Chapter 16 - Final Preparations - Part 1
TN:- Again i would like to thank Just a Crazy-Man and also 'Maverick for an idea he gave me for part of this chapter.
Picon - Training Flight - 2 Years Before the Fall
Zak Adama was living in bliss at the moment, he was doing something he loved, he had a special someone waiting for him and he was making his family proud. But that was all short lived as 20 minutes into his training flight his instruments started to fail and turn off, he was getting worried as even his radio failed so he couldn't ask for help. His fellow trainee pilots began to notice something was wrong and were reporting it over the radio but at this point there was not much they could do as Zak was already in an uncontrolled dive.
Zak was panicking as he was watching as the ground came closer but none of the controls or instruments were responding to his directions and then he started to go through what you could say was his life flashing before his eyes as a bright light was seen from the cockpit just before his viper crashed and exploded on impact.
What no one knew was there was a group of three people in the distance watching this with a radio device set up nearby. "I think that proves that the back door into the CNP works as designed." The six model stated as they looked on as the rest of the vipers circled the crash area.
"Well I hope it works as well when it comes to the bigger ships but I'm happy with the test run so you have a go to launch the update to the CNP that will install the back door 6 months before we launch the attack." John replied while smiling in glee at what the future holds.
The last member of their trio a Three asked. "Are we sure they won't find the back door when reviewing the program?"
The six replied. "We already have someone in place to submit a report that nothing untoward was found when reviewing the upgrade so we won't have any trouble having it installed on all active duty ships and defense mainframes."
John was pleased. "So everything is falling into place for God's Judgment to fall on the Humans for everything they have done to us."
The other two looked at John a little weirdly but put it down to him being strange.
Caprica - Caprica City Cemetery - 2 Years Before the Fall
The Adama were gathered around the gravestone of their youngest member as the priest gave the final rights and blessings on the dearly departed. Commander Adama had a stone look on his face but if you looked closely at his eyes you can see the turmoil of emotions hidden behind his rough exterior as he watched his son's coffin lowered into the ground.
Next to the Commander was a younger version of him in Lieutenant Lee Adama who was watching on with tears slowly falling down as he watched as his little brother was laid to rest. But he was not as calm as he contemplated what happened as he watched on as the empty coffin was lowered down. It was empty because the crash was so devastating that there was no body to recover as the between the crash and the fuel caused the body to burn up and what was left was ash and residue.
The last member of the immediate family was the mother who was in tears and was barely standing as she watched her baby boy put to rest well before his time and she just could not accept that it was happening.
As the funeral came to an end and they were walking away she turned on her husband and said, "This is all your fault, if you didnt fill his head with those stories of being a viper pilot and how you made it sound better than what it was we wouldn't be here now."
Bill Adama was in shock at what his wife said and turned to her to respond but stopped when he saw her face and how much hurt was shown and then he saw her eyes and saw nothing but blame directed his way so he didn't say anything and continued to walk away.
Lee watched on as his father walked away and couldn't help but ask. "So you have nothing to say about how he only joined the fleet to make you proud and that he only went into flight training because he thought you would be disappointed if he didn't become a viper pilot."
This was another blow to Bill's heart as he saw the hate in his son's face but again he said nothing and turned and continued his walk away as he tried to come to terms that he not only lost his son today but the rest of his family as well.
While all this happened Leo watched on from just behind them as he thought it right to attend the funeral as a member of the family even if it was a distant member. But he knew things will change in a few years when they learn the truth.
1st Waypoint Station - 2 Years Before the Fall
It was a month after the funeral when Zak Adama opened his eyes and looked up at a ceiling he was unfamiliar with. He sat up and looked around the room he was in that looked comfortable but looked purely designed for function and not pleasure.
As he was looking around the room the only door in the room opened and in walked a woman he didn't recognise. She walked with all the confidence you get from being in charge.
"Hello Zak, I know you might be panicking but you need to listen to what I'm about to tell you and you need to keep calm." She said as she pulled the chair from by the wall and sat in front of him.
Zak took a few deep breaths and nodded. "OK Zak what was the last thing you remember." she asked
Zak replied. "The last thing i remember is that i was in the viper cockpit and watching as the ground was fast approaching and knowing there was nothing i could do to stop it." He said as his breathing started to get fast and short.
The woman looked on as said. "You need to calm down and take in where you are and remember you are not dead and that you are alive and breathing and need to remain calm."
Zak started to calm down as he realized he wasn't dead and he was safe. "Good your starting to calm down now lets get through what you need to know before we take you to get some food." She then waited till he nodded and continued. "Now this may sound strange but the reason you survived is that you were ascended, this is a term used when a person sheds there physical form and becomes a being of energy and rises to a higher plane of existence then the being descended you here to continue your life as a normal being. Now the reason you ascended is that a member of that higher plane was asked to save you as you are a key person in convincing someone that they need to do something that could save the lives of thousands in a few years from now."
Zak was confused and looked at the woman as if she was speaking a different language and asked her. "So you're saying this higher being saved me because someone asked him to and that I was only saved because I will help save thousands of people years from now?"
The woman looked at him and nodded and said. "Yes that's exactly right but what you may not like is that you cannot contact anyone you once knew for the next 2 years or so as they cannot know that you survived as they would ask too many questions that we cannot answer."
Zak looked ready to rebel but looked at her again and saw a ruthlessness that shocked him into remaining silent and just nodding.
"Ok so we understand each other so far. What you may like to know is that while here you will complete your training and will be further trained on more advanced technology than the colonial fleet has so i think you find it rather exciting don't you think. Oh and you will be working under your great granduncle who runs our fleet training base."
Zak was still confused about what was going on but was slightly happy about being able to fly and even though he found it strange that he was still alive was happy to be able to talk to a member of his extended family. "Yes I would like that very much and if I could ask can you at least tell me about those i left behind so i can at least know that they are still safe."
The woman nodded and said. "We can do that and we will be sending you on to the training base in a few days along with a group of new recruits headed to our base for training so you have a few days to come to terms with what has happened to you." Zak nodded and she got up and started to leave the room. "If you need anything then just ask someone dressed the same way I am and they will help you. Now if you're ready I think you could use some food so if you want to follow me to the mess hall we will get you some."
Zak got up and followed the Woman out of the room and down a corridor to the mess hall and started a new phase in his life.
Picon HQ - Fleet Admirals Office - 1 Year Before the Fall
Leo sat in the Fleet Admirals office waiting for the Admiral to tell him why he was summoned. He was rushed here after spending the last few years hunting down pirates with moderate success. To be honest he was here hoping that his plan to place sensor buoys in high traffic areas had been approved as it had been delayed several times by the President of the colonies using the excuse of cost cutting and limited available resources to stall the project.
Fleet Admiral Corman looked up from his notes and said. "Hello Leo, I hope you're doing well?" Leo nodded and he then continued. "Leo I called you here for a few reasons so lets start with the good news first, I am promoting you to Rear Admiral Upper Half as your record since being promoted is exemplary and you have done yourself and the fleet proud."
He then stood up and shook Leo's hand as he passed him a box with his new rank pins in. He then sat back down and continued "Now to the more troublesome business. I have just received word from the president's office that they plan further reductions in fleet assets and personnel in the coming years."
Leo played the role of a shocked officer before saying. "So they have reduced our fleet down to 121 battlestars with the Galactica currently being prepped for decommissioning and conversion to a museum ship. Now they want to further reduce the fleet, how do they expect us to defend the colonies at this rate as 4 systems is a lot of space to cover and having less fleet assets puts everyone at risk."
Corman only smiled forlornly before he replied. "Well they don't want to scrap any more battlestars at the moment but they have restricted us with the rule that with everyone we finish building and put into service we have to de-commission one which I'm not happy about. We now have to reduce the size of our support fleet by 20% and shut down half our supply stations and observation stations over the next 5 years. They have already told me to scrap half the reserve fleet which I'm livid over as they are ships that bring us back up to war time levels if gods forbid an attack happens."
Leo was shocked at this and he wasn't pretending as these numbers pretty much cripples the fleet and he doesn't understand how Adar has gotten away with it as he is starting to see how separated from reality his supporters have become with the fact that they think they are safe from threats outside of their own systems.
Leo looked at Corman and replied. "I take the fact that you're speaking to me that you have no way to stop this and that you're looking for another out of the box idea." At Cormans nod Leo thinks for a few minutes and continues. "Well i have an idea but if you do it and get found out you could be looking at dereliction of duty at best, treason at the worst."
Admiral Corman looks at Leo and answers with all seriousness. "At this point Leo there is no other option as I've exhausted all legal means to stop these cutbacks but they're falling on deaf ears and I'm running out of friends fast."
Leo Hesitates then just goes ahead with his idea. "You remember the first stop of Cain's tour, we could always put the ships there and use it as a staging ground for the ships to keep them maintained and operational just on skeleton crews using some of the mustered out staff this year as the crews and transfer them across to the security company. The idea comes from the Ghost Fleet initiative used during the Cylon war."
Admiral Corman looked a little skeptical about the idea as it left a lot of unanswered questions about how they were going to make the ships disappear and how to officially keep the bean counters from selling them to private companies. "I like the idea in theory but it leaves the question on how to move the ships there especially with the bean counters looking to make as much money as possible of the ships."
Leo replied. "You could always officially set up a new military scrap yard for military ships and stations and have the coordinates classified above top secret to be known by select individuals only."
Admiral Corman was starting to come around to the idea so they spent the next 30 min smoothing out the plans for the idea and who would be ideal to put in charge of the plan, who would not be able to be bought. Leo left the office after they finished talking and left for the shuttle who would take him back to his command.
Kosta Family Luxury Yacht - Orbit of Leonis - 8 Months Before the Fall
Leo was currently on leave for a few days so had his family yacht pick him up and he was to spend the couple days finalizing the plans for Armistice day in about 8 months from now.
Leo was sitting at the kitchen table when he walked Louise who was holding a bag full of files for him to sign. "Good morning dear, I'm glad to see you made it here safely. Did you have the pictures I asked for printed and ready to be handed out when ready."
Louise sat down and replied in the affirmative before pulling out an envelope and handed it to Leo who put it to the side. Louise then helped herself to a cup of coffee and said. "Leo, We have everyone ready for what's to come and the families of our staff know they're going on a trip the day before Armistice day to see their family members who work for us."
Leo nodded then replied. "That's good, have we had any trouble getting enough liners fitted for both our company and my fleet group?"
Louise looked through her bag for a minute before pulling out a file and replying. "Yes we have enough ship's and even have a few spare we can use to get a few others away if need be. We even have a few Cloud ships stationed at Checkpoint Alpha to help rescue more survivors during the attack."
Leo looked pleased and then took the file and looked over some sheets and asked. "Do we have enough IT techs ready to go so when the attack happens I can have them help the crews clear the CNP to make the fleet operational again."
Louise nodded and said. "Yes we have enough volunteers who are ready to do the job asked of them but they don't know the details of it yet. I have the excuse that they were on the way to one of our research sites but decided to celebrate Armistice day with your fleet group before continuing on with their journey."
Leo saw holes in the story but he doesn't think there will be time for people to look for them when the attack happens. "How about the special force teams to save the important people when the attacks happen are they set up to train and prepare for the next few months."
Louise nodded and they spent the next few hours going back and forth with the plans that they had in place and confirming last minute changes.
They were finally wrapping up their meeting when Leo spoke. "Louise I want you away from the colonies when the attack happens as I don't want to risk some mishap that could cost you your life as I need you with me for what we have to do and I don't think I could go on without you." He stopped then finished. "If you must be nearby i want you at the first waypoint directing things from there and not one light year closer."
Louise wanted to argue but knew it was useless and nodded. She then stood up and kissed Leo before leaving the room. Leo looked over the reports and was glad to see that they had increased the shipyards and production lines on Olympus the moon where they have their fleet base and now are able to increase the amount of docking bays from 3 to 4 and can now build 4 battlestars at the same time. The report also states that they have managed to complete the training academy and have already inducted their first class for training and will have their first graduates in the less skilled roles in the next 2 years.
What the report also said was that the build time has been reduced as far as it can go with the limited AI construction drones that they have, but even then they can build 4 battlestars a year to add to the 10 they have already completed in the last 10 years including a number of Gunstars and other support ships they have built in the portable shipyards they moved to the colony years ago.
On the Civilian side of things they have completed construction of 3 cities with use of large construction bots and they combined can house upwards of 5 million people and they have 4 more cities planned over the next 4 years as long as they can keep supplies at current levels. Then there was the report on the current progress of the satellite grid that will defend the planet from bombardment. The report stated that they have completed the primary and secondary satellites and are 50% done with the tertiary satellites. They also have the primary satellites done to be shipped to the colonial colony as part of their mutual defense alliance.
Leo put down the last report before he collected all the paperwork together and put them in a burn bag so that they are disposed of as he cant afford the wrong people finding these papers. He then spent the last day of his leave with Louise before sending her off to the 1st waypoint station.