The colonial warriors, who staffed the air, wings of the battlestars, Mercury, Pegasus, and Galactica were confused by the silence from command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ranks of the pilots of the later two battlestars have been thinned greatly by the settlements on new Caprica. It had seemed like a gift from the gods, when the Mercury had it accidentally jumped in to the battle that have been launched by the Galactica and the Pegasus in order to recover fuel for a future new Caprica operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sudden appearance of the mercury could not be an accident. Though over two years have passed since the exodus from the Colonies, There were pilots on the Mercury’s roster, that new officers that were posted to the Galactica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHelo\u201d, was known by Mercury’s CAG, \u201cPlayboy\u201d, and two of the squadron commanders, \u201cKitty\u201d and \u201cWheelchair\u201d. All three had heard the executive officer of the Galactica on the wireless. The trio we’re in the after action bar on board the Mercury swapping stories, and trying to figure out how to get a hold of Helo on the wireless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The current situation, a new Caprica was being discussed by a number of pilots who are exchanged radio communications during the recent battle over the refineries. After the loss of the Acropolis, some months ago, the site of the Pegasus, even understaffed was exciting for the pilots and the crew of the Mercury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Party atmosphere aboard the Mercury was doused by a short announcement by the executive officer Major Samuel “Whiskey” Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On, although he had taken on the persona of the executive officer, which was modeled after the lofty reputation of Saul Tigh, he had quietly preserved his reputation as \u201cOne of the guys.\u201d He had done this quietly, with a slap on the back here and he’s quiet drink stolen there in the makeshift bar on the Mercury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When he got in on the ships PA system and made the announcement as they were still recovering fighters from the battle, it was saying is if a storm come through on a hot summer day. The air was cold, and there was a chill in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He had clicked on the PA and begun to speak. The chill was palpable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is the XO,” he said any somber voice. “Big just completed operations is classified, top-secret, black ops. It is not to be discussed in anyway. It did not happen. This applies to each member of this crew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jones continued, “This order applies to all personnel on this battle star from the state forward until and unless it is lifted by the admiral. Any discussion of what was seen today or operations plans in the next few days will endangered the lives of 40,000 citizens of the colonies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Major Jones cleared his throat as he tried to control his emotions and continue. “I know after everything you have been through. This is a hard burden to carry. It may seem impossible to fulfill this order on the warship. This order may seem harsh. The orders that follow may seem even more logical and harsh. Please understand that the order is given with a heavy heart. The survival of the human species is at stake. Please follow these orders strictly and understand that lives will be lost if we violate them. Squadron commanders, and CAG report to the Admiral’s office for planning session. That is all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, nobody expected the order to be followed completely. The whispers we’re between individual crew members in dark hallways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day has started out as a simple test of new FTL drive technology. After ending me excitement, and adrenaline rush of a long sought after victory by the crew of the mercury, it ended in sadness as new colleagues discovered would not be celebrated but shunned and silenced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They would not end in the expected joy. This was the cloud that hung over the meeting of the commander, air group, and two of the squadron commanders in Admiral Lawson’s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even in the darkest days after the fall of the colonies, they have never seen admiral. Lawsons expert expression, so dire and clouded. Her voice nearly broke as she began to speak. “I know this is difficult\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The rumors we’ve been hearing or true. Gaius Baltar was elected president of the colonies a year ago. He ordered the settlement on new Caprica of the fleet. Some weeks ago the Cylons discovered new Caprica and occupied it. Nearly 40,000 citizens of Admiral Adama’s fleet are at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawson continued, barely making iContact with her three pilot commanders. “The fuel operation we happened into was necessary to replenish the fuel stocks of Adama’s fleet. Now that Galactica and Pegasus, a tanked up, a subsequent operation has been planned to secure ammunition for Admiral Adama. We now hold the refineries. A raptor has been dispatched to call in our tanker fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Admiral Lawson had rehearsed this briefing, something she never did. Because there was enough fuel left in these refineries to fill each and everyone of our ships in our tankers. We now have the fuel resources we need to go anywhere we want in the galaxy. We’re going to continue our logistics war against the Cylon. But we’re gonna take it as far away as we can from the location of New Caprica.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CAG \u201cPlayboy\u201d, a tall, handsome, blonde, slapped his hand on the admirals desk loudly. “I already have three transfer requests to the Galactica and four more to the Pegasus. What am I supposed to do about that Admiral?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Admiral Eva Lawson’s voice felt like acid as she spoke. “You follow orders just like me. You don’t question them. Admiral Adama is my superior officer. If he wanted, he could take command of our fleet and you never hear from me again. He has taken upon himself a one-way mission. The only way we can help him is to secure supplies of spare parts and ammunition from the Cylon depots we are attacking in the next couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Squadron commander wheelchair tried to take a conciliatory tone. “We have sufficient forces if we add them in to reinforce Pegasus and Galactica, what looks like a one way mission now could turn out to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Admiral Lawsons voice cracked, and she continued. “I’m sorry. The only reason the Galactica and Pegasus were able to survive. Up to this point was the massive drain that we have placed on the enemy logistics. New Caprica is protected by only two base stars. If we do not continue our mission, if we had not done so much after now, Admiral Adama’s forces would’ve been crushed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The three pilots all spoke at the same time, and could not be understood. Admiral Lawson’s hand gently press down on the table. Though the hand should not have been able to make a sound, somehow it seemed to silence the three pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I did not ask for this job,” Admiral, Lawson, continued. “On the day the colonies fell you knew what my reputation was. It was well earned. I stepped into my viper as commander air group. Whoever controls, the universe has got one hell of a sense of humor, because when I landed my viper, I was commander of this battle star, and later fleet admiral.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Adama is my fleet commander now. He has ordered me to continue our campaign to take cylon forces away from new Caprica. He has not revealed to me the location of that planet. It is best for the survival of our species that we not know about it. It is best for the survival of the species that we not talk about it. What we need to do now is our jobs and secure the ammunition and supplies that the admiral needs in order to complete his mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I consider myself not to be an adult on the day the colonies fell. It was quite comfortable for me to think of myself, as not being one of the adults. But that changed me the day the Colonies fell. Today is the day all three of you grow up. The fate of 200,000 human beings depends on you following this order and not inciting a rebellion among our pilots. It is the hardest thing I’ve ever asked you to do. Believe me it’ll keep me up at night for many many days in the future. We have our orders. We jump at 06:00 tomorrow. Get your pilots ready. Dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Admiral Lawson stood up dramatically to leave three pilots in her office to plan tomorrow’s raid. She retreated into her quarters, which are connected by a locked door to her office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 43 year-old admiral was barely able to breathe, and she retreated into her bathroom. She stripped off her uniform blues and stood staring in the mirror for a few seconds, in her regulation, brown sleeveless T-shirt. Feeling sick to her stomach. She leaned over and vomited into the toilet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was truly the hardest order she had ever given. To blame them on the order sheet received was the only way she could cope. She knew it was cowardice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She knew that in Adama’s place she would give the exact same order. That did not make it any easier for her. The fact that the other admiral had made it impossible for her to do anything except follow. These orders, turned her stomach into a ball of lead. The orders did somehow provide her a way of coping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mercury CIC 05:55<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Major Sam Jones began the checklist in CIC. The lat item before starting thee checklist was always eye contact with Admiral Lawson. Her uniform was perfectly creased military order, pants and uniform jacket. The Admiral’s stylists, always made sure there were between four and six backup uniforms in the closet in her quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term \u201cstylist\u201d was not military at all. It was part of a conspiracy between Jones and Peoples Council Leader Cory Brooks. The Admiral’s previous habit of showing up for operations in crumpled, sometimes dirty uniforms and equally tangled and unkempt hair had roiled makeshift social media, fed by wireless \u201cnews\u201d chatter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With no constitutional power, Brooks had turned to Lawson’s previous XO’s. The first had been Ramirez, who having risen from IT was as clueless as the Admiral. Subsequent holders of the position tried to cooperate with Leader Brooks, understanding that image mattered. The results were uneven, as XO Mercury was frequently a stepping stone to a ships command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhiskey\u201d was different, because he had kept himself off the command track by a serious incident before the war. He was in this position for the long haul, and nobody wanted to imagine the disaster that could vault him into command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leader Brooks had practically kidnapped Jones on his way to a reconnaissance briefing. After literally twisting the XO’s arm behind his back, she had dragged him into a raptor VR suite. There he had been introduced to a staff of drafted civilians, 4 women and two men, Two of them were tasked to the admiral, one as a \u201cbody\u201d person, to keep Lawson if not camera ready at least not in a state of being that set of alarm bells in talk wireless social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They worked rotating 8 hour shifts. The second person, a private, the entry rank for NCO’s saw to it that no matter what the shortage was or how bad it was, made sure the admirals physical needs were met. That could range from maintaining a stock of socks, panties and bras in her dresser to insuring that the admiral slept at least six hours a night and ate twice a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Lawson had walked in on a meeting with Jones and the \u201cstylists\u201d before the admiral could spit venom complaining she was a grown woman who could comb her own hair and dress herself. Jones had put his hands in the air, indicating surrender. He stated that he was afraid of Leader Brooks and that cooperation was the better part of valor in this case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the combat jump was scheduled for 06:00 hours two stylists had shown up at Lawson’s quarters at 05:00 hours. Admiral Lawson had resisted against a full shower, followed by shampoo and hair styling. As noted earlier her uniform and every bit of clothing beneath was clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rush job on her hair was noticeable, but todays strike at a combination communications array and ammunition storage depot was so black, that digital imagery might be held for years. In this instance, skipping the shower would probably not be noticeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Admiral Eva Lawson acknowledged the wordless request for permission to start the checklist with a nod of her head. The expression on her face looked as if she had breakfasted on molten lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBegin Combat Jump prep,\u201d Ordered Major Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
* * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n