(updated 10-09-2020)
CHAPTER THREE
The best laid plans of…
"It didn't seem real to any of us when they declared the Arcadia Expedition missing. We each tried to deal with the grief in our own ways. All I remember is the shock and tightening numbness, and the looks on everyone's faces, especially Buffy and Faith. It was Faith who surprised me the most, refusing to give up hope for the longest time. Buffy took it the hardest, and she would have shut down if it hadn't been for Spike. When he died, she isolated herself, putting distance between her and everyone else. Even Angel, and god knows he tried, couldn't get her to come out of the shell she surrounded herself with. I think that was one reason behind his decision to take out the Circle of the Black Thorn and hurt Wolfram & Hart. After Cleveland, Buffy was now more than ever focused on her mission. If I had to put it into words, she'd become more Slayer and less Buffy. Ironically, that was a good thing for our side because she was ready to deal with what we had to face after the White House and Boston…"
— Willow Rosenberg
oOoOo
Time had no meaning to the "Powers That Be". Five years may as well have been five minutes, watching from their higher plain of existence, while events unfolded across the galaxy. They may have been alien compared to humans, but they shared similar characteristics when handling worry, confusion and uncertainty…
"The path is not unfolding as it should be! Without the evolution of the Invid, all is at risk now!"
"He hoped to return to her as he was… his love for her is strong."
"The Shapings showed him what would happen if he returned when he wanted to! They showed him what he needed to do, and yet he refused to take the final step. I do not understand what he hopes to accomplish by choosing this course of action?"
"Human emotions have always been difficult to predict… let alone control."
"Yes, but his actions have created a chain reaction of events that could lead to disaster… the Shadows are even now approaching Earth! The course of action he is following will not only lead to his death, but hers as well!"
"Yes, I know. Despite all that is at risk, the Regess will not force him down a path he is not ready to take. He has to choose to take that final step, but there is still hope. Even now The Shapings hint at a possibility."
"What possibility?"
"It is still unclear, but The Shapings hint at something even grander than we could have even hoped for if it all unfolds."
"I am not as optimistic as you."
"Maybe you, as the humans say, 'should take a leap of faith'. Either way, events are now beyond even our ability to influence. We can only watch and wait to see how they unfold."
oOoOo
The force of gravity pushed down hard on the shuttle's passengers as it rocketed towards orbit to dock with the International Space Station. While the g-forces exerted their pressures, Samantha struggled to maintain a calm expression as her knuckles turned white from the death grip she had on her seat's armrest. Yet, this being her first shuttle flight into space was only part of the reason for her stomach tightening nervousness.
While trying to maintain a forced outward illusion of calm, her mind raced, going over the plan again, making sure they had taken every detail and contingency into account. This was just habit from her training and experience as a Special Operations Agent for the US Government.
The brush of another person's hand on hers interrupted Samantha's thoughts. She didn't fight the gentle touch as the other hand got her to release her death grip on the armrest and give it a gentle squeeze. Her attention turned to the redhead sitting in the seat next to her, taking in the other woman's reassuring smile. This brought a momentary sense of real calm to Samantha. She returned the gesture by smiling and squeezing the redhead's hand.
As the shuttle achieved orbit, the g-forces eased as gravity lost its grip. Samantha could move a little more easily as weightlessness took over. Her traveling companion leaned over, "See, that wasn't too bad… it's worse when somebody is shooting at you," the redhead whispered.
Samantha tried not to laugh too hard as Willow gave her a smirk and squeezed her hand again. A brief dark cloud cast its shadow over her, as her thoughts turned to Riley, and wondering where he was and if he was okay. She shook off the momentary lapse, knowing they couldn't be together under present circumstances. She was thankful to have someone like Willow in her life.
To say that the last few years had been insane would be a complete understatement. General Coulson had left on the Arcadia Expedition, leaving Samantha's husband and partner—Riley Finn—and her with the mission to monitor the ongoing demonic threat. The General had dropped a lot on them, but their orders were only to monitor and hold out until the Arcadia's return.
They had all been aware of the demonic infiltration of the US Government, but when the Arcadia failed to return, they hadn't expected the course of events that would unfold. The other side seemed to hold all the advantages, and the result was that a lot of good and innocent people were dead.
Now, Samantha, Riley, Willow and the others found themselves in a desperate struggle, trying to stave off defeat, not only against demon threats, but their own government. There was no help coming to save them, they only had themselves to pull out a miracle victory against the overwhelming odds and forces they faced.
Willow leaned in again, whispering, "We'll be docking soon."
The redhead's warm breath tingled on her neck, causing Samantha's skin to flush and pulse to quicken. This was another aspect of how upside down her life had turned. She'd realized and understood they would have to make sacrifices during this struggle, but being with Willow wasn't something she'd imagined or considered much of a sacrifice.
After the attack on the White House, Samantha and Riley could read the writing on the wall. With the President and most of the cabinet dead, and Kinsey assuming the reins of power, it was only a matter of time before things got worse. The situation began deteriorating fast with a good portion of Boston in ruins.
They realized someone needed to on the inside if they were going to have any chance in this war. Because of Riley's connection to Buffy, he was already under suspicion, and they would never trust him. That left only Samantha, who could fill the role they needed. The only obstacle in the way was their marriage.
Samantha agreed that Riley's plan was the only way to lift her above suspicion, but it still wasn't an easy decision. Even after all this time, the pain was still there, and how Riley tried to console her about what they had to do.
The next day, the FBI received a call from Samantha—cut short by gun shots—warning about further attacks against the country.
When the feds arrived at the house, they found Samantha, lying on the living room floor, covered in blood from a bullet having grazed her torso. While paramedics patched her up, she told the FBI, with tear-filled eyes and gritted teeth, about discovering her husband plotting with the Slayers to conduct more attacks on the country.
The bullet-ridden walls, along with blood matching Riley's at the scene, added much credibility to her story. But even then, both Riley and Samantha understood they would need something else to raise her above any doubts and suspicion… they would need another sacrifice.
She still had nightmares about Robin's death… gunned down in the streets during that FBI raid.
The plan called for Samantha to provide the information about a "Slayer safe house" when she discovered her husband's traitorous activities. Everyone was to have cleared out by the time the FBI got there… but someone screwed up and Robin and others were still there when the FBI arrived.
Robin sacrificed himself to buy time for the others at the house to escape, and it was a minor miracle he was the only one lost. But even though Robin had known about the risks, his death still gnawed at her. She understood there would be losses, but telling herself that Robin was a "casualty of war" did little to ease the guilt gnawing at her.
If that wasn't bad enough, what followed was even harder with her being thrusted into the media spotlight… the hero who helped to uncover and foil those "Slayer terrorists". It tore at her soul to publicly denounce, and say such vile, hateful lies about the man she loved. Then there was the public divorce… she couldn't even keep her engagement and wedding rings, destroying them in a public display of loyalty to the country.
These sacrifices sealed Samantha's credentials as a "loyal soldier" to those in charge. The problem now became was how she would stay in contact with the resistance to pass information. They needed a courier they could trust… that's where Willow came in.
Between Riley scrubbing the federal databases before going underground, providing fake identification and her magic, they set Willow up with a new background. This allowed her to move around in public.
Yet, even with her new persona, Willow needed a reason to be seeing Samantha regularly. That was the easiest aspect of everything.
With Samantha being newly divorced and single, she was free to explore other relationships. The pair engaged in an on-again, off-again relationship to deflect any suspicions.
At first, Samantha found it a little awkward and uncomfortable, putting on those close displays of affection in public needed to sell their story. But after several years, the line between acting and real had blurred.
While the sex offered an outlet to escape the pain and loneliness, they were each suffering. There was also a deep friendship between the two women that Samantha sometimes had difficulty putting into words or understanding.
Samantha jerked with a start when the shuttle shuddered as it docked with the space station. She was taking a deep breath to calm herself when Willow leaned in again.
"This will work? Won't it?" Willow whispered, struggling to control her nervousness as the scope of what they were about to attempt sank in.
Despite her own doubts and worries, Samantha's first thought was to sooth her lover's nerves, "It'll be fine," she whispered, smiling, meeting Willow's eyes.
oOoOo
Samantha projected an air of nonchalance as she and Willow passed each security checkpoint on their way to the light cruiser USS Valley Forge docked alongside the space station. All the while, she made mental notes, gauging each checkpoint and the armed guards.
At each checkpoint, the guards double-checked her and Willow's identification. This was the least of Samantha's worries. They had spent the last year getting everything into place, so they could be up here without drawing unwanted attention.
The one surprise Samantha discovered was seeing how much Robotech equipment was being used by the station's crew. Ever since Kinsey had taken power, he'd restricted access to the equipment—especially weapons—left behind when the Arcadia departed on her mission.
Despite Kinsey's efforts, General Coulson had prepared for this possibility. With Captain Coleiro's help, the General had established hidden supply caches. Samantha tried not to chuckle at the mental image of how Kinsey and his allies would react if they knew how much Robotech equipment the resistance had stockpiled.
But then a lack of weapons was never our problem in this fight, she thought, as she and Willow boarded the Valley Forge to meet with her Captain.
After the White House attack and the disaster in Boston, it soon became apparent that Kinsey and his supporters were playing a long game. They started by canceling the 2006 mid-term elections, citing "ongoing security concerns" as the reason. That some of Kinsey's more vocal opponents either died in "accidents" or mysteriously disappeared helped mute any public outcry.
Even when some sitting Senators and Congressmen tried challenging the cancelation in the Supreme Court, Kinsey outmaneuvered them there too. He'd already stacked the court with his own people after several of the justices died of "natural causes".
Over the last few years, Kinsey seemed focused on expanding his control planet-side, leaving the space forces untouched for now. Fortunately for the resistance, General Coulson helped get people he knew into key positions on the space station and the small fleet of Robotech cruisers defending the planet. The General wanted to ensure that if his people couldn't control the fleet, then at least they could neutralize the ships and their firepower as a threat.
The situation had now changed, forcing the resistance's hands, bringing Samantha and Willow up here. Samantha had discovered that Kinsey was creating a new Presidential Praetorian Guard, answering only to him.
This special unit was to act as his personal bodyguards and enforcers, and armed from the small stockpile of Robotech weapons under his control. When activated, the unit's first orders were to takeover command of the space station and US-controlled ships in orbit. Then the plan was to seize control of the other cruisers not under US control.
If the resistance didn't act, it would be only a matter of time before he destroyed everyone opposing him. Yet, despite all the time spent planning this operation, it still reeked of desperation.
All this weighed on Samantha's thoughts as they entered the Valley Forge's conference room. The only person in the room was Captain Lynch, standing to greet the women. An immediate sense of relief filled Samantha upon seeing the Captain because there was always the risk of being discovered and walking into a trap.
"Ms. Carson," the Captain said, holding his hand out to Samantha.
Samantha nodded, taking the Captain's offered hand, "Captain Lynch, good to see you. This is Ms. Willow Ross, she's a technical consultant working with DARPA and NASA," she said.
She noted the hesitation in the Captain's eyes, "It's okay Captain, Willow is familiar with what's going on. She's here to advise and report back to Riley."
"Okay. You probably want to know our status?" a relieved Lynch said, offering the women seats around the small conference table before settling into his seat.
Willow nodded, "The last report we got from you was nearly two weeks ago. When we heard nothing from you, we thought Kinsey's people got to you. We need to know if you and your people are still ready to go?"
Lynch sighed, knowing the women wouldn't be happy with his report and the latest news. He still had some difficulty accepting some details in his report. The Captain eased into the bad news, "I've talked to the Captains on the European, Russian and Chinese crewed ships. They're still willing to either support us or stand down. We won't have any problems from those ships," Lynch sighed again, "Our biggest problem is with our other cruisers… the Enterprise and Saratoga."
The Captain's news caught Samantha by surprise. They'd based all their operation plans on having the support of all US-crewed ships in orbit, "What's the problem with them? I thought we had our people on those ships?" she said, her minding racing at this unexpected problem.
Lynch exhaled, reading the concern on Samantha's face, "We had our people aboard. That is until a week ago. Then suddenly the orders came in and they pulled both crews. They didn't waste any time, they had the replacement crews already on their way up here when the orders came in. The new crews took over the same day."
"Shit!" Samantha swore, shaking her head in frustration. This was a huge screw-up, throwing their plans into jeopardy, "Why the hell are we just hearing about this now?"
Lynch sympathized with Samantha, but he couldn't change what had happened, "Space Command implemented a new communications lockdown… restricting all non-official message traffic to the surface. I couldn't send any warnings to the surface without drawing unwanted attention to me. When they did this move, they did it with no warning. It caught all of us by surprise. I still don't know why they only did two ships. If this was a pre-emptive move or just a planned crew replacement, I don't know, but I figure it's only a matter of time before they replace us too."
"Can we get these crews to join us or at least stand down?" Willow said, mirroring Samantha's concern and frustration.
Lynch shook his head, "I don't think so. It's a strange situation… they keep those crews and ships off-limits to the rest of us, and they don't come on the station. The only contact I've had is with their Captains, either or comms or during our fleet planning sessions. They're real arrogant pricks that don't think much of the rest of us… you know the type, true blue Kinsey loyalists, so I don't see getting anywhere with them. I figure if we make our move, we'll end up in a firefight with them, and from what I've seen so far they're no slouches. We might take them out with the support of the rest of the fleet, but they'll do a lot of damage before they go down…"
Samantha noted the hesitation on Lynch's face, "What else is wrong?" she said.
Lynch exhaled a deep sigh, not sure how he would explain this little detail or if they would believe him, "I-I don't know… There's something off about those crews. I get a bad vibe whenever I'm around their Captains. Also, even though they don't leave their ships, they get a lot of shipments… more than any other ship in the fleet gets. There's a daily shuttle run just dedicated to bringing up containers for those ships. The manifests and containers all say its food being shipped, but…"
A chill ran down Samantha's spine, reading the Captain's face, "But what, Captain?" she said.
Lynch's eyes betrayed his nervousness and doubts, "I got one of my crew to sneak a look inside one of those containers… all they had in them were blood bags!"
oOoOo
Technical Sergeant Cathy Mah tried stifling a yawn while staring at her monitoring display console. Attached to the 20th Space Control Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, the Sergeant's job was to detect, track, identify, and report all near-earth objects and deep space objects. It was just another quiet shift of looking at and cataloging the space surrounding Earth.
A sigh escaped—not for the first time—while staring at the tracks on her console display, denoting the positions of the International Space Station and cruisers hanging in orbit. She'd submitted a request to serve on either the space station or the cruisers, but there was a long list of applicants vying for those highly coveted positions.
Another sigh escaped, resigning herself to the harsh reality that looking at a display screen was the closest she would ever get to space. A warning alarm flashing on her console ended any further brooding thoughts about her future.
What the hell?
The Sergeant's training kicked in, and her fingers flew across the keyboard, typing in commands to bring up more information about the alarm. As per operational procedures, she also ran a diagnostic check on her console to ensure it was working properly.
A sense of dread gripped her as more information scrolled across her display, and she reached for her phone to alert her supervisor.
oOoOo
"So Howard, where do we stand on our push to repeal the twenty-second amendment?" President Robert Kinsey said, eyeing his Chief-of-Staff seated on the other side of his desk in the oval office.
A small nervous smile etched the Chief-of-Staff's face, "It shouldn't be a problem, Mr. President. We've laid all the groundwork for it. The House Majority Leader will introduce the motion in two weeks. We already have the two-thirds majority support in both houses, so passing it shouldn't be a problem."
Kinsey read the man's nervousness along with the forming beads of sweat on his forehead, "What's the problem, Howard?" he said, his voice taking on a darker tone.
The Chief-of-Staff gulped as the President's tone implied a lot. Kinsey did not tolerate those that failed him or held back information… especially bad news, "S-Sir… it's nothing. It's just a few Senators and Congressmen have been raising questions about the push to repeal this amendment and remove Presidential term-limits. A-Also, it looks like the state Governors have gotten wind of this too. We've been getting calls from them… they're requesting to convene a constitutional convention to discuss this, along with holding new mid-term elections."
The flash of anger crossing the President's face had the Chief-of-Staff, struggling to keep his fear and bladder under control, "What the hell? Have you told them that the country needs a firm hand during these uncertain times?" Kinsey said.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"And they're still calling me… my presidency into question?"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
As he sat back in his chair, Kinsey fumed, thinking dark, hate-filled thoughts about those who would dare oppose him. He considered his current position and how the plan was proceeding. Everything was proceeding more or less on schedule, with the Slayers and their supporters being the only major roadblocks to the plan. It was time to take a few risks and speed up the timetable.
An evil smirk filled Kinsey's face, contemplating removing his remaining opposition, "I want a list of everyone… and I mean everyone who is opposing me."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"I mean, I want everyone who has even raised a voice of doubt or questioned me…"
"S-Sir?"
"I think it's time to clean house… get rid of those that are holding us back. Understood?"
"Y-Yes, sir! Y-You're right, as always… we need to remove anyone against us."
"Excellent, Howard. I'm glad you see it my way… I want that list on my desk by end of today," Kinsey said, dismissing his Chief-of-Staff with a wave of his hand.
With thoughts preoccupied with putting together a list of people he could dump this assignment on and potentially use as scapegoats, he didn't at first realize he was being dismissed. The man blinked and then nodded to the President as he regained his composure and began to leave. That composure was a temporary illusion as Kinsey spoke again, catching his Chief-of-Staff by surprise, causing the man to stumble as he spun to face the President.
"Howard… I want you to send another intern up to the residence tonight."
A sickening sensation filled the Chief-of-Staff's stomach, "S-Sir?" he said, regaining his balance.
Kinsey smirked, enjoying the man's discomfort at being forced to cater to and satisfy all his personal needs and appetites, "That redhead you got for me last time. She couldn't handle everything I wanted to do. This time I want something a little younger. How about that perky young blonde working in your office? She's got that whole cheerleader vibe… she looks pretty flexible, and seems eager to please," he said.
The President tried not to laugh as his Chief-of-Staff's face turned white and scurried out of his office. He leaned back again in his chair, while dreams of power and glory filled his head. It didn't take long for his thoughts to switch over to the new intern and what he would do to her. His pulse quickened and desire flared with anticipation, gripping him as the explicit fantasies took over, consuming his thoughts.
Hmmm… the oval office is soundproof… I should really play in here one of these times. It would be just the damn mess to clean up afterwards…
The phone ringing interrupted any further daydreaming, causing Kinsey's smile to fade. There was the brief temptation to have the person calling him killed for interrupting him.
"Yes?"
Any remnants of his smile vanished as he listened to the caller and the news being relayed.
oOoOo
"Vampires! They put frigging vampires aboard those cruisers!" Samantha said, not believing what she was saying.
"Are you sure it was blood that your crewman found?" Willow said, trying to shake off her own disbelief.
"Y-Yeah, he took a photo of the bags because he knew that no one would believe him without evidence. W-What do you mean v-vampires?" Lynch said, eyeing the women hesitantly.
Samantha swore again, "It's exactly what I said… vampires! The undead that feed on blood…! Damn it! We should have seen this move!"
Lynch was still debating whether the women were serious or crazy, "You're kidding… right?" he said.
Willow sighed, shaking her head, "I wish we were…"
The communication panel interrupted any further discussion, "Captain to the bridge!"
The Captain didn't hesitate, grabbing the handset from the comm panel, "Lynch here… what is it?"
Samantha and Willow studied the Captain's expression, noting his surprise and shock, "I'm on my way!" he said, leaving both women wondering what was happening.
"What's the problem?" Samantha said, worried that something else was going wrong.
Lynch stared at her, unsure of how to explain the call, "You need to come to the bridge… something is happening," he said, heading towards the conference room door.
Samantha and Willow glanced at each other in confusion, but didn't hesitate, following the Captain to the bridge.
oOoOo
Everyone in the Situation Room came to attention as President Kinsey entered. He waved everyone to take their seats as he settled into his seat at the end of the table, "What's happening?" he said.
"Sir, fifteen minutes ago our deep space radar and other sensors started picking up anomalies nearly half-a-million kilometers past the moon. They appear to be getting stronger and more pronounced," replied an Air Force General.
A stab of momentary panic grabbed Kinsey. He shook it off, "Do we know what it is or what's causing it?" he said, taking a hard tone.
The General took a deep breath, "Sir, all indications are that we are seeing the beginnings of a space-fold transition… a very large space-fold transition."
It took a moment for this news to sink for the President, "Y-You're saying that something is arriving?"
"Yes, sir."
The room began spinning for Kinsey as the implications of what was happening hit him, "Y-You're saying that the Arcadia expedition is coming home?"
Kinsey was at a loss as the tendrils of panic gripped him. For a moment he debated clearing the room to give him some time to think.
Damn it! I am the President of the United States… I should be able to deal with this…
The General replied, "I can't say with one hundred percent certainty. The event forming fits the profile, but this is much larger, sir."
Sweat rolled down Kinsey's back as he struggled with trying to figure a way out of his dilemma. He realized once General Coulson and Captain Coleiro found out what had been going on the last few years, it was a guarantee they would make a move against him. They had more than enough firepower in that fleet of theirs to force him to surrender. He'd sacrificed too much to get to where he was now, to let it go without a fight. There was a slim window of opportunity if he was willing to take it.
I still have one card left to play, he thought.
"General, order the Enterprise and Saratoga to move out and take a position close to that space-fold point. Once the Arcadia arrives, they're to fire everything they have on the Arcadia and other ships to destroy them!"
A gasp filled the room with everyone staring at the President in disbelief. It took the General a moment to shake off his shock, "S-Sir?"
While the General along with his cabinet dithered, Kinsey knew he could count on the loyalty of the crews of those two cruisers. He'd always suspected Coulson of infiltrating Space Command with his people before leaving, but it wasn't until recently that he was able to expand his control off-planet.
"You heard me, General! General Coulson and Captain Coleiro have sympathies for and connections with the Slayer terrorist organization! This makes them accomplices, and if we allow them to enter orbit, there's no telling what destruction they could unleash on us!"
The General swallowed hard, saying a silent pray for guidance, but he wasn't about to disobey his Commander-in-Chief, "Yes, sir!" he replied.
oOoOo
Samantha and Willow were hot on the Captain's heels as he entered the bridge. The sense of urgency among the bridge crew caught them by surprise.
"Report!" Lynch ordered, making his way to his command chair.
One of the bridge officers stepped forward, "Sir, we've detected a gravitational disturbance forming just past the moon."
Lynch paused, his mind racing as he absorbed the report, "What kind of disturbance?" he said, taking his seat.
"Sir… it appears to look like a space-fold transition."
Before Lynch could say anything, Willow shouted out, "The Arcadia… is it the Arcadia!"
Samantha saw her inner feelings mirrored on Willow's face as a sudden sense of hope gripped her. She tried to stay calm as her thoughts raced.
They've returned…! They came back…!
Captain Lynch saw everyone's growing excitement, and stepped in to keep his crew focused, "We don't know if that's them, so let's not jump ahead of ourselves," he said.
He may have been experiencing the same thoughts and emotions, but he was also a professional and they were dealing with an unknown situation, "We do this by the book. We have an unidentified object, possibly ships about to execute a space-fold into our space."
"SIR!"
"What is it?" Lynch said.
"Enterprise and Saratoga are underway, heading towards the space-fold coordinates… I'm detecting increasing power levels… SIR! They're powering up their particle beam turrets!"
A sinking sensation filled Lynch, seeing the situation was about to go sideways on him, "Damn it!" he muttered.
"Warn them off! Tell them to stand down until we can form the fleet up!" he ordered.
That sinking sensation only grew as his communications officer reported back, "Sir, they're not responding!"
Lynch swore under his breath, focusing on what he needed to do, "Okay, first let's get us clear of the station. Seal all hatches and prepare for emergency departure! Contact the rest of the ships. Have them form up on us and we'll take up a defensive position just within weapons range of the coordinates… Weps."
"Sir?"
"Get me a missile lock on both the Enterprise and Saratoga! Bring our particle beam turret online and make sure we have a lock as well on both ships!"
Silenced gripped the bridge while the crew grappled with their Captain's orders, but that hesitation quickly passed and they went back to work.
The ship had barely cleared the station to form up with the rest of the fleet when the communications officer reported, "Sir! We're receiving orders from Space Command to move up and support the Enterprise and Saratoga. We are to fire on any ships that appear!"
Lynch took a deep breath, knowing this was the moment where things went to hell in a handbasket, "Ignore those orders! Tell the Enterprise and Saratoga if they fire on the Arcadia and any of her escorting ships, we will fire on them and destroy them."
He noted the shock registering on his communications officer's face, "Send it!" he ordered, knowing he was crossing a line from which there was no return. He just hoped that everything would work out.