So this is my imagining of what happens immediately after the S2 finale...chapter one, more to come...also my first post so would appreciate all reviews and feedback. BTW, I am a shipper, mostly Lee/Kara, but am trying in this story to stay true to my vision of what happens after Lay Down Your Burdens, part 2...
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from Battlestar Galactica.
Dark Days
Chapter One
Kara had left Cally and Tyrol watching the toaster parade in a panic, as the chilling thought of ailing Anders lying alone in their tent flew into her mind. Sprinting back, she tried to take stock. The phone had gone dead in her hands during her brief conversation with Apollo, but what she had heard in the background had been enough to fill her with a dark foreboding. The military in her, dusty from dormancy but still very much alive, knew that the options were limited for the orbit patrol. Surrender, fight, or run. She would have fought...but she was here on this frakkin frozen-mud planet, and her input didn't seem to pull much weight these days anyhow. There were no signs of battle within the atmosphere, and she had not heard any talk of it on the planet...she let herself hope that the calvary was at work above her..maybe..just maybe... The Adamas would not have surrendered...despite the distance between her and them that had grown over the past year, she was certain of this fundamental truth. No, her instincts took her to a much more terrifying place. They were gone, they ran. It was the only tactical decision that made sense, the only one they could have made. The Old Man had made this decision before, during the initial Cylon attack, given the circumstances, the depletion of the fleet and the crews, he would have made it again, better to run and live than to stay and die. She knew instinctively that Lee would have made this decision as well...his sense of duty and responsibility would have demanded it.
They ran. Jumped away. Kara needed no sign from the Gods to know that this was the case. Pausing for a moment, she looked to the sky... and felt it empty in a way that it had never been before. Lee was gone. And she was scared, the weight of what was happening falling hard upon her in that moment. New Caprica was on its own, at least for now.
Kara pulled back the fabric of the tent door, heart and mind racing, grasping for a thread of sanity in the chaos that had become New Caprica City. It was all coming down around her now: Sam being so sick, frakkin Cylons coming out of nowhere, and this overwhelming feeling of helplessness. In the months after the initial Cylon attack she had played a vital role, finding both comfort and a feeling of usefulness in the cockpit of a Viper. There she had means to fight, now she couldn't shake the icy hand of fear that gripped her, her feet planted uselessly on this planet and no gun in sight.
"Sam, baby, you gotta get up now, we have to..." Kara started as she enters..then stopped in her tracks as she surveyed the scene before her.
It took her only a moment to take in the scene in the small tent: the cot overturned, blankets strewn on the ground. But the most important thing about the tent was not what was there, but rather who was not. The tent was empty, Sam was gone.
"GODS DAMN IT!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
William Adama stared at the Dradis screen in front of him, the specks that were what was left of the fleet flashing on the otherwise empty screen. Silence had descended in Galactica's CIC, as the small crew watched him and waited for some sign of what to do next. In the hours that had passed since the jump, very little had been said. There wasn't much that could be said really, and Adama wasn't one to talk just to hear his own voice. He had ordered all ships to compile resource reports, he needed to know exactly who and what he had to work with.
Helo turned towards him from the communications console, "Sir, the Pegasus Raptor has landed. Commander Adama is on his way to CIC now."
"Fine. I need you to contact the fleet Captains. Tell them to hold positions but give them the next set of jump coordinates...we need to be ready to go at the first sign of the Cylons."
"Yes Sir!"
Apollo, walking with purpose, strides into the room and heads straight for Adama. All protocol gone, the two men embraced quickly, "Good to see you son," Adama whispered.
"You too, Sir." Apollo saluted the Admiral as he stepped back, military hat back on for the moment. He had never fully reconciled the dual role that his father played in his life, as his father and as his commanding officer. With all that had happened since the initial Cylon attack, the distinction between the roles had become increasingly blurred. Now, for the most part, Lee was relieved that they were still together, albeit separated from almost everybody else. Tossing down the file he carried with him, he sighed "that's the most recent list of assets from the Pegasus. It isn't much. One rotation of viper pilots and a severely crippled hangar crew. Our chief left hours before the jump on shore leave to New Caprica, along with half of the pilots. Didn't see any reason in keeping them on board at the time, frak it! Damn short sighted!"
"None of us saw it coming, Lee. Tigh left too, probably on the same transport as your chief. Galactica has a full supply of life support rations and fuel for now, I'm still waiting on the reports from the rest of the fleet." Adama ran his hand over his eyes, trying to wipe away the events of the last few hours. "Once we take stock I want you in my office, we need a workable plan, and we need it now."
Lee's eyes flickered over his father's face. He had been thinking of nothing else since the jump except what the next step was going to be. Like Galactica, he had kept the Pegasus fully stocked, holding back food rations, medicines and supplies from officers that had chosen life on the planet over life with the fleet. Thank the Gods for that at least. It had been the one battle he and his father had won with President Baltar, when Baltar had wanted to raid the ships for supplies to give to the settlers. William Adama had been fierce, and Baltar had stood down when presented with the worst case scenarios stating, "ah, well, we can discuss this later then. Know this, though, when it becomes absolutely necessary to do so, those supplies will be rerouted." But later had never come, which was good for the fleet now.
Helo suddenly stepped forwards, face twitching. He faced William Adama, "Sir, I think I have an idea, or at least the beginning of one."
Adama considered the man for a moment, his expression unreadable. Helo had remained on the Galactica for one reason and one reason only. Adama knew it, everyone knew it. He had stayed for Sharon Valerii. "Very well, Helo. You and Apollo in my office in 15 mins."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The crowd was gathered outside of Colonial One, pressed together from all sides by the metallic Cyclon Centurions. No shots had been fired, but their presence and their sheer numbers was threat enough for the settlers. One by one the settlers of New Caprica City had been gathered together in this place, brought here in silence, and now they waited fearfully. Each minute that passed seemed to raise the tension, occasional sobbing could be heard from the crowd.
Kara searched the faces in the crowd, looking for Anders, looking for anyone at this point. Pushing her way through the throng, she spotted Tigh. "Colonel, have you seen Sam?" she asked breathlessly, grabbing his shirt. "He wasn't in the frakkin tent when I went back for him."
Tigh put his arm around Kara's shoulder. Gods he looked old all of a sudden, his shoulders were slumped and his face pale. "Sorry Starbuck, I haven't. Damn toasters won't let us leave the area, either. Ellen and I tried to get back to the transport, but they wouldn't let us get anywhere close to the ships. I was going to try and take it back up to Galactica once the majority of the raiders had landed."
"Galactica is gone. They are all gone." Starbuck's lip quivered for just a moment, her eyes welling up. She pushed through it, "Looks like you are stuck with me, Sir, I'm all the rescue you are going to get!" A grim smirk crept across her face.
"Gods, its like the Cylons really are turning my worst nightmare into reality..." Tigh was more serious than not. Then quietly he added, "You don't know for sure they are gone..."
Kara nodded her head, "They are. They either bought it trying to fight through the frakkers or they jumped away. My money is on the jump."
"She's right," a voice came from behind the pair. They turned to see Gaeta, looking drawn and defeated. "The last thing we heard from the fleet was the Admiral giving the order for jump. Dradis is murky, but from what we can see, there's only Cylons up there now."
"Gods, Gaeta, what the frak is going on?" Tigh hissed.
"The Cylons are about to make an announcement, they kicked all the humans off of Colonial one, except President Baltar. There is something you need to know, and I'm sure that is what the announcement is going to be about. The President surrendered. The Cylons have promised nobody will be hurt if we do not resist them, so he surrendered. It is over, they win." Gaeta kicked at the frozen dirt.
Kara spun on him, muscles tight, throat tighter. "Of course he surrendered," she said, very quietly, anger laced through each word, "spineless moron always was jumping at his own shadow, figures he'd sell us all out." She remembered how he had skulked around after her, after their brief sexual encounter. She had quickly realized he was no match for her, and he had never been able to regain her respect. "Gaeta, have you seen Anders? He's sick, and I haven't been able to find him since all this started..."
"Sorry Starbuck, I haven't."
All attention was suddenly drawn towards Colonial One. A makeshift platform had been set up outside the ship, and Kara watched as a line of Cylons filed out of the ship and onto the platform. A Sharon and one of the Blondes stopped at the front of the platform, turning towards the crowd. From the front of the crowd, they were joined by a number of the metallics, who formed an intimidating line behind them. The President was then led from the ship to the platform, accompanied by one of the Doral models. Kara shuddered, knowing what was coming next.
Gaius Baltar came to the front of the platform, clearing his throat and spoke, his voice carrying in the chilled air, but still not reaching those further back in the crowd, "Citizens of New Caprica, As your lawfully elected President it is my duty to inform you that I have just issued an unconditional and total surrender to the Cylon leaders." Gasps and a flurry of commotion arose in the crowd, as this information was shared with those out of earshot. "Quiet, please" Gaius commanded. "You need to know that the option for a peaceful surrender was gratiously given to us by the Cylons. They have promised me that nobody will be harmed so long as they do not show any resistance. You also need to understand that our fleet has abandoned us, having jumped away at the first sign of the Cylon ships. We are alone, defenseless. The Cylons did not have to give us the option of a peaceful surrender, they could have wiped us out, but they did not. They have assured me that they are here in the spirit of peace and do not want to see conflict arise. We are quite safe, so long as we do not attack or resist them.
"I am to remain your leader, and will act on your behalf in communicating with the Cylon leaders. As such I am issuing an immediate presidential order that all citizens of New Caprica will refrain from entering into conflict with any Cylon. Furthermore, all citizens are to remain within the confines of the city. Visible boundaries are being set up around the city, and will be patrolled by Cylon guards. Severe punishment will be dealt to anyone who tries to cross this line. Until further arrangements can be made, we will continue with the day to day running of this city. People, we should be grateful for our lives, for the chance to continue with our work here on New Caprica. The Cylons have decided to give us the chance to live with them, to show them that humanity deserves to survive. I for one thank them for this opportunity." He turned and gave a slight bow to the females at his side.
The Sharon Valerii model stepped forward and spoke forcefully, "You are to return to your homes, and remain within the city limits while the boundaries are being erected. The punishment for crossing the boundary will be death. As long as you are within the city, and as long as order is maintained, you are safe. We will be conferring with your President over the next few days to compile a list of laws. When these are completed, you will be informed and you will follow them without question. As long as you cooperate, you will be safe, and will be allowed to continue on with your lives as though nothing has changed." With that the group on the platform turned and filed down, leading Gaius back onto Colonial One.
The crowd stood, stunned and hushed. Kara turned to Tigh, the muscles in her face twitching, "Like 'nothing has changed', yeah right."
Tigh put his hand on her shoulder and sighed. "Go home for now Kara, wait for Sam to come back. I know you and I know you're itching for a fight right now, but we have to maintain order..."
"Colonel..." Kara started, rage in her voice, "we have to do something, we can't just sit here and take this crap..."
"Starbuck, we will maintain order!" Tigh got quiet for a moment, then pulled her in tight for a hug, whispering in her ear as he did so, "for now."