Chapter 12: Cain.
The Battlestar Ulysses traversed through space lazily, it's fighter escort always on guard. It had been three weeks since the near destruction of the Ulysses at the safe zone, and the ship was ready to face the Cylon's readily.
"Attention, prepare for combat jump, condition one set, pilots man your planes for combat insertion. Jump in ten minutes."
Val was already on his way down to the hanger deck, eagerly wanting to get inside his Viper. The latest recon brought in many new targets of opportunity, and the crew of the Ulysses were having a field day. Already they knocked out two relay stations and a basestar, and were now preparing to engage a supply convoy passing through a sector of space full of desolate planetoids.
Val raced through the corridors shoulder to shoulder with his fellow pilots, and they made good time before finding themselves in the noisy hanger deck of the port flight pod. The knuckle draggers ran around like busy ants, pushing the Vipers into the launch tubes, half the squadron was already ready, and the starboard flight pod was just as busy. This attack would be done as quickly as possible, jump in, destroy the convoy, and jump out immediately within a set time of twenty minutes. The Commander made it clear that any more time guaranteed Cylon retaliation in force.
Val spotted Chief Orelon shouting orders and pointing frantically at the Viper's. Val continued on until climbing up the ladder into the waiting cockpit of his Viper Mark VII, he warmed up the controls and then secured his helmet making sure it was secure in the magnetic lock, and his visor lights flicked on illuminating his face in a blue hue. He felt his plane move and waited until he was secured in the launch tube. He looked to his right and the control officer nodded, and Val waved.
He waited until he felt the sickening sensation of faster than light, no matter how many times he has experienced it, it always felt uncomfortable. Before he could recover he felt the force of travelling through the launch tube. The Viper's shot outwards from the nest, and fell into formation, Val scanned the area and could clearly see one of the three planetoids, it was a gas giant. The others were rotating around the sun and were far out of view, but that's not what Val was concentrating on now.
"CAG, Ulysses, we are en-route to the target area, no visual confirmation." It took only seconds for a response.
"Copy Raven, continue to the area and report back."Val acknowledged and steered his craft in the direction of where the freighters were supposed to be.
"Red squadron, your with me, the rest of you stay on alert and keep an eye out for Raiders." His pilots replied through the wireless with 'yes sir'. The squadron of Vipers approached the target area, and were stunned when they realized there was a ship cruising through a debris field.
"Holy frak, is that Colonial? I'm not picking up anything on DRADIS Captain." Said Blackball, but Val narrowed his eyes, "I'll report back and wait for instructions, and we don't know what were dealing with exactly. Raven to Ulysses, we have made visual contact with a ship, the vessel appears Colonial, but I'm not reading anything on DRADIS."
The craft was half the size of Ulysses, and appeared to have several batteries, Val read Vorocimbedded into the hull plating, lit with lights, Val blinked several times, sure he was imagining it, but there it was, the symbol of his shady past, and he felt his heart plummet into his stomach, and he swallowed hard. It was too much to hope his past died with everything else in the attack, and he was sure now the Gods wanted him to pay for his sins, and he felt he would have to deal with it, very soon. The Vorocwas a breakthrough of stealth technology and offensive weaponry.
The main battery fired proton slugs, rounds which accelerated to the speed of light and could literally punch through most metal with ease. The project was top secret, and the Voroc was never meant for more than testing new technologies. But criminal organizations were a plague, and the ones with actual pull and power found out everything they wanted to about the Voroc, and decided a silent running ship with weapons powerful enough to take down the largest Battlestars was worth the risk of attacking the research station and stealing the ship.
They were successful, but the price was too high. All of the staff at the research base was killed, along with the military personal. And they took the ship, for purposes of obvious evil intent. And Val was there, just following orders from his boss, Phelan Haliot, a black man, an all business man, a man who enjoyed his profits and position, an ex mercenary. Val was promised the world if he led the crew and stole the ship leaving no evidence.
It was the one thing he tried to bury in his mind, but no matter how hard he tried, the explosions from the facility on that slab of rock drifting in space flashed before him around every corner, sometimes leaving him standing there breathing heavily for no apparent reason. Phelan was so damn happy he promoted Val to his first Captain, and let him hand pick his own crew from the pool of scum he commanded.
Val did so, and chose the coldest killers with strong loyalty to him, and continued his bloody swatch of piracy. Commanding the VorocVal raided major supply lines, stealing whatever they wanted before the Military had to step in, and that's when the stealth systems came in handy. After several raids the media and public civil defence appealed to the fleet Admiralty for a decisive anti-piracy campaign from Canceron to the unstable Scorpia sectors. They agreed, and sent in the fleet, a task force of eight powerful battlestars, and they were a little too successful.
Some battles were full scale with local crime lords who had many armed ships at their disposal, but the empowered hulking battlestars made short work of them. Val realized his mission may have been condoned, so the military would have an excuse to encroach on private sectors, and flush out every corrupt individual in the area making them-selves look like heroes. That is what disturbed Val; he suspected Phelan was actually paid under the table to set up his fellow crooks for a fall, which actually made sense. He gets to keep doing what he loves to do, and knock off his competition while making a nice profit. But Phalen must have known they would turn their attention on him sooner or later when all the big fish have been fried leaving the big daddy for last. But Val was sick to his soul with what he had been doing, he even sensed some of his crew were feeling the same way. So he took a raptor, and disappeared.
Val transformed himself from a scumbag pirate to a citizen, and then built himself a background for acceptance into the Military. He met his wife shortly after, and had his daughter, Cassandra, or Cassie as he loved to call her. He thought he could really atone for his past mistakes, and for awhile he was making it through. Before he left for his posting on the Ulysses, he promised his daughter he would take her to Caprica, and see the oceans. "I love you Daddy, and I will wait for you."That was his little girl, and not knowing for sure if she was truly dead or alive, was a madness he could not cope with.
He just sat, silent in his cockpit, looking at the ship, as if it were looking back at him, laughing. Blackball interrupted the rushing flow of past experiences.
"Sir! Reading two full Squadrons of unknown bogies, ETA ten minutes, it looks like they may be with that ship there." Val gritted his teeth; he knew the pilots would be much more dangerous in a dogfight then his own pilots. They were experienced killers, and knew manoeuvres that are not taught at fleet academy. "What a frakking nightmare."
Val reported the new hostiles. "Ulysses this is the CAG, were picking up hostile squadrons, eta five minutes, orders?"
CIC, Battlestar Ulysses.
"Colonials? What the frak are they doing way out here?" Ken asked, staring at the DRADIS monitor. Rebecca shook her head, and then looked to Major Vash.
"I'm not going to take any chances, send hostile challenge and ID on a broadcast since they are not registering on DRADIS, and tell the CAG to form a defensive CAP five hundred meters around the ship, in case we need to deploy quickly."
The Major nodded, then fingered her headset, and opened up a direct channel.
CIC, Assault cruiser Voroc
"Attention unknown vessel, this is the Battlestar Ulysses, identify yourself or you will be destroyed."
Commander Jagar Xeroph glared as he heard the threat, but couldn't believe he was reading Colonial Military units on DRADIS. "Frakking unbelievable, how did a Battlestar make it through? ... I thought they were all destroyed?"
His second in command, Snake, spoke his mind. "We should retrieve our birds and jump sir."
Jagar ran a hand through his closely trimmed beard, and then shook his head. "No, this may prove useful for us. Recall the Vipers to form a CAP, and see how they react to a response from us. Make sure to send them the fake ID."
CIC, Battlestar Ulysses.
"This is the Vorocto the ship calling itself the Ulysses; we are Colonial civil contractors, and are currently under sweeping operations of the area, be advised enemy reinforcements are en route. We are transmitting transponder and ship registration to you now."
The Major watched her screen and reported back. "Sir, everything checks out, it's a light attack carrier privately contracted from Seraph Enterprises."
Rebecca blinked, but then shrugged it aside, just because some mercenaries were being contracted from her father's massive company, which owned thousands of freighters and Gods know what else, didn't mean her father was involved. It was strange, now that she thought about her father being dead, caused her no remorse. Ken shifted his eyes, intrigued with this new development, and watched Rebecca pick up the station phone. "Patch me through to that ship Major." She nodded, and pressed a few buttons.
"Go ahead sir." Rebecca narrowed her eyes slightly as she spoke clear and cool. "Voroc this is Ulysses actual, I want the commanding officer to come aboard for questioning, change your course and form up with us, we are in a state of war, and will require your cooperation."
CIC,Voroc
Jagar smirked, and then replied through his headset. "This isVoroc actual, Jagar Xeroph at your service ma'am, and of course Commander, we will cooperate. I have two attack squadrons returning from a mission right now, I have to hold position, but I'll prep a Raptor and come aboard as soon as possible."
He then looked to Snake. "Give me the data we got on Thalzen, we'll lead them there and let the Cylons finish them off, I am sure they would not disagree. We don't need the Military remnant sticking their noses into my business."
Snake smirked, and then nodded. "Aye aye, boss."
CIC, Battlestar Ulysses.
"Commander, did you hear that? Extra attack squadrons..." Ken mused staring at the DRADIS monitor readout.
Rebecca's heart had a leap of hope, goose bumps formed on her skin and she half-smiled. "This is incredible, let's get down to the flight deck, order a contingent of marines to meet us there, let's make them feel welcome. Major, you have the deck."
Major Vash saluted. Ken and Rebecca left CIC, and already the crew were buzzing with excitement, they ran through the corridors to get to the flight deck to see the mercenaries. They met the marine's half-way and then entered the port flight pod awaiting their guests. The deckhands and knuckle draggers were going about their work, and several pilots stood around their Vipers and chatted excitedly, already aware of what was going on, keeping their eyes on their Commander.
The Voroc's landing party arrived, two raptors with hulls painted to make them look like the name the craft were given, the scales on them were all black with red gleaming eyes peering at you from either side of the cockpit, and they were surprisingly well done, giving them a much more sleek and deadly look which no doubt has been put to use. Rebecca wondered what their Vipers must look like after seeing this. Ken however, was not so impressed, and only stood with his arms clasped behind his back not sharing the artistic appeal his friend had for art. The marines stiffened and stood behind their officers, ready to blast the inhabitants of the Raptors at the drop of a hat if they detected any kind of threat. Their precision rifles were raised, not aiming but keeping them pointed at an angle. When the Raptors came to a stop, a dead silence fell onto the flight deck, the only sounds were ones of machinery, but Rebecca could feel all eyes on her and the Raptors.
The hatches hissed as the cabin pressurized as they opened, and there standing at the entrance with a casual grin was Jagar. The first thought that came to Rebecca's mind when seeing him was a warrior, tall and muscular; his uniform was urban camouflage with a heavy black bullet proof vest with many magazine pouches. The men behind him were even more geared up, carrying exotic assault weapons and just as menacing in appearance. These are dangerous and battle proven men, she was glad they were on the same side, or so she thought. Seeing a dozen armed Marines standing in front of two officers gave them away, and he immediately made eye contact with Rebecca, his eyes a piercing green.
He smiled warmly and jumped down onto the deck, he waited until his own men were standing crisply and silently behind him before he spoke. "Commander Cain, it is an honor to meet someone as esteemed as you. Seraph shipping and industries has been a gracious supplier of mine for the past decade."
He was surprisingly drawing, his demeanour and tanned skin, and a powerful voice. He had a trimmed beard covering several scars that just managed to show through the facial hair. He then crisply saluted, and Rebecca returned the respectful gesture, surprised he knew her name. He looked over her marines, and Rebecca crossed her arms, and Ken simply stared at him without emotion, more intrigued at the encounter than anything else. "You must have a lot of questions I imagine Commander, please, let's go somewhere more private, my men will wait here, meet your crew if that's alright."
Rebecca glanced at Ken, and he nodded slightly, "Very well then, at ease men."
The marines slung their rifles around their shoulders, and Jagars men laughed and guffawed, shaking their hands and smiling as instructed, and the whole deck rushed forward to meet the landing party. Jagar laughed, and then Rebecca gestured with a hand, not being able to help smiling herself. An hour later they found themselves in Rebecca's quarters, when Jagar entered he took a minute to admire Rebecca's art, commenting on her good taste. He kept surprisingly Rebecca, a gruff mercenary who appreciates art?
Jagar sat down on the right side of Rebecca's comfortable couch, sighing, and waited until Ken and Rebecca took their own seats. "Don't hold back any questions Commander, ask anything you want to, I have my own questions as well."
Rebecca decided to ask the one thing that stood out in her mind above everything else. "What are you doing out here?"
Jagar shifted, slightly uncomfortable, he had to hit every string perfectly. "We were hired to keep an eye on Cylon activities in the Attican Beta cluster, about twenty jumps from Caprica, it was the closest we could get without triggering a full scale war, but we quickly realized that was the Cylon's plan. There were too many staging areas near the armistice line to ignore, and the top wigs in fleet command were getting nervous. So, we tried to double back but, we were too late... and that has been a great pain I have to live with. So, we've been fighting for our survival since then. We never imagined a Battlestar survived the attacks, they were so well prepared for this attack in every way it's a mind frak, how did they pull it off so efficiently?"
Ken shook his head with a sigh, tired of trying to even guess how. "I have no idea, and does it matter now? We are likely the only ones left now..."
Jagar leaned forward slightly. "No, you aren't..."
Ken tilted his head sharply, looking at the mercenary, and then looked at Rebecca, who had a bewildered expression.
Rebecca blinked, "What did you say?"
Jagar picked his words carefully. "There's a small moon orbiting Thalzen, a barely habitable mining colony about five jumps from here. That's where twenty eight thousand refugees are hiding."
Ken burst out. "And you didn't help them!"
Jagar rolled his shoulders. "What the frak was I supposed to do? Land there with what? Good will and well wishes? We couldn't do anything about it. My ship has a crew of eight hundred and enough supplies to last us another six months and that is it! I won't damn myself to death for some refugee's!"
Rebecca pursed her lips and nearly snarled in anger. "You damn coward! Give us the co-ordinates and we'll head there immediately."
Jagar shook his head. "You have to be frakkin kiddin Commander... I shouldn't have mentioned this to you Gods damnit!"
Rebecca stood up, shouting at him. "These are our people! Not Cylons! We'll go to their aid and do whatever we can for them!"
Jagar just stared at her, a look of foreboding on his face which concealed his glee, and he conceded with a deep frown. "Fine... I'll have my com officer transmit the co-ordinates to you." He stood up. "I'm sorry it has to be this way."
Rebecca craned her neck slightly and narrowed her eyes at that comment. "What's that?" Rebecca inquired, and Jagar just frowned and shook his head.
"I mean I have to sacrifice my crew now to this, because obviously you are not going to let me go."
'Damn straight' Ken thought, and Rebecca took a couple steps back and forth. "Let's go, tell your man to send the co-ordinates, and we'll make our way there." Jagar rose from the sofa, taking in the room, because he knew it would be the last time.
What the hell are you up too? Val thought grimly about the Vorocand knew it could not be good. The Commanders voice filled his headset. "Captain, return to the nest and prepare for a combat jump, we have new intelligence of survivors, and were going to investigate."
Val froze, unable to speak, there is no way the CO of the Voroc would help them in any way, and Val wanted to tell Rebecca it was a trap, but that would expose him, Val realized he would rather die than have his name dashed into the ground, if it was his time to die, he was ready. "Aye aye sir, Red squadron, back to the nest, reform for the next jump, we're going in hot." Val turned his Viper, and made his way back to the port flight pod.
Jagar didn't know what to feel anymore, he's already led hundreds to their deaths with the same story, all for the sake of keeping himself and his crew alive, he was already working for the Cylon's when they attacked the Colonies. They approached him and made a tantalizing offer, service for survival, and already being the greedy and self-absorbed bastard he was made it an easy choice. But now he felt doubt gnawing at him with every ship he sent to its destruction, but then he shrugged it off, better them then me he thought. The two ships jumped away, but both to different destinations.
Attican Beta Cluster.
"Jump complete Commander, DRADIS is clear with no signs of interference, detecting one planetoid, no Colonial signals yet," announced Major Vash as she sat at her station.
Rebecca acknowledged her. "Very well, bring us into a low orbit with the planet, and begin DRADIS sweeps for friendly transponders on the moons."
Ken blinked, noticing something. "Sir, there is no sign of the Voroc on DRADIS."
Rebecca sensed something wasn't right. "That shouldn't be right, they jumped with us didn't they Major?" She looked over to her young officer.
"Aye sir, they confirmed as much before the jump, checking again for Colonial signals. There's nothing sir."
Rebecca and Ken looked at each other, and then as if to confirm their fears, four basestar's jumped literally five kilometres from them, and launched everything they had. "That frakkin' son-of-a-bitch! Spool up the FTL and get us the hell out of here Major!" Shouted the Commander as the Major jumped frantically from her station and tried to warm up the systems, already the Ulysses became engulfed with swarms of missiles.
"Sir! We need at least ten minutes until the FTL cools down; the distance nearly melted our engines!"
"We'll be dead in five! Begin fighter suppression barrages RFN! Scramble all Viper squadrons and reserves until the FTL drives cool down!" Snarled the XO, and Rebecca watched the DRADIS, dozens of Cylon Raiders were being launched.
"Radiological alarm, their launching everything they have Commander!" The Major announced as she waited near the FTL control console. The nuclear warheads crashed directly into the hull, punching holes clean down to the decks, crewmen were vented into space.
"Sir, were taking critical damage!" Rebecca snapped her head to look at the Major.
"Have our fighters protect our engines at all costs!" She nodded, and carried out the orders.
Val was not surprised, and felt the guilt crush him for not warning Rebecca, but he had no choice, and if he had to die to pay for it, it was a price he was willing to pay. The planet below provided a classic space battle, literally hundreds of Raiders were swarming around the Ulysses as she exchanged salvos with the other Basestars, and Val gave his orders. "Alright boys and girls it's all or nothing, squadron commanders assume control, but I want Red and Blue protecting the right flank, Yellow and Orange you take the right, black you provide cover for the engines. Keep them off the Ulysses, but stay the frak out of the engagement zone, I say again stay out of Ulysses firing solution!" The Vipers swarmed out, and engaged the Cylon's in close quarters. It was bloody, and devastating, seeing men and woman who trusted him die to protect his lie made Val sick to his core, and hoped he was next.
Cylon fleet, Century Alphalead VanguardBasestar
"They won't get away this time, after the Ulysses is destroyed return to the task force to follow the Galactica." A copy of Leoban said, and number two agreed.
Number six spoke her mind. "I am shocked the humans led them here for us to destroy."
Leoban smirked. "Proof of humanities corruption of spirit, they would let their fellow man die to preserve themselves. God will be pleased when they are punished along with the rest, they deserve nothing less. Jagar has been a useful tool." The machines spoke in unison.
"Agreed."
Attican Beta Cluster, engagement zone.
Half of Red squadron had been destroyed, and black were having a hard time keeping Raiders from attacking the engines. Vipers were being picked off in the heat of battle from the superior numbers the Cylon's had at their disposal, Val knew the Ulysses was doomed; nearly half the ship was aflame. Any minute it would explode into nothingness, and the last battlestar would finally be laid to rest with the others. Beyond his wildest imagination, which Val was sure was a hallucination; a mercury class battlestar came out of nowhere. Every battery firing in unison, the first unlucky basestar was struck unaware and utterly destroyed, the massive ship attacked the second, which came apart shortly after.
"Holy frak!" "Are you seeing this?!"
"We're saved!" These were just some of the comments that exploded over the wireless. Val decided it wasn't his time, and fought as fiercely as he could, destroying every metal mother frakker that appeared in his kill slot.
CIC, Battlestar Ulysses.
"My God's! It's another Battlestar!" Ken's eyes were wide with shock, and Rebecca was just the same.
This miraculous happenstance gave her hope. "Load ship to ship nuclear missile in launch tube six, use of nuclear ordinance authorized, disable the warhead safeties and fire at the nearest baseships center axis, and pray it isn't intercepted."
The Major jumped to follow the order. Outside the missile launcher swivelled and rested its aim on the basestar, and launched its deadly projectile. The missile sluggishly made its way towards the enemy ship; the Raiders were all focusing on destroying the Vipers, and reacted too late. The desired affect was satisfying, the basestar evaporated in nuclear vapour, the explosion was blinding. The Cylon's were a mess now, disorganized without direction, three baseships were destroyed in less than five minutes, and the last jumped away leaving the hundreds of Raiders which broke off their attack trying to escape. Finally the other battlestar closed in around the Ulysses, and the dead came back to life through the voice of the last person Rebecca could ever expect.
"This is Admiral Helena Cain too friendly Colonial unit, we are sending out fire suppression units now, standby to jump to these set co-ordinates when the fires are out, the Cylons will be back with a larger force any minute, we will meet you there shortly, Pegasus actual out."Rebecca now couldn't believe what was real and what wasn't anymore, what are the chances of this happening? It shook her deeply, this must be more then coincidence.
"Thank the Gods." Rebecca stammered. Then the CIC erupted into cheers.
Beta Aquila Region inside Cylon Space.
The two battlestar's traversed side by side; everyone was ecstatic, and eager to meet each other. Helena wasted no time coming aboard, and Rebecca ordered a dress and cover greeting for the Admiral, the casualties her crew suffered were in the back of her mind right now, too happy to know her aunt is alive and well. Standing on the deck next to her officers, her mind raced with so many questions, and no answers. Jagar's betrayal had proved to her how desperate people who survived had become, throwing away any dignity or principle to simply live, that disgusted Rebecca more than anything, and promised herself Jagar's days are numbered.
The landing party arrived, and everyone suppressed their smiles and stood crisply. The first to come aboard were the marines, stepping aside for the lead pilots, who Rebecca recognized as Lieutenant Noel Allison, call sign Narcho, and the CAG Captain Cole Taylor, call sign Stinger, both good men she thought. But something in their eyes betrayed that, and they stared blankly ahead. She expected to see Jurgen Belzen, her Aunts long time executive officer, instead seeing Colonel Jack Fisk stomp up and stand at attention. Val was near Rebecca, and she looked back at him, and he blinked, not sure what the look was for and simply nodded, she turned her head back forward and there stepping down from the Raptor was Admiral Helena Cain, alive indeed. She looked at Rebecca, her expression was barely composed, seeing her niece alive nearly made her run and hug her to death. But she managed to keep her personal feelings inside and walked up to face Rebecca, a small smile cracked at the edge of her lips, and Rebecca saluted sharply.
"Welcome aboard the Ulysses sir, and thank you for saving our lives, we owe you a great debt." Admiral Cain grinned then, and looked to Colonel Kenneth Reid with an approving nod.
"Well that's what family is for Commander, we were in the area." Rebecca smirked.
The Admiral scanned the men before her, nodding in approval, knowing how difficult it is to keep on going. "Keep revenge close to your hearts, and we will make them pay for what has been done to us. As you return to the Colonial fleet, we will work as one to do just that, at ease."
The crew began talking, and then crowded around their military brethren, some cheering now, even after seeing their friends die in the last ambush. Ken shook Helena's hand. "Good to see you again sir."
She nodded. "And you Colonel." Helena then placed a hand on Rebecca's shoulder, squeezing it. "I knew that if someone out there survived, it would be you." The Admiral smiled with bitter sweetness.
"We should talk in my quarters; my XO can show Colonel Fisk around the ship." The Admiral nodded, and followed her side by side to Commander Cain's quarters.
Ken approached Colonel Fisk, who seemed to have a permanent scowl etched onto his face, and he measured Ken up with furrowed brows as his eyes scanned him. Being of equal rank they shook each other's hands. The noise level rose fervently as the two crew's mingled. Jack and Ken may be of the same rank, but both men were infinitely different, in mind and body. "Colonel Fisk pleased to make your acquaintance."
He guffawed then. "Damn good to see you too Colonel Reid, we all were sure the fleet was gone leaving us alone."
Ken nodded. "That's been foremost in our minds as well, but now we have a solid chance." Fisk let his guard down and talked freely with Ken, caught up in the moment, letting some things be said which he shouldn't have mentioned, and it made Ken realize terrible things have occurred during Pegasus time alone, and he didn't ask any more questions, he was sure he would not like the answers. Instead he walked with him through the hanger deck; he shook hands with Ulysses officers, Vash among others.
When Val saw the Admiral step down from the Raptor, he could not believe his eyes. He never met Admiral Cain, but knew she was related to his own Commander, which would make things much more complicated in the chain of command, he heard things about Admiral Cain, how ruthless she was when it came to operational assignments. He was certain the two would clash, Rebecca was passionate, but tactical as well, and not willing to sacrifice lives wastefully. He hoped he knew his Commander better then he thought he did.
Lieutenant Noel Allison stopped in front of Val, and saluted. "Lieutenant Noel Allison, call sign Narcho sir."
Val raised his brows and let himself give the man a welcome; he smiled and returned the salute. "Captain Val Bonen, call sign Raven." He then shook his hand. Captain Taylor overheard and turned around to face Val, he sized him up before shaking his hand.
"Captain Taylor." Val nodded acknowledging his rank. "Captain."
Stinger crossed his arms. "How many working squadrons aboard now Captain, after seeing you nearly destroyed, I imagine losses were high."
Val gritted his teeth; he talked about his friends like they were only useful for cannon fodder. "We lost enough, and as for my squadrons we have six operational, one half strength, but enough to keep fighting." Stinger nodded, as in thought he rubbed his chin.
"I'll see about spare parts for use by your deck crew to repair and replace any Vipers."
Val blinked. "We would appreciate that Captain."
He curtly nodded and lost himself in the crowd. "We've all been through hell, but living to take down any toaster unlucky enough to cross us is one life avenged back home, and I hope to take down as many as I can." He smiled, which looked more like a frown.
Val pursed his lips and nodded. "I know what you mean." And he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let's go for a drink."
Narcho grinned, "Yes sir."
The two entered Rebecca's quarters, and like many others before her, the Admiral took some time to admire her art, freely commenting on some pieces Helena recommended to her niece when she went with her so several auctions. She then embraced Rebecca, sighing. "It is so good to see you, I thought those mother frakkers took you away from me as well, when Lucy..." She trailed her words looking down, and Rebecca furrowed her brows in compassion, she rarely, ever, mentioned Lucy to Rebecca, the memories too painful even after all this time. But with the Cylon's annihilating the Colonies some memories resurface and seem more relevant than anything. She composed herself quickly, masking her emotion with a smile. Helena took a seat, which was hard on her back, but didn't let it bother her, and Rebecca sat down next to her, taking one of her aunts hand into her own, this was going to be a long conversation.
Narcho laughed for the first time in weeks, the attacks robbed him of his good joking nature, and the marines even cracked a few grins. The pilot wreck room was full to the brim, over sixty pilots and marines drinking and mingling. What little alcohol that was left was being consumed and the crew were venting pent up emotions, some cried, most laughed, and enjoyed the company of their brothers and sisters, an unexplainable bond, which only binds those who have been through hell. The table Val sat at was messy, cards and cubits piled high, and Val looked to the faces of those to his left and right, not betraying his tell. He looked at Narcho, who smirked.
"Alright, let's see em'." They showed their hands, and they waited for Val.
"Well... good game I guess, maybe next time, I won't beat you so badly!" He slapped the cards down on the table and made a comical expression. "Full colors!" The players laughed and some swore, Narcho only laughed along. Stinger couldn't find anything in the wreck room, his temperance too stern and set he left which no one really noticed.
Val gathered his winnings with a broad smirk. Despite his current enjoyment, Val felt that pang of fear, the Vorocwas still out there, and he probably knew where they were, which made what he had to do next doubly hard. "Well kiddies, have fun, I need to go deposit my coin, and report to the XO." He saluted and the pilots smiled, saluting back. Narcho shook his hand. "See you around." Val nodded, and left the smoke filled wreck room.
Ken didn't like Colonel Fisk, he reminded him of a slow slob, but kept his personal opinion to himself. He wanted to know what happened to Colonel Jurgen Belzen, he was a good man Ken came to like when they met several times at political parties. "What became of Jurgen Belzen Colonel?"
Fisk's eyes widened, seeing his XO shot in the head right before him gave him pause. "He ah, died, during the first attacks at Scorpian shipyards."
Ken narrowed his eyes at him slightly; clearly he wasn't coming clean with him. "I see... he was a fine soldier, and a friend. I met his wife and daughters."
Fisk nodded quickly, "Ah yup a good man. So how did you survive the attacks anyways Ken?"
"Narrowly, we've been close to death too many times now, but somehow we make it through. The Cylon has something to do with it I feel."
Helena leaned forward in the comfortable sofa. "I'd like to have one of my men interrogate him, Lieutenant Thorne. We have our own Cylon prisoner, and he has been effective in coercing information out of her."
Rebecca didn't give it much thought. "Go right ahead, he plays one hell of a mind game though, my CAG tried interrogating him, and he wasn't all there, after, for a time."
Helena raised her brows and shrugged. "None of us are all there now Rebecca. But, we try to make the best of it. It was pure luck I found you. We have been tracking a large Cylon fleet for the past few days, now which is less than half the size." She grinned. "I want to take it all out Rebecca, and with two Battlestars, the odds are on our side now."
Rebecca agreed completely. "I am with you all the way."
She smiled. "Well enough of tactical discussions, we'll discuss the details later. For now, I just want to spend some time with my niece; the next few days will be lively. I know things look bleak, but never flinch from the path we're on. Now then, how have you been holding up?"
"I try not to think about it, were at war, and that is our business." Ken answered.
Fisk nodded. "I see your point, well Colonel, I guess were gonna be fighting for a long time."
Ken crossed his arms. "Well it's an easy choice for me Jack, fighting is what I've always done."
Fisk snorted, "have it your way then, I just follow frakkin' orders."
Ken sighed. "Don't we all." Captain Bonen approached the two officers, and saluted sharply.
Ken returned the salute. "At ease Captain, something you need?"
Val took a breath to steady himself, "Sir about that ship the Voroc..."
Fisk coughed. "Did you say the Voroc? You ran into those scumbags?"
Val narrowed his eyes. "Uh yeah, they led us into that Cylon ambush."
Fisk chuckled darkly. "Holy frak, we've been keeping an eye on them for a while now, but we had no real plans of pursuing them. We've been interrogating our prisoner for that information, and lieutenant Thorne will no doubt find their location when he visits your prisoner here."
Val was stunned, he almost gave himself up, telling them everything, when a loud and obnoxious Colonel saved him, he could only pray now the Cylon would give up the information. "Uh, yes sir, that's all sirs."
Ken watched him strangely, and then waved him off. "You are dismissed Captain. Let's head to the wreck room, let off some steam."
Fisk scrunched his lips in an upside down smile and nodded. "Sounds frakkin' good to me, beats the hell out of the walk around."
Val's heart was pounding, that was too close. He made his way back to the pilot wreck room, where he was greeted with open arms, and he smiled broadly. "Gentlemen, and ladies, set up the table!" And they cheered.
Rebecca felt blessed, the Gods must be smiling on her she thought, and thanked them silently, the past few weeks has made her pick up the religious reigns. With Admiral Helena Cain with her they were going to prevail, she was sure of it. "Would you like a drink Admiral?"
Helena smiled, "Please." Rebecca walked over to her liquor cabinet, which was more like a table which had art atop it. She pulled out her last bottle of Ambrosia, and took two glasses. Pouring them now she filled them, and set the bottle back. She walked back over and offered the glass to the Admiral, she took it and thanked her, raising it to her lips taking a sip. "I forgot what Ambrosia tasted like, I ran out of wine."
Rebecca chuckled, "To victory." The glasses clinked, and they were swept back into the past through laughter and anger.
