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Chapter 8 Revelations and Consequences
Galactica Conference room 12 hours later.
It had been a busy 12 hours since the recovery of the unknown pilot from the Asteroid field. Doctor Salik had managed to stabilize her condition but she was still unconscious. Although her presence aboard ship was suppose to remain a secret rumors were already spreading throughout the ship and Cmdr. Adama wondered how long it would take before one of the various reporters aboard Galactica caught wind of it and decided to investigate, Or worse, Doctor Baltar. Doctor Baltar was currently aboard Galactica going through his weekly routine of blood screenings. The first thing Doctor Salik had done once they reached the life station was draw a sample of blood from the patient, simply known as 'Star" for the time being until her identity could be learned. The blood sample was slipped quietly in to the Doctors first batch for testing. The rather flushed and distracted doctor didn't seem to even notice the switch. He was rather irritated when he was told that Cmdr. Adama wanted the Samples ASAP, but after realizing the futility of arguing with an order from Cmdr. Adama he relented. Now as Cmdr. Adama sat with his XO, his CAG and the TAO Lt. Gaeta the moment of truth lay before them.
"Well?" Cmdr. Adama asked getting straight to the point, he like everyone in the room could feel the beautifies in his stomach hoping this wasn't another Cylon ploy to destroy the remnant yet he kept his emotions in check behind a face of calm detachment.
"Based on Doctor Baltar's analysis of the blood sample she's human." .Lt. Gaeta answered. "For the most part." he added weakly.
"What the Hell does that mean?" Col. Tigh demanded.
"What it means Colonel is she does conform to what we specify as human, but not completely." Lt. Gaeta answered without missing a beat, "For example her White and Red blood cell count are elevated, but that could be due to the trauma she suffered, and then there's the level of Iron in her blood that is borderline on toxic levels." Lt. Gaeta reported in a calmly. "And that's just the start." The Lt. Added.
"What do you mean?" Capt. Lee Adama asked?
"Her DNA sequence is unlike anything we've seen. Its easily identifiable as human but there appears to be some genetic drift similar to what we have seen with the Sagittarians but MUCH more pronounced. In addition I got a call from Doctor Salik after he managed to stabilize our guest. He did a routine scan of her internal organs and what he found is surprising. In addition to her Genetic drift she also has enlarged heart and lungs her muscular/skeletal structure appears to be a bit denser than the norm and there's some sort of organ in her lower abdomen he can't identify. The doctor tells me it's inactive but he's never seen anything like it before." Lt. Gaeta said.
"Analysis Mr. Gaeta?" Cmdr. Adama asked.
"I'm no expert sir, but if I had to guess I'd say she's from a world that has stronger gravity and thinner atmospheres than any of the colonies, her biological differences reflect this. Lt. Gaeta surmised.
"There is something else sir." Lt. Gaeta spoke up again after an uncomfortable pause.
"Go ahead." the Cmdr. said.
Lt. Gaeta seemed to grow uncomfortable for a moment before taking a deep breath that seemed to strengthen his resolve "After noticing all the differences within her DNA and internal structure Dr. Salik began to form a theory as to how long it would take for such radical changes to occur, and sir he says it would take much longer than 2000yrs for this to happen." Lt Gaeta informed
"How long did he theorize it would take Lieutenant?" Cmdr. Adama asked.
"Somewhere on the order between 5000 to 7000 yrs sir." Lt. Gaeta answered immediately.
At this little revelation the room grew quiet, all of them were thinking the exact same thing5 to7 thousand years! By the Lords of Kobol this would be huge and potentially very dangerous. If it were true it could call into question the entire colonial interpretation of events leading to the great migration to the colonies. Colonial history stated; as the 12 tribes left Kobol guided by the last surviving lords the 13th tribe left in another direction to make a home on a distant world called Earth, all of that was supposed to have happened 2000yrs ago!
Yet It would have been impossible for this kind of genetic drift to occur within the colonies without someone taking notice like they did with the Sagittarians, and this much drift couldn't have happened in the short time that the Colonials lost contact with their brothers and sisters from Earth so it lead to the conclusion that Colonial history wasn't entirely accurate! And since Colonial history was tied deeply into the Colonial religion this was shaping up to be a disaster of epic proportions...all brought on by this women's presence.
"By the Lords!" Lee exclaimed in a hollowed whisper. His pale face turning even paler as the full ramifications ran through his head, it was enough to make him physically ill.
"Oh Frack!" Col. Tigh exclaimed coming to the same conclusion, He too had been deeply shaken by what this could imply for the fleet.
For his part Lt. Gaeta kept his peace, like the person who had just given a terminally ill patient the bad news they had only so much time to live. Never really a religious man himself even he couldn't seem to wrap his brain around the concept, and that only terrified him even more when he thought how the more religious minded individuals would react.
"So we'll keep it quiet, have her medical information classified to those on a need to know basis." Commander Adama said thoughtfully.
Everyone seemed to relax a little after hearing this and just when the briefing was about to turn to other matters a thought struck Lt. Gaeta that renewed his sense of panic.
"Sir there's something else." Lt. Gaeta said.
"What is it Lt.?" Commander Adama asked in that calm quiet voice of his.
"What happens when she wakes up? What will happen if her people's view of history is different than our own?" Lt Gaeta asked.
"He's right." Lee Adama said with growing realization. "When the press finds out about her and they will, they're going to want to talk to her. President Roslin will have no choice but to relent to their demands. If it's true what Lt. Gaeta said and her peoples view of history is different than our own..."
Cmdr. Adama could only shake his head in acknowledgement of what his son was implying; Hysteria, riots, a total breakdown in order, and in the worst case scenario the government would collapse completely.
Cmdr. Adama took off his glasses and proceeded to clean them while he weighed his options. How Ironic he thought; they had been searching for these people for the better part of 2yrs, after all the struggle and sacrifice, everyone they had lost to find these people only to have their presence present the greatest threat to the remnant of Colonial society, Bitter Irony indeed.
Cmdr. Adama redoned his glasses and took a look around the room only to find 3 sets of eyes looking to him and looking very afraid, Cylons they could deal with, but this was beyond their depth and his, there was only one option available too him which was to pass this on to the president.
"Lee get in touch with the president and inform her I need to speak with her at her earliest convenience, but stress this can't wait and secrecy is needed" Cmdr. Adama ordered.
"She's in deliberations with the Quorum about the current food and fuel shortages and they're scheduled to be deliberating well into the night, she just can't end the deliberations like that without informing the Quorum of her reasons." The younger Adama countered.
"Then tell her to get creative because I need to see her ASAP. This can't wait Lee so use whatever connections you have with that women but get her here, preferably within the next few hours." The Cmdr. ordered.
"Yes sir." Capt. Lee Adama said before departing the conference room.
Once Capt. Adama left the conference room Cmdr. Adama turned his attention to Lt. Gaeta.
"Lt. How is your analysis of the module coming?" the Cmdr. asked.
"We were able to intercept encoded transmissions from the modules transceivers. From what Dee and I could gather there are at least 2 ships in this region of space. We have their comm. frequencies so we should be able to listen in on their comm. chatter, but no bodies talking. As for a detailed analysis of the ships electronics and avionics I'm going to need both Dr. Baltar and Chief Tyrol to help build a complete picture of what we're dealing with." Lt. Gatea informed.
"Take whatever assets you need Lt." Cmdr. Adama stated.
"Yes sir." Lt. Gaeta said before he too departed the conference room.
"Saul, place a security detail in the life station and lock it down tight, no one is to have access unless it's an emergency." Cmdr. Adama said turning his attention to his XO.
"That's going to cause problems especially when word of the lockdown spreads throughout the ship, people are going to start wondering what we're hiding." His XO informed.
"True, but it can't be helped, besides its better than having this information get out prematurely before we're prepared for it." Cmdr. Adama said.
"And the girl?" Col. Tigh inquired.
"She is too have a full security contingent guarding her at all times, right now she may be the most important person in the fleet," The Cmdr. Stated.
"Understood." Col. Tigh said before departing the conference room.
Cmdr. Adama remained seated savoring the peace and quiet the conference room provided because sometime within the next few hours or even days that peace was going to be shattered and the remnant would be tested in a way they had never been tested before.