Book 4 Chapter 23 “Buzzing Bees”
Admiral’s Quarters
Lawson climbed back into bed with Major Jacobs. The XO was groggy, but not able to sleep with his partner restless, returning from another trip to the bathroom.
“You okay?”
“Whoever the frak named this symptom morning sickness needs to buy a frakking clock.”
“Sorry about that. I would like to sue the doctor that said you would never have children.”
“Why Stan, you don’t want children?”
Lawson locked an arm around the former pilot’s neck and changed position in a futile effort to get comfortable. She was not used to the lack of privacy having a bedmate brought to her life.
“Are you getting all hurt and soft on us admiral?” You have been bitching for days about morning sickness.”
“All day sickness Stan.”
“All day sickness and how now that we know there is a fleet command at New Helios, you will likely be pulled off active duty. Yes, I am actually very excited about this baby. Like everyone else who wants to live past the next few days, I do fantasize about the timing being a little better.”
“All right Stan, I get it. I really believed that doctor. Do you know how many precautions I should have taken?”
“Until the birth control ran out, you were still taking it. I found a bunch of empties while I was cleaning up.”
“I really did not have a family plan or a family plan. Things just kind of worked out. Before I try and sleep or go back to upchuck again, any luck with the data we have been culling from the Cylon network?”
”Not yet. Captain Miller’s setup requires manual transfer of data into the lab which is air gapped. No networking.”
“You do not sound sexy when you talk geek. Any hope of finding Saturn?”
“After we get all the data virus checked and in the lab we can try to do some trend analysis. The toasters are buzzing around, trying to make as much low cost conflict as they can.”
“They are holding back on the heavy carriers and mostly getting the high value targets out of our way. What’s left is not being deployed smartly. We can learn from that.”
“Well first, they have a vast network, but their resources are not limitless. If they could afford to jump around those butt ugly first war base stars they would. They are probably having them stand by when they trap Saturn.”
“Saturn did not try an FTL experiment and jump to New Helios. We have managed to find a few bits and pieces when we find an empty jump point.”
“Good one Stan, are you taking some notes?”
“Yeah. I think the reason they are buzzing around like angry bees is because they want to make a lot of noise.”
“Of course, the buzzing bees are trying to deny us access to useful jump points. They have limited fuel, even industrial capacity out here. If they locate the Saturn there will be a surge in traffic. They will move in the big stuff.”
Admiral Lawson had fallen asleep. In her ears she heard a rough, gravelly voice that reminded her of Admiral Adama. “The buzzing bees were meant to bring prophecy to your ears. Be careful not to get stung!
Admiral Lawson woke up in a cold sweat. Several hours had passed. She was not sick to her stomach right now. Stan Jacob’s stirred on his side of the bed, careful not to take too much blanket.
“Might you be in the mood? It’s been a while.”
Admiral Lawson rolled her eyes. She needed rest, but felt for her XO, primarily because he had to live with and serve her. With a wicked look on her face, she whispered. “First gear.”
Next is a link to video segment #1
CIC Mercury
Deck Officer: “Recon raptors have rotated at primary and secondary jump points. We are recovering two birds right now. Combat Air Patrol says thanks for the combat landing and are asking when are they getting their dorsal landing bays back.”
XO: “The air wing is relaxed and ready to avoid further action. Jump keys are in. Both jump options show ready to jump. We have 4 ships in task force Mercury. We are ready to jump.”
“Combat jump. Execute.”
“Vampires!!!! 4 salvos headed for the port pod!”
“This is Beth Vance!! We just got slammed in the port pod. We can not take this too many times!!”
Next is link to video segment #2
“CIC port pod again. Are you hearing me?”
“Mercury actual, this is chief Vance. That last one has 8 knuckle draggers MIA. Structural damage to the port pod. The bees are stinging us. These are the little ones Actual!!!”
“Mercury Actual to air wing. Switch to primary defense. Plan Beta. Stop those gunships from taking their missile pot shots!”
Admiral:
“This reminds me of the stories my grandmother, the first war battlestar commander, told us about the middle years of the first war. Lots of small fast gunships. They buzzed like bees or mosquitos. A couple times a year they get lucky and slam a flagship. That would send it back to the shipyards for a 6 or 9 month refit.
“Pretty soon a couple of years are in the rear view mirror and we are short of pilots, vipers, NCO’s. They just wore us out. Some of the larger battlestars started showing frame rot after a couple of hundred jumps.”
Commander Modi:
“The common strategy is we jump around like a fish out of the water. Eventually two battle formations collide due to limitations of the jump database. What if we stopped playing that game? Space is vast. Instead of being the fish in a bucket, we channel the spider in its hidey hole.”
XO:
“Instead of making electronic noise we shut up and listen quietly. We sit quietly near an especially large pile of rocks. We get caught up on rest and maintenance. We let the toasters spend some time and effort. We monitor the choke points with raptors. We have time to wait, so long as nobody is dead yet. Where is the fire?”
Narrator:
Admiral Lawson sat alone in her office in a newly installed comfortable chair. Her hand was draped over her stomach. Her waistband seemed too tight. Not everyone had endless time on their hands.
Admiral Lawson knew that her shelf life was measured in months, possibly weeks before she would have to stop doing this job.
“Hopefully Saturn’s time doesn’t run out while we channel this stealthy spider.”
Next is a link to video segment #3
Next is a link to full chapter video
