Responses to Earlier Comments:

Thanks, War Sage - Right. Tyrol stated that diplomacy only works when both sides are capable of war. Evvie can do a lot with the spoken word but sometimes it needs to be backed by threat for it to mean anything.

Just a Crazy-Man, thanks! I have to wonder what Adama thinks of the Coalition resisting Baltar's people. I expect he'd like to see Roslin back in power. He's the only one capable of truly keeping the peace. How does he do that if it's not a military thing?

Thanks, Chronos1326! I'm glad you wrote that about canon. I had a Harry Potter purist come after me once and it hurt for a while. I think if I stick to the confines of the canon but then deviate some, that is when people come after me. If I create a whole new spin, like Galactica lands in the Hobbit's Middle Earth, all is forgiven.

***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 - Whiskey, prison hooch, or cocktails, 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 39 - Prospect of Conflict and Flight

"Nit Isagga d'umd vissecht effa ust - Not what I signed up for."

~Evvie's journal

Day 638

Bree's Twin

Cru was shuttled over to Bree's Twin in a raptor after he finished his shift on the Stiletto. Evvie wouldn't let the flight crew leave until they had all eaten a good meal together, Lieutenants Benatar and Vlas, Cru, Evvie, Evvie's kids, John, Tanner, and Devina. Liddy was there for a short while before quietly slipping away. Kevin showed up late.

When the Raptor crew was gone and the rest had left for other pursuits, Evvie and Cru found their way down to Evvie's office.

"Drink?" asked Evvie as she crossed to a tall cabinet.

"I would love one," said Cru as his eyes followed her.

"Cocktail or something straight?" She said without turning. "Fletcher brought in some ice and we have sodas now."

"Really? Sodas? said Cru.

"Yep," said Evvie with a smile. "We traded for three gallons of cola syrup and we make our own carbonated water. The kids love it. I'll make one for you if you want. The only question remaining my dear, is will you take it with rum, whiskey, or prison hooch?"

Evvie turned and struck a playful pose. She held the bottle of whiskey in one hand and two glasses in the other. She shifted her weight to one hip, creating an alluring curve. She flashed a sparkle in her eyes and gave a hint of mischief in the way she tilted her head. It was play-acting. She was being silly. She did that, sometimes, more lately than in the past. "Whattaya say, Marine?"

Evvie wore a mid-length woolen gray skirt. Her top was an oversized long-sleeve white pullover that draped low and exposed part of her left shoulder - it was casual and proper for the cooler, lower level of the ship, but more than that, they were perfect together. She was perfect.

Cru, on the other hand, wore a red plaid flannel shirt over a long-sleeve tight black pullover. The flannel shirt was untucked, and unbuttoned, and the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He wore lightly faded close-fitting jeans and dark gray mountain boots that were loosely laced and untied. He looked like he walked out of a Lumberjack advertisement. Not bad for dressing himself without a sister or someone close to help him out.

Evvie already had her smile going, but Cru's lips curled into a light smile without him realizing it.

"You're smiling like a schoolboy," said Evvie with a note of teasing.

"Really? A schoolboy?" said Cru with a light voice.

Evvie smiled. "Well, maybe not a schoolboy - perhaps a little older."

"Old enough to drink?"

"Yes, old enough to drink." Evvie pointed the bottle at Cru. "What say you?"

"Why don't you tell me about that prison hooch," said Cru with curiosity, "or where you got that skirt and top outfit."

"Do you like my new 'threads'?" said Evvie as she turned back to the cabinet. "Kevin 'acquired' them."

"Did he?" said Cru with a smile. "What'd he trade?"

"I don't even want to know," called Evvie over her shoulder. "These folks can see that fellow coming from a mile off."

Cru smiled. "I bet. And, the hooch? What's that story?"

"Well, It's literally 'Prison Hooch'. Some of the 'fellas' down from the Astral Queen set up their stills in earnest. Turns out they're pretty good at the craft."

"I expect some may have had practice." Cru lowered his eyes as Evvie turned back to him, but not before a moment's lingering. Evvie was a beautiful woman - exceedingly so - and she stood no more than eight feet in front of him.

"So it would seem," said Evvie again. She held a tumbler glass in one hand and a small set of tongs, for the ice, in her other. "Interesting fact - they've contracted with us for our corn stalks and empty cobs."

Cru made a face. "I'm confused. They don't need the actual corn?"

"Apparently, not. Some 'extrusion' process thing."

Cru nodded his head in acceptance. "Okay, well, as fascinating as that may seem, I'm gonna pass on the hooch," said Cru, "How 'bout that whiskey?"

"Good choice, we still have some of the 'Old Jack' left," said Evvie returning the smile. She pointed to a chair. "Have a seat, my schoolboy-smiling, skirt-commenting, whiskey-drinking Marine."

Cru settled into the chair and watched Evvie work. He caught himself smiling again as she busied away with two whiskey and cola drinks.

"So...," said Cru, with a change of tone.

"Yes...?" said Evvie over her shoulder.

A tough conversation needed to be had. He'd prefer to get it over with sooner than later.

"You're bankrolling a discovery expedition to 'D'Kalla Ep Sigatch' to the east, with the purpose of a second settlement." Cru had his sources like everyone seemed to. "Am I mistaken?"

Evvie's movements paused for a brief moment before continuing.

Cru nodded to himself. He knew the answer in that short little pause.

"No," said Evvie with a quiet voice. "You are not mistaken - mostly not."

Pegthar Dukken, Holder Emmdaq, and Seesha Eperia are your friends?"

"No," said Evvie without turning, "but they are...acquaintances."

Dukken, Emmdaq, and Eperia were known provocateurs. Like Evvie, the Baltar Administration had signed arrest warrants for them.

"Twenty-two rifles, ammunition, tack gear, and comm gear are unaccounted for - missing from the Pegasus. Anything I should know about that?"

"They're not quite…missing," said Evvie, "…in terms of civilian contractor actions in a time of peace, and as the laws are currently written."

"Evvie…that's dangerous talk."

Evvie turned with the two drinks in her hand. She wore a face of pain. She had never lied to Cru beyond the realm of teasing and play. She had never deceived him on anything of weight - anything important. She didn't want to start now. "Please Richard…."

"Are you in too deep?" asked Cru. It was one final question and it was pretty important.

"No," said Evvie, but in a lower voice she added, "Not yet."

Cru and Evvie remained silent, their eyes locked. No words could have spoken more than what passed between them in that moment. Zarek's people were closing in on Evvie and the Coalition, while Baltar's silence was nothing short of complicity. Evvie knew she and her allies were troublemakers, to be sure, but now, they were also targets.

Evvie's eyes glistened with tears.

"Evvie…" said Cru.

"For the gods' sake, Richard, have a drink with me and ask me no more questions. Please."

Cru paused, but then nodded and offered a supportive smile. "Sure, Evvie. Come sit down."

~~~~~/~~~~~

Days Later

New Caprica

"Colonel Tigh, this is Pernel Marteest," said Evvie. "His friends call him 'Knife'."

Tigh snorted with derision. "He's one of them from the Astral Queen." Tigh's tone was far from favorable, "He was a prisoner, like the rest of them."

"Now Colonel, we talked about this. Knife is an entrepreneur, a businessman, and quite frankly, a fine up-and-comer in the burgeoning business sector of New Caprica."

Tigh scoffed. "He sells cheap ambro - he's a bootlegger."

"Umm…," said Evvie with a light clearing of her throat, "...he operates several high-quality distillery enterprises, as you know, but he is also the leader of six dozen able-bodied men and women in the construction and supply workforces."

"I don't need this, "growled Knife. "I'm outta here."

"Knife, wait, please," said Evvie turning to Knife. "This is a good thing - a good thing. Will you wait a little longer? Please?"

Evvie didn't wait for Knife to reply. She stepped in close with Tigh while Knife grumbled behind her. She tried to guide Tigh back a few steps but he resisted - stubborn per usual. Instead, she gave him a firm shove.

Tigh began to protest but she poked him in the chest. "Look 'Bub'," she said in a low voice. "I need this man's cooperation. He's a rough exterior with scarred knuckles and a very questionable set of tattoos, but he's his own man and is beholding to none, especially the current government, of which he holds no love - at all."

Tigh smiled. "Did you just call me 'Bub'?"

Evvie breathed and smiled back. "I'll call you a whole lot worse if you blow this deal of mine."

"Yeah, yeah, okay, okay. But, gods help me if this is how I end my career - bandying support from an 'entrepreneur, businessman, and up-and-comer' with scars and tats."

"And…" said Evvie, "he was a navy strike force commander before leaving service, buying a bike, and hitting the road."

"It's 'Commando', not 'Commander'," said Tigh. He was a bit skeptical.

"Yes, well, he was one of you guys, ummm…before doing a bit of crime. Well, a lot of crime, really, but that was a long time ago. "

"And not quite the same as us 'guys'," said Tigh, "but okay, you got my attention…"

"Which is all I ask for," said Evvie quickly. She didn't wait for Tigh to reply either.

"Brilliant!" said Evvie with a reinforced smile and turning back to Knife. "Let's talk."

~~~~~/~~~~~

Tigh helped Evvie get shipments through the military landing pads where they staged their equipment - away from government eyes. Fresh vegetables and hard-to-get electronics were the ultimate coin in the struggling settlement. Evvie couldn't get them to the people she needed without Tigh's military connections and Knife's heavy-lift workforce. It was an odd-couple relationship, but Tigh and Knife worked well together. It gave Tigh a purpose down on the planet and gave Knife's people gainful employment.

Tom Zarek, through various channels - none that could lead back to him - continued the smear campaign against those up in the fleet; the" non-contributors", the ones who "did nothing for the betterment of New Caprica", the "seditious 'Coalition' whose malcontents wanted nothing more than Dear President Baltar and his people to fail".

Evvie and the other leaders in the ships worked tirelessly to counter the accusations through unwavering support, acts of goodwill, and their ever-expanding underground networks of resistance. They were ready to move forward with their plans to replace Baltar, but the Council of Twelve needed certain assurances that the situation wouldn't backfire, which might lead to their removal instead of Baltar and his administration. Fortunately or unfortunately, the question would never arise.

~~~~~/~~~~~

Day 660

2-Way Radio Comm

A desperate call from Evvie

"Knife," Evvie called over the 2-way radio, her voice tight with urgency. "You need to get into the hills with whatever you can carry. Do not engage! Do you hear me? Do not engage! This isn't the time..."

Evvie stood aboard Bree's Twin, orbiting high above, while Knife was planet-side in a remote base, ten miles from the New Caprica settlement. Twenty-one armed men and women were ready to defend a covert depot of Coalition supplies. But a heavy force of more than sixty "Security Advisors" was closing in, with orders to seize the goods, make arrests, or make the problem "go away" by deadly force if needed. The clock was ticking toward armed conflict.

Evvie was desperate to defuse the situation, but she had been overruled by the other leaders. The supplies had taken months to gather; losing them would be a devastating setback - and would only fuel Zarek's accusations. No one wanted bloodshed, but they all knew it was coming.

"I can't do that, Evvie," Knife's voice crackled back over the radio. "It won't take much for them to track this all back to me and my people. Either way, they'll come. We can fight them now, with guns in our hands, or let them pick us off one by one during their raids. I'll die before I let that happen."

"Knife, please, don't do this. We still have options. Everything we've built dies the moment the first shot is fired. Do you understand? Fall back. Regroup. We'll find another way."

Evvie covered the mic and turned to John who was next to her. "Get me Colonel Tigh."

"I'm trying to. He's not answering," said John.

"Then get me the Stiletto, the Galactica, anyone who can stop this."

"Okay," said John. "I'm on it."

"Sorry, Evvie," Knife continued, his voice quieter now. "I've got to go."

Everything was unraveling and Evvie knew it. She cursed Zarek for pushing his agenda and forcing them into this. She cursed him for the confrontation that was about to rip through New Caprica's fragile foundation. And she cursed Baltar for his weakness - for letting it all happen.

"Knife, wait…," she said softly, a heavy sadness weighing on each word. This would likely be the last time they spoke.

"Take care, Evvie," Knife said quietly. He understood her pain. She had fought so hard for a pragmatic solution, but in the end, blind idealism, fabricated principles, and the resultant violence were inevitable.

"Gods watch over you," she whispered.

"See you on the other side," came Knife's reply.

~~~~~/~~~~~

Then it happened

"Wait a minute," called Devina who was next to John. "Something's wrong."

"What is it," said Evvie without looking.

"Evvie, we have DRADIS contact," said John. There was a note of concern in his tone - not like any he had in a very long time. "Gods help us, I think the Cylons are back."

End of Chapter 39

Author notes:

I think if this was a novel, I would spend a lot more time on the brewing civil war. BSG simply flashed "One year later" to cover this whole period and later did their flashback episode.

I'm enjoying this side of Evvie. She's capable of seeing the "big picture" like few people can, which makes her useful for the other resistance leaders. But once the inevitable occurs, her desire to avoid bloodshed simply gets in the way.

Many of the former prisoners fill the resistance ranks during the Cylon occupation, but they don't say how they got there. So, I had Evvie make the introductions. Knife and his people survive and are the first to join Tigh in striking out against the Cylons.

Cru will be back with the next episode.