It was Laura's second week as Vice President, and she was devastated to discover the reality of the situation. Adar only fulfilled his duties when it was convenient for him. He enjoyed the power and perks of his position but spent most of his time flirting with women and admiring his reflection rather than doing his job, leaving the challenging tasks for his assistants. For the brief moment of her presidency after the fall of the Colonies, her people were living in peace ( well as much peace as they could get, being constantly chased by the Cylons) and she was determined to do the same for the whole fleet. So she organized the government members and resurrected the Quorum of Twelve, opened the school for children, made a mandatory census, and relocated people with the proper skills to the ships, where they could help. She was so busy, she didn't even realize that she missed her doctor's appointment till dr Cottle set foot in her office with a grumpy face.
"I thought it was time for you to get a checkup, young lady. You missed a second appointment in two days. Do you think I have nothing better to do than chasing stubborn Vice President across the fleet to check if her baby is healthy?"
"I'm sorry it's just I have so many thing to do. I promise tomorrow, I'm all yours." she said getting back to the reports she was reading.
"Not a frakking chance. You coming with me right now. Don't make me call a baby daddy."
"Fine!" she took her glasses of her nose and put them on the desk, not really happy about it. Slowly she got up and with a little help of grumpy doctor she made her way to the Raptor.
He tried to be calm, yet anger was splitting across his face. Cain ordered him to Pegasus only to judge his decisions, every single one. He knew the moment he saw the second Battlestar on the DRAIDIS he would be relieved from his duties as the Superior Military Officer of the Fleet, but right now he only thought about what she said. She will split his crew apart, she had to do this because he was getting soft. He was attached to them and in the military that was a major mistake. He left the Raptor and was about to leave the deck when he saw another Raptor approaching from the landing. He thought he glimpsed a familiar redhead. He stood still as the Raptor's hatch opened. Dr Cottle was the first one to leave, he muttered something to Commander Adama and simply left before someone could catch him.
"Laura," he said, his eyes lighting up as he saw her. He extended his hand to help her out of the vehicle, and he was reminded of the familiar feeling of her soft skin. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but she took a step back as soon as their hands touched.
"Commander Adama," she acknowledged, giving a terse nod as she passed by him with her security detail.
"What the frak just happened?" he muttered under his breath, quickly falling into step beside her. Clearing his throat, Adama put on the same political mask she had worn for the past few days. "I think we have unfinished business to discuss, Madam Vice President."
"I believe we don't," Laura replied firmly, stopping in front of the sickbay. She gestured for her security team to stand down and slipped through the hatch, leaving him reeling.
He was completely bewildered. After the swearing-in ceremony, she had practically disappeared from his life. That had been the last day they spoke to each other. She took quarters on Colonial One and resumed her duties within the government, always too busy for a phone call. It felt like the chain of command was merely an excuse to keep them apart. He glanced at the hatch one last time and then at her security team before leaving to resume his duties.
Much later, as he sat at his desk buried in paperwork, he discovered a small piece of paper with his initials scrawled across it.
Bill,
I know this is hard right now, and it's tearing me apart not to be with you. I'm okay, and the baby is too. She was kicking so much when I saw you. It's just not safe for us to talk right now—Adar has ears and eyes everywhere. I promise I will find a way to reach you soon.
Love you,
Laura.
Despite her reassuring words, an unsettling feeling churned in his gut. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was in danger.
A few peaceful days they had in the fleet passed one by one before the Cylons decided it was time to show up. Another battle, another jump. Another recon, but this time it was different. This time the recon found the resurrection ship and as it turns out another model of the Cylons has been discovered. The Eights and Six. As soon as the photos of the Resurrection ship came to Cain, she ordered to arrest of Lieutenant Valerie. It caused a rift between the military leaders as the arrest was being held in front of Galactica's crew without an explanation. This caused a rather heated fight with Lieutenant Agathon, the chief, and the marines of Pegasus. That of course caused another cash of the Admiral and Commander. The two of them were so close to destroying each other, that it took a hell of a convincing that they were more important things at the moment. The following days were chaotic as the President finally became clear to the fleet of the existence of the Cylons' looks and their present among the fleet. Sharon was executed after the press conference and the military leaders joined their forces in the battle of the destruction of the Resurrection ship. As the mission went well Adama and Cain once again sat down on opposite sides on the couch in the President's office. Glaring at each other. The tension in the room was so heavy that one careless sentence could lead to a civil war. The President was sitting behind his desk and reading the reports, glaring back at the military leaders from time to time.
"Absolutely not!" he burster standing up. "I will not give it a go for the mission. That's a civil matter not a military one, Admiral."
"Cut the crap Adar. You know it will look bad for you. The matter is military one and that is the only thing Adam and I are on the same side here. We are at war." She stood up and raised her voice toward the President. She had enough talking, it led nowhere. She was supposed to act.
"That's what I have been telling him for the past few months, Admiral," Adama added.
"Shut up, Adama. I haven't done with you yet." She hissed and then glared at Adar once again. "Frakking politician. Roslin had bigger balls than the two of you. Where is she anyway?"
"It's not her concern."
"The frak it is. Call me when you make yourself useful again or when you decide she should be here as well. After all, she's basically executing your duties while you signing the paperwork."
"That's the treason, Admiral. I could simply remove you from your office for this insult." President said, but the thought of the aftermath of this made him nauseous.
The Admiral met his gaze with unwavering confidence, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Then do it," she challenged, her tone dripping with a mixture of defiance and anticipation. As she strode out of the office, her heels clicked rhythmically against the polished floor, each step a reminder of her relentless ambition. She had been entangled in the political web with Roslin for several months, a relationship built on necessity rather than friendship. The Admiral despised the woman, yet she recognized that survival often required playing a dangerous game. Unlike Adar, whose spirit had dwindled. He was more interested in the perks of being the leader than actually being one. Roslin on the other hand was willing to take risks if it meant ensuring the security of the people.
Adar had faltered, and his grip on leadership weakened. As the realization sank in, a rebellious thought stirred within Cain's mind. She could declare martial law, after all. They were enveloped in conflict, the pulse of war beating heavily around them. With a stroke of her pen, she could dissolve the government, consolidating power into her own hands, but she recognized the consequences loomed large. The idea of routinely confronting disgruntled civilians held no appeal for her; that was Roslin's domain, and the Vice President excelled at managing the delicate needs of the non-military fleet.
Flashes of insight flickered through her mind; she knew Adama would relish the chance to sidestep Adar's influence—his distaste for the man was palpable, particularly whenever Laura Roslin's name surfaced. The unspoken tension simmered between the two men, a storm beneath the surface that Cain observed with shrewd clarity for the past weeks. While gossip was not her favorite pastime, she had cultivated a network of eyes and ears across the Galactica and Colonial One, piecing together the intricate dynamics swirling around her.
Everything suddenly clicked into place, like a puzzle snapping together. Adar's behavior towards the Commander now made sense. The tension in the air between the two became obvious: the rumors were true—Adar and Roslin had an affair back in the Colonies while she was involved with Adama. This history likely cast a long shadow, especially given the Vice President's pregnancy.
"Frak me!" she exclaimed triumphantly to herself, her voice a conspiratorial whisper in the otherwise empty corridor. The realization felt electric, igniting a new spark within her. Now, she possessed a potent bargaining chip against the President. "Oh, the press is going to love that!"
TBC