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Lockheart, Ward, Wilson and the\nrepresentatives of six other ships all agreed that Zack \u201cSniper\u201d\nAnthony should be their leader. His record with the Colonial fleet\nwas not tainted like the others. He was on leave the day the Cylons\nattacked and had turned down offers from Lawson and Ramirez to take\ncommand of the Athena and Acropolis to remain CAG on a Valkyrie, due\nto his opposition to their leadership style and willingness to submit\nto budget cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thirty years old, with a handsome,\nathletic build, with the olive skin common on Tauron, he looked the\npart of the hero, saving the Colonial fleet from doom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey will be back from the refinery grab and in a good mood. We line up our forces to salute their victory and when Mercury passes, we hammer her topside. We want to knock out her fire control and FTL and demand Lawsons surrender.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone in the group of 8 nodded\nagreement. Ward and Wilson were snickering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we do the right damage, she will\ngo along. If she is weak, she will offer a meeting, which we will\naccept on the shipyard. No compromise there. She will come over by\nraptor. We surround it with marines in the repair bay. She either\nresigns or we end her command, starting with her. We announce my\npromotion to Admiral backed up by three allies on the Peoples\nCouncil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d Lockheart asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe move swiftly. We jump the three\nbig battlestars to New Picon and we eliminate the Council and declare\nmartial law. We take any resources we need and prepare for the\noffensive to eliminate the Cylons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo we have to destroy the civilian\ngovernment?\u201d A Marine officer asked. \u201cWon’t the people rallying\naround us give us the authority we need?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to be strong. We can return\nto civilian rule after the war is won. We need 20,000 human resources\nto get ourselves into offensive shape. The people will rally around\nsuccess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerhaps if we make demands of the\ncivilian government,\u201d Ward suggested. \u201cThey might be willing to\nlisten.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we do not act boldly we will get\nmired in negotiations, the toasters will get wind of it and wipe us\nout. You have asked me to be your leader. Now take an order. We do\nthis my way or I am out. I have the moral authority of having a good\nrecord in the Colonial fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlso not being a whore!\u201d Wilson\nadded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCall her any name you want,\u201d\nAnthony ran a hand through his dark brown hair. \u201cShe is a gifted\nofficer who will kill you where you stand if she gets the chance.\nRamirez is a geek. She is not sure of herself. She might submit to\nus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCopy that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a failed jump drive that had\nto be repaired at the midpoint of the journey back to fleet\nheadquarters, the shipyard. It took 45 minutes to repair. They sent\nraptors ahead to alert the command to the impending Cylon threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll ships report ready to jump,\u201d\nthe communications officer reported. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right,\u201d Admiral Lawson played\nwith her hair, which was falling out of the tight military bun in\nbunches. \u201cWe’ll set up a perimeter and get the ships in need of\nrepairs taken care of first. Commander Ramirez, are you ready to take\ntask force Saturn back to base?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReady and eager.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMake the jump.\u201d Lawson ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n