…yes! I guess so!" she said, still in shock over the proposal.
"I move that we vote on the proposal. Do I hear a second?"
"Second!" called all the members of the Quorum.
"All those in favor of the proposal, please raise your hands now!" said Wenutu, who raised her hand, turning around to see all eight other members of the Quorum with their hands aloft. It had been decided that Zarek, Baggot, and Porter would not participate in the Quorum proceedings until the election was over. "By a vote of eight to zero, the proposal is passed. I hereby declare Laura Roslin as the duly elected president of the Colonies, and Tom Zarek as the vice-president of the Colonies."
The assembled people inside the applauded, and Zarek and Roslin shook hands. She kissed him on the cheek, whispering in his ear, "Why?"
"Because the tie goes to the runner, as the humans say. It's better this way." Zarek whispered back.
Rissen was clapping as the two stood beside the podium with raised hands, signifying unity, when his communications link went off on his right hand. He tapped it and placed it up to his face so he could hear better, saying, "Rissen here!"
"Admiral, this is Valerii. We've just picked up the enemy in hyperspace on the last beacon. They'll be here within the hour."
"Confirmed, Rissen out!" said the admiral, who raised his own hands as well as his voice, "Can I have your attention please? The enemy is on its way and will be here within an hour! Please follow the security officers to the shelter we have prepared for you! With God's, or Gods, depending on who you are, help, we'll get through this!" The crowd sobered quickly, but calmly departed the chambers and headed out towards the heavily protected shelter. Sheridan and Garibaldi went with them, as Adama and Rissen headed towards the Dome.