Responses to Earlier Comments:

Blaze, Chronos, and War Sage - thank you for your comments, as always! I liked writing the Galactica Bridge scene. There's a certain challenge to writing multiple people talking at once, while fast-action is ongoing. I bet I re-read that section at least 20 times, over and over, making adjustments.

***I would love to hear from all of you. Please comment.***

Disclaimer: Please note: I own no part or share in the Battlestar Galactica realm, either commercial or otherwise. This story is submitted for entertainment purposes only.

Reminder: I did not spend time making up non-earth names for BSG things - corn, journalists, etc. They are in there as is. I wanted to avoid introducing new terms, explaining them, and potentially causing confusion if/when they are used later without their explanations.

Chapter 24

The VP and Other Short Stories

"Are there no other available women in the whole of this fleet?"

~Cru's Journal if he had time to keep one.

The Cylon attack was days past but fresh on everyone's mind. The Adriatic continued to struggle with persistent fires that traveled along the many airway conduits. The Celestra was deemed unsafe, for the near term, and all but a skeleton crew were offloaded and spread out across the fleet. Repairs were ongoing. The Greenleaf had more dead than they could store.

Cru and Lieutenant Palmer weathered an inquest of their actions during the attack. It was accepted that the two men conducted themselves in an appropriate manner. Though the loss of life was always a failure in one sense or another, a letter of commendation was added to Cru's service record for holding the squadron back, which resulted in far fewer casualties.

~~~~~/~~~~~

On the subject of T-Dog.

T-Dog wasn't dead but a part of him wanted to be. He was aboard the Adriatic, running the hull work from the inside. The Shellhorn was his ship. It was a small, non-FTL repair rig. It was too large to clamp onto a vessel through a faster-than-light jump and it was too large to land on any but the bigger vessels with the biggest landing bays. T-Dog ordered it away to the heavy freighter, Prometheus. It was caught in the open as the Cylon raiders popped in. T-Dog watched from a port window as the repair vessel was missile-struck and exploded. He and nearby crewmembers were wounded when the Cylons strafed the Adriatic, causing heavy damage and breaching. A long bedrest was ordered for T-Dog to recover, but it lasted less than a day. Work was underway to repair the damaged ships and under the cover of evening hours, T-Dog had his people swing by and pick him up.

~~~~~/~~~~~

On the subject of Tom Zarek

Before the Cylon attack on the Colonies, Bree's Twin had been registered to Sagittaron. It was a way for Cru to save some money on taxes and fees. The vessel was older than many of the laws that required him to register where it was home-berthed, which was Caprica, outside Caprica City. Tom Zarek, a noted criminal and Council Representative, claimed Bree's Twin for Sagittaron. Cru worked with President Roslin to make sure Bree's Twin would never fall under the Sagittaron flag.

Zarek visited Bree's Twin with a group of dignitaries. The agriculture work being done on Bree's Twin was being modeled for projects aboard other ships. Zarek caught Cru alone for a short while as the group toured the large expanding projects.

"Captain," said Zarek, "Freedom of choice is paramount to our survival."

Cru nodded. He agreed, but he would add that freedom without limits or boundaries could also be called 'chaos'.

Zarek continued. "Indeed, without freedom - and freedom comes in many forms - is our survival even deserved? Do we deserve to survive as a species, if we have lost our freedom? If we have lost our ability to choose? If we have lost our ability to self-direct?"

"Counselor Zarek, you are talking to a military guy," said Cru. "What I define as freedom is not the same as your definition or others."

Zarek gave an acknowledging smile. "True, Captain - or should I call you Major?"

"Either is fine sir," replied Cru. "I answer to both."

Zarek smiled again. "Forgive me, I set you up. I expected a response that I could work with."

"I'm not following you, sir," said Cru. He was sensing a trap, but the conversation, so far, was innocuous.

"Captain or Major, you answer to both, which are your words, not mine. It is important that you are you, as the situation dictates. I've heard your crew call you 'Cru' and that capable young woman over there called you 'Richard'."

Evvie was not far from where Cru was walking with Zarek. She noticed as Zarek gestured towards her. A look of concern flashed in her eyes.

Cru made a face. "Counselor Zarek, what you say is not overly profound…" he began.

"Oh, but it is," interrupted Zarek."And I hope I can impress upon you the importance of this one small concept. Too many people in the fleet are just a number on a ledger and nothing more. They have no voice. They are a number, only. We have an opportunity, here-"

It was Evvie's turn to interrupt. She came from behind out of nowhere, which was surprising because she had been upfront in the small procession, moments before.

"Boys, it's photo-op time," she said as she pushed between them, hooked them with her arms at their elbows, and angled them towards a tall stand of reaching cornstalks. "The corn is almost ripe and there are a lot of excited people anticipating the first harvest. Corn is great for the digestive tract and is high in carbs."

The small procession followed Evvie's lead and the several journalists who traveled with them, readied their cameras.

Evvie smiled. "We are getting honey bees, did you know that, Mr. Zarek?"

"I did not," said Zarek with a return smile.

Zarek wasn't fooled. He saw through Evvie's attempt at redirection. To him, this was all 'move and counter-move' tactics. Zarek also recognized that it was Evvie's playing board, so to speak and that she carried a small advantage over controlling the pieces, which was fine by him.

Cru's face suggested he did not know about the bees. He wasn't fooled either. Evvie was getting him out of a conversation he was likely to regret.

Evvie continued. "It is a fascinating story about a piece of equipment brought aboard to perform maintenance."

"Here?" said Zarek as he played along, "brought aboard this ship?"

"No, Mr. Zarek," said Evvie as she smiled and gave Zarek's arm a playful squeeze. "It was aboard the Tylium Tanker Virga. I think it was a big power lift of some sort, which was sitting outside, unused, and now had a large hive in it. That hive was moved to Cloud Nine and is now swarming, meaning a second queen bee is available. We need to make some changes aboard Bree's Twin because the poor creatures are unable to navigate inside the ships, but we can make it work."

"As you said, Mrs. Hawkins," said Zarek while feigning a look of interest. "Fascinating."

Zarek rolled back into the group. They stood in front of the crops and smiled at the cameras. Several of them gave speeches on the importance of agriculture efforts expanding out to all ships.

"You are not to talk to that man alone," said Evvie as she and Cru stood out of the way. "He's dangerous. He can manipulate a person with their own good intentions. Do you know what I mean? He gets in your head and he feeds you ideas, but he does it in a way where you think you come up with them on your own."

Cru looked into Evvie's eyes. She was worried and her eyes gave off a sense of pleading.

"Okay?" said Evvie with concern. "Will you promise me?"

Cru wasn't without his own opinions. Zarek's success was in part due to his difficult-to-resist charisma, and on the dark side, his ability to bully and apply pressure.

People like Cru were often the unwitting tools of people like Zarek. Wars were fought while people like Zarek pulled the strings and pushed the buttons. Evvie was the diplomat, not Cru. If Zarek's thugs came aboard, Cru could send them back in body bags. But if the ambitious "former" terrorist himself, showed up? It was best if Cru avoided him.

Cru nodded to Evvie in agreement. "Sure."

~~~~~/~~~~~

On the subject of Emily's Cat

"I am not letting you take Oliver so he can make whoopie with other cats!"

Cru and Evvie tried so hard not to laugh, as did all the adults present.

Young Emily was beside herself. Mice were a problem aboard many ships, especially when they raided the food supplies. Cats seemed like a reasonable solution. There weren't many available and Oliver was needed for breeding purposes. In fact, the feline's participation was ordered at the highest levels of government. And, Emily was not having any of it.

"Honey," said Cru while trying to keep a straight face, "we all have to do our part even if it means…having to…"

Cru couldn't continue. A cat being seized for the express purpose of having sex with other cats was hitting a high point in ludicrous. He understood the need, of course, but the whole situation of Emily standing her ground with hands on her hips, before the "cat press-gang" was the stuff of comedy.

"Emily, dear." said Evvie with a forced look of utmost concern, "It'll be a few days and Oliver will be back."

"A few days!" cried Emily.

"Let me help," offered one of the assistants. "I had children of my own and a situation not unlike this one."

Evvie gave a nod and mouthed a "Thank you".

"Young lady," said the older fellow as he bent down enough to look Emily eye to eye. He was a kindly-looking gentleman. His appearance was the 'heart-of-gold' sort, with twinkling eyes and a merry soul. "Look," he said with a genuine smile, "That lucky ole' Tom Cat is gonna be like a young sailor on shore leave..."

"Ummm…." said Cru.

The older fellow was referring to a bygone age when Navy sailors were mostly men. They would be out at sea for long months at a time without the company of women, and many of the younger lads had only one thing on their minds when they got back in port.

Evvie's eyes widened.

The old fellow continued, but with a sudden burst of bawdy laughter. "...And I doubt the deed will take him more than thirty seconds!"

Cru lost it and so did the others.

"That didn't help," called Evvie who was trying to be heard over the loud laughter.

In truth, Emily's concerns were not unfounded. There were many cats and dogs with the surviving families, back in the early days of the escape, but almost all of them were given up for food. Indeed, "Oliver" was kept away from the new residents of Bree's Twin, for weeks, lest he suffer the same fate.

In the end, Emily was persuaded to give up Oliver for a short while, with the assurance and understanding that he would not be allowed to go "tramping about" with disreputable felines.

Several days later, when Oliver was returned, it was said that he had "a very good time".

~~~~~/~~~~~

Oh, and on the subject of Vice President Baltar

Causeway, Aft of the CIC

Galactica

Early Evening

Months earlier, Vice President Baltar visited Bree's Twin as a sort of outreach campaign at a time when people were hungry and downtrodden and needed reassurance from the struggling government. Bree's Twin was mostly populated by the working class and there was also the pervasive smell of fertilizer. Baltar couldn't leave fast enough, that was until he saw Evvie. He was immediately smitten, and sought to use his position to 'acquire' Evvie for his lab, and perhaps ultimately, to his bed.

"Evelyne," called Vice President Balter.

Cru and Evvie were walking towards a large meeting room near the CIC. The President was aboard and the Commander had one of his people set up a dinner. Saul and Ellen Tigh would be there, his son, Lee, Cru, and at Roslin's request, Evvie. Absent, and somewhat awkwardly, was the Vice President.

Cru and Evvie's route took them near the room where Balter had set up his Cylon detecting lab. Baltar was inside, near the door, and saw them pass.

Evvie turned at the call of her name. Cru took several extra steps before he realized she had stopped. This created a small distance between them, a distance Baltar exploited. He approached with a quick step and took up a position between the two of them with his back to Cru.

Cru smiled to himself. There were several terms used to describe the Vice President's little act of standing between his pursuit and what he perceived was the competition.

"Evelyne," repeated Baltar, " you declined my offer."

Evvie didn't miss a beat.

"Mr. Vice President, I took it as a gesture of kindness, to be sure, but, I am quite content in my work. Bree's Twin is a provider and I am a part of it."

Cru cleared his throat. "Mrs. Hawkins runs most of the output production, Mr. Vice President," added Cru from his place behind Baltar.

"I do," said Evvie as she leaned to the side enough to see Cru and flash him a big smile. "The good Captain keeps the ship running - you know, the easy work. I do all the rest."

Cru divided his time between serving aboard the Galactica and maintaining his ship. John managed the bridge when Cru was aboard the Galactica. Tanner and a fellow named Meier kept up with the maintenance, and all of them worked around Evvie, who managed the crops, the inventory, the food stores, and the various liaison work.

"Well, yes, that's extraordinary," said Baltar. "But, I mean no. I mean…the kindness wasn't kindness, not in that sense. It was - it was genuine. It was recognition of…" His eyes strayed low, below Evvie's neckline, and snapped back up, as he attempted to master silly boyish wants. "...your accomplishments, which I might add are exemplary."

"Mr. Vice President, I am very busy with my current pursuits," replied Evvie. "I am in a position to do a great service for the fleet, sir, and Major Cru, behind you, has been particularly effective in removing obstacles in the path. I am quite content, thank you.

Balter glanced back at Cru as Cru hid his smile behind a hand and another clearing of his throat.

"Well, I, I, should be clear. I mean, I should have been clear. I have a perfect position for her, I mean, for you," Baltar blanched. "What I mean is that I have a perfect position for you on my staff." The VP was being a fool. His outward appearance conveyed that to anyone watching.

"Mr. Vice President, I have to decline, again. We all do our parts, and mine is in agriculture as well as other important work.

"Still, it's possible…I mean you could…I mean…"

Cru took several steps forward to come up alongside Baltar. "Mr. Vice President we are meeting with the Commander. He will be expecting us."

"Yes, of course," said Baltar. He gave an odd sort of old-world bow towards Evvie, but also, in a fluster, he hooked back his leg like a woman's curtsy. It was odd. "Of course."

Evvie smiled and returned a curtsy, in the way she had learned as a young girl.

Baltar ran into several people while retreating back to his room, at speed.

~~~~~/~~~~~

"That was a bit primal," said Cru with a laugh.

"That was a little scary," added Evvie with a smile. "I thought that man was going to have a breakdown."

"Did he just bow to you?"

Evvie smiled. "He did. I think he's a nerd. It was kind of cute."

Cru smiled and nodded. "I felt like I should have helped him out there, but it was comical watching him implode."

"Oh, stop…" said Evvie with a smile. "He's the Vice President."

"He is, indeed. And if I'm not mistaken, he's sweet on you."

"I suppose I should be flattered."

"And, are you?" asked Cru.

"Gods, no."

~~~~~/~~~~~

"Action stations! Action Stations!"

Cru ran for the CIC with Evvie in close pursuit. He and Evvie watched from the wings as Commander Adama, with President Roslin on his left, connected with Admiral Cain, amid a stunned and silent CIC. The Battlestar Pegasis had found them. The room erupted in cheers.

This ends Chapter 24

What I was thinking while writing

I'm not a fan of these catch-up pieces, like closing up the story on T-Dog missing, Zarek wanting Bree's Twin for Sagittaron, or the VP's infatuation with Evvie. I gotta get better at starting and finishing in the same installments.

Head Vision Six had some nasty things to say about Evvie while Baltar was fumbling with his words. I played around with writing it out, but it got clumsy really fast. Plus, the story is written from Cru's perspective and I could not flip over to the Head Vision Six without flipping to Baltar's perspective.

Evvie is quickly getting to be more important to Bree's Twin than Cru. It's kind of happening by design.