Responses to Earlier Comments:

Thank you, War Sage. Agreed on the nuke. I wrote a couple of paragraphs on Bree's Twin getting hit by debris and the start of a rescue operation, but it added no real value and I scrapped it. Thank you for your comment on the letter - I used the Google Docs thesaurus and kept plucking synonyms. It took like 2 hours to write and I still updated it on the day I published the chapter.

Thank you, Chronus1326. I think you'll see pretty quickly where I am tracking to. I have to remind myself that this is a story about life in the fleet. I've moved Cru off to the Stiletto to give Evvie some room. I'll come back to Cru more when the Cylons arrive. Pegasus is still there but won't factor into much of what I do (I agree on Lee's command of it). Cain is gone. I wrote something like a thousand words on Cain intending to throw Cru out of the Corps - Cru was the only Marine officer for both ships and Cain felt he would affect her ability to control and use the Marines as enforcers.

***All comments are welcome. I'll do my best to respond***

Disclaimer: Please note: I own no part or share in the Battlestar Galactica realm, commercial or otherwise. This story is submitted for entertainment purposes only. Oh, and any similarities to people present or past are purely coincidental.

Reminder: I did not spend time making up non-earth names for BSG things - beans, tomatoes, ice cubes, 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.

Ch 36 - Post-Election

"The crew has accepted me as their Captain. The fools! Mu-ha-ha-ha-ha! Okay, just kidding."

~Evvie's journal

Evvie and Liddy sat across from each other at a picnic table made from New Caprica wood. Sawmills were in operation down on the planet's surface and running overtime to keep up with the building needs. Yes, a picnic table was hardly "mission critical" for establishing the colony, but Evvie had her connections.

The two women were three platforms up, surrounded by beans, tomatoes, and green peppers, they were under a canopy of synthetic "natural" lighting, and they looked out over the lush expanse of Cargo Hold Three. The air was heavy with the scent of growing things and soothing with the gentle pattering song of rain-like sprinkler systems.

"You've been sad," said Liddy as she drank a blended smoothie of roasted sweet onions and beets.

Liddy was the scrappy young woman from the Pyxis. She and Evvie had a history. Liddy's fists were hard like bone-steel and Evvie's face had been bruised severely by them. That was then and this was now. They worked things out.

"Very perceptive, Liddy," said Evvie. She was trying to read a book, which wasn't working out well. "I thought I was hiding it from everyone."

"Not from me. I notice everything." Liddy took another swig of the thick concoction in her glass, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and continued picking at the head of a nail sticking up from the table's surface.

"I miss Mr. Cru," said Evvie. "That's all."

"You want him back?" said Liddy without looking up. The nail was her whole focused world, at the moment.

Evvie smiled warmly at the younger woman.

Liddy struggled with her demons. Thirst and hunger drove a madness into people, the likes of which some never recovered from. But something else happened to Liddy over on the Pyxis, something dark and terrible, and it left a broken young woman in her place. Now, she noticed simple things and fixated on them, sometimes for hours - a flickering light, an ice cube melting, a misspelled word, or a nail that had not been fully hammered down. It was her therapy. It worked for her.

"I'd like him back, yes," said Evvie.

"To kiss him?" said Liddy.

"To what…?" said Evvie with surprise. "No, that's not…no."

Evvie gave another warm smile after a pause. Liddy had been a Gemenese mixed martial arts fighter of some talent, and a minor celebrity in that line of work. Now, she had the demeanor of a child at times and odd comments weren't out of the ordinary.

"I miss his company," said Evvie after another pause. "That's all."

"No, you like him, but it's our secret," said Liddy. "Liddy has many secrets. Won't tell anyone"

With that, Liddy sprung up from her seat, hopped from the railing to the platform above, and pulled herself up and over.

"No - it's not…Liddy wait…"

Liddy was powerful. She had lost a great deal over on the Pyxis and was left as a mere shell of a woman, but her strength and cat-like agility returned in short order. Moments later even the sound of her footfalls overhead was gone.

Evvie sat alone and marveled at how fast circumstances can change. The ship was never without loud equipment humming and the clunking and thumping sounds of work reverberating from somewhere in the ship's interior, but when someone had gotten used to all of that, all of the noises and the sounds common to a ship in service, and so much so that they became background and irrelevant, there can be a certain silence that was attractive in its way.

"There you are, Captain!" shouted Kevin from the catwalk gardens that jutted out from the perimeter walls. "Don't move, I'm coming over!"

Evvie sighed and gave a light smile to herself. "No Kevin," she said silently, "I wouldn't dream of it…".

Kevin was the ship's Cruise Director. He was in charge of the ship's morale and was doing good at it by most accounts. He kept people busy and kept them having fun. His latest grand event was competition hopscotch with teams of ten, blindfolded, helmeted, and everyone swinging foam pool noodles like clubs.

"Madame Captain," said Kevin as he arrived on the platform with Evvie, "I have it all set. Esrenladiel Doogan-"

"Also known as 'Essa'," interrupted Evvie, "by her request, Kevin, not mine."

"...Which is Tanglore-speak for 'Broken Cup'," added Kevin with fashionable discontent. "No one wants to watch - or listen to - a broken cup."

Evvie gave a wry grin. "Kevin, names are just names. My full name is Nosferatu but I am fairly certain no one wants to stab me in the heart with a pine stake."

"No your name isn't, and that's not even funny," said Kevin. "My cousin Bifred-"

"It was a joke, Kevin," said Evvie, "let's try to focus, please."

"Right," said Kevin with a pivot, "right you are." Kevin sat down where Liddy had been seated. "Okay, I have worked out the schedule for - 'Essa'." Kevin made an animated gesture of acceptance. In show business, a name like "Esrenladiel" could sell tickets and pack a house, while "Broken Cup" might get second billing to a small dancing dog in a ballerina tutu. Kevin didn't expect Evvie to understand the finer points of stardom, but she was the boss, afterall.

"I'm sure the schedule is fine, Kevin," said Evvie. "Just make sure you coordinate with the security detail, please."

"Already done, Mia-dro Sem'Inglio,"

Evvie chuckled, "Okay, that wasn't even close."

Kevin made a face. "Mee-ah Dro Sam'Aggliod?"

"Nope"

"Agglio, Sam' Manna-dro?"

"Colder."

"Well, I don't know Picon honorifics! If I wanted to be Piconish, I'd have shaved my head, bought some combat boots, and strutted around like a peacock."

Evvie laughed again. "It's 'Mia'dra et Sahm'eeglio'."

"...Which is exactly what I said."

"And, we'd have to be blood relations, for you to use it with me."

"Which we are obviously not," said Kevin, again with the animated gestures.

"Get out of here, you nut," laughed Evvie again.

"Only too gladly," said Kevin as he stood, dropped the facade, and gave a smile. "I love the necklace by the way. It's a good color for you."

"Thank you. Let me know if you want to borrow it."

"Captain, I have green eyes," said Kevin with mock indignation. "Really, you need to hide that boorish overcoat you insist on wearing."

Evvie closed her book with a light sigh. Her quiet hour of reading and self-reflection was over.

Evvie and Kevin walked down towards the main access portal between cargo holds. Kevin gave a sweeping salute-like gesture with his hand, and a hardy, "Vendui, Abbil!", which was a greeting instead of a farewell. Like a shot, he was off towards the general population quarters for morning calisthenics. Evvie headed downstairs to access the stairs up to the bridge. John had asked if he could go over the numbers from the previous evening with her. After John, there was a trip down to Tanner, in the machine shop, to discuss the dwindling number of people to support maintenance. After that, there was a call down to the surface to re-work the delivery schedules. Bree's Twin continued to support the colonial population with produce. Crop plants were finally growing down there, but there were long days of overcast, odd weather, and unseen critters that nubbed seedlings down to their tiny roots. Once again, the squash vines seemed to work best, but potatoes and carrots were also taking. It would be many long months before they would contribute.

~~~~~/~~~~~

Day 487

Bree's Twin

"Vice President Zarek, why are you here?" said Evvie.

"Please call me Tom," said Zarek.

"...And you can continue to call me 'Captain'," said Evvie. No, she had no intentions of being cordial. Not with this man.

The re-flagging of Bree's Twin from Caprican to Saggitaron was just the beginning of changes across the fleet. Any of the Captains or other leaders who sided with Evvie were cut off from the voting process and decision-making conversations. People serving under these captains and leaders were denied access to New Caprica and remained on the bottom of the lists for transferring down to the planet. A smear campaign worked its way around New Caprica - those who stayed with the fleet were accused of withholding needed supplies and fuel - of basking in their warm ships while the colonists shivered in cold drafty tents. T-Dog was allied with Evvie and the Coalition, but he split his maintenance people equitably between the colony and the fleet. Still, he was accused of favoring ship repairs over critical systems down on the surface. His people had to work under the protection of armed guards, to ensure their safety.

"Vice President Zarek," said Evvie, "We came out against you in the election and our opinions have not changed. I don't know what it is you hope for in this visit. New Caprica is a cold rock and only our toughest plants are taking root down there. The population is still heavily dependent on the ships - and they will continue to be, in perpetuity. We agree with the former president and the Admiral that New Caprica is unsustainable. We are doing our best to support the people, all the people, but we need to move on."

Tom gave a polite smile and a nod. "Captain, I assure you that it can be sustainable, and it will be. But it is not really about sustainability - you must know this."

"Oh, I have my opinions," said Evvie bristling, "but perhaps you can enlighten me with yours."

Zarek gave another of his accepting smiles. "It is solid ground under their feet, It has always been this. It was important to the previous administration that we remain in our cages where we can be controlled and managed."

Evvie opened her mouth to disagree but Zarek cut her short.

"Please permit me to finish," said Zarek, but he wasn't really asking. "Captain, it is the establishment of the path back to normalcy - the path. That is a powerful thing. The president understands this."

Evvie didn't agree.

"Mr. Vice President, you're peddling hope, to control the masses," said Evvie. "It's a means to an end - it always is with you. You still have ulterior motives in motion."

Zarek smiled yet again and gave another nod. "Is hope not enough on its own? Does it need further purpose?" Zarek lightly tapped the table with his index finger. "Evelyn, people think they know my motives and that is okay. I welcome them to have their opinions. I welcome the discourse. But please understand that I have always pushed for self-rule and self-actualization, and that has not changed. My desires are subordinate to the president's, but it just so happens they are in alignment. Yes - I sell hope, but it is indeed a means to an end. Hope dwindled, the government failed, and then we found New Caprica. Now, we see that hope is yearning for a new civilization - a real civilization and a new start. We have a planet with which to build this. Do you not understand?"

"We are putting down the roots of a colony on a dusting of soil over plate-rock," said Evvie, "and Mr. Vice President - Tom - I don't see any other outcome than a failure to thrive - it's unsustainable. I'm sorry. Your only hope is heavy science and innovation to figure out how to make it work - to build your civilization - and that won't be enough."

"Not 'my' civilization, but yes, that is exactly what is needed—that and the place, which we have found," said Zarek. "Roslin and Adama tried to cobble together a tattered semblance of government on a small fleet of ships. We had finite resources and archaic laws that had already failed their fundamental purposes back in the colonies. Those same laws and rules were imposed on us survivors without our consent. That was unsustainable. New Caprica has far more to offer, even in its rough beginnings. Whatever you may think, it is still where the path of hope leads."

~~~~~/~~~~~

Later that evening

Ship-to-ship radio call with the Stiletto

"The man is a fanatic," said Cru. "He's dangerous."

"He is," said Evvie, "but if you asked me, I could not say particularly why. Thirty minutes with him and I'm almost ready to pitch it all in, go down there planet-side, and start scratching out a living with my fingernails if I had to. Why? I don't know. Because a murdering anarchist and 'Pretty Boy Baltar' are gonna what? Manage something better than thousands of years of governmental evolution gave us? We're fools if we think they can."

Cru nodded in the low light of his cabin, two miles away. "Yet tens of thousands have joined them."

"Right," said Evvie.

Cru and Evvie sat in silence for a short time, Evvie in Bree's Twin and Cru over on the Stiletto, each contemplating the dramatic changes that continued to occur.

Cru broke the silence. "What about our people? Bree's Twin?"

"We're alright," said Evvie. "We're losing only a couple so far - they're on a waiting list to go down. We still have the crops. We still have three square meals a day - they can't really beat down there. But they all want to visit - go down and breathe fresh air for a change. I can't blame them for that."

"Understood," said Cru with a shake of his head. "And the others? Riggs, Bennet, Pheobe?" He referred to leaders aboard the ships they were allies with.

"It's mixed, but they might all be running skeleton crews if they ever lift the travel restrictions. The Argo Navis can't offer anything to keep their folks aboard. The Edina, Carina, and Virgon Express can land, so I bet they do that."

Cru nodded again. "I spoke to T-Dog. He has a lot of people ready to hang up the tool belts."

Evvie nodded. "And you said the Twin can't land - it's the landing gear, right?"

"It is," said Cru. "One of the forward thrusters was acting up. When it failed, it blew away a big part of the landing gear - it would take port-docking to fix it properly. T-Dog's people could rig something workable, maybe, but it'd still be a heavy risk trying to land and a heavy likelihood of really breaking something we need."

Cru sat in silence for a while in thought. He could hear Evvie clicking away at one of the computers - multitasking.

Admiral Adama declined to help Baltar's government deal with Evvie and the Coalition, which was as expected. Long he had maintained that the military used as a police force set the wrong precedence. The military was all about closing with the enemy and doing battle, something which it must never be called on to do against civilians. Of course, that didn't stop him from drawing together the small allegiance of ships and setting the Stiletto as overwatch in their midsts. Baltar's and Zarek's people might shuttle back and forth for whatever their reasons, good or ill, but they did so under the watchful eyes of Bricker, Cru, the Stiletto's eighteen big guns, and its three squads of quick-response Marines.

"Still there?" asked Evvie at last.

"I am," said Cru.

"Richard, do you remember Chief Tyrol? He ran the flight deck aboard Galactica. He's down on the planet now."

"I know him," said Cru.

"I…," began Evvie but she hesitated.

"Go on," said Cru.

"He and I've been talking. T-Dog too. I…ummm."

Cru smiled. "Okay, what is it you want to tell me - it's a secure line."

"I've been talking to both of them."

"You said that."

"Richard…" Evvie's tone changed for a moment. She was struggling with tough thoughts.

'Okay, okay," said Cru with a chuckle. "I have the patience of old paint. You can tell me when you are ready."

"I'm ready now."

"Okay."

"Okay."

Moments passed.

Evvie sighed as if taking a verbal plunge. "I've stirred up some discontent. Tyrol is a good man. He is passionate and full of steadfast conviction. And…" Evvie breathed.

"And?" asked Cru.

"And, it was difficult but I whipped him into action - with the right prompting. They're unionizing and he's organizing a general strike."

"Evvie…"

"Richard, I know what you're going to say, but Baltar is incompetent and Zarek is a murderer. Look at what they're doing. They won't allow further colonization. They won't let us split off into our own colony. They won't allow the very freedoms they touted during the elections - the 'cries for freedoms' that they used to topple Roslin's government. They've been trying to get their people aboard all our ships for months, they've already tried to disarm us once, and they're turning the population against us. It is all about control, 'for our own good', they tell us. It's the old 'Scorpassia D'Atrossee' from our history, the 'Oosh'd tet Fig'ssa un' ulek ben'fel'."

Cru nodded "Underfoot and broken. Scorpia had their history, as did we all."

"Right, and it's time - Dr'en n'kleh ess'd di'blek, Unda mi'etecha en'klee' enda kahsh'l."

"Umm…, 'Tough times. Who but the weary…? Cloak-something or other."

"In times of strife, the weary must don the mantle and thereby shoulder the burden. It's from the ancients - Plattio Deglius."

"And we are there? Time to don mantles? Time to quote ancients?"

"I think so, yes."

This ends Chapter 37

Author notes

I moved pretty quickly into Evvie running the Twin. I started dabbling a little with her first day on the Bridge and new interactions with the crew and passengers and such, but it was just fluff, and I wanted to get to everything that happens with New Caprica.

Chief Tyrol is one of my favorite "Not-Quite-a-Main-Character", characters. I started writing this up as Evvie manipulating him, but that wasn't Evvie's style and Tyrol doesn't seem like he'd be easily manipulated.

Liddy is still out there. I'm trying hard not to make her sound like River Tam from Firefly/Serenity.