Day 901 of the second Cylon War<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stanley Jacobs, call sign \u201cWheelchair\u201d swallowed a snore as Red Squadron commander, Hillary \u201cKitty\u201d Simpson poked him in the ribs repeatedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWake up Wheelchair,\u201d Simpson urged. \u201cBriefing at 0600 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI’m up,\u201d Jacobs pushed her hands away. Jacobs curled up, hiding his shaking right hand. He rolled out of his bunk and was the last one in the squadron bunks out the door, wearing his flight suit, minus the helmet collar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pilots briefing room on the Mercury was a theater, capable of seating several hundred pilots. There were several large screen monitors on the wall, showing images of the Mercury, a Viper, and an assault raptor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone in the room stood up at attention when Admiral Eva Lawson walked into the room, carry a tablet computer under her arm. \u201cAdmiral on deck!\u201d shouted several people in the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs you were,\u201d Lawson waved her hand, stopping at the podium, connecting her tablet to a USB cable hanging out of a hole in the lectern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The monitor changed and showed a title slide, saying \u201cOperation Magic Trick Phase 1.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The FTL upgrade of all fleet ships has been completed. This includes military and civilian craft. I am initiating operation magic trick to in effect make us disappear from the Cylons. Every military ship will be involved in this operation. Phase one will involve a number of diversionary attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We want the enemy to believe that the logistics campaign is going on as it has over the past few months. In fact, we are about to try and make our grand escape. The fleet will eventually break up into several parts. After conducting the planned, phase 1 raids, the task force will return to base to meet the civilian ships it is assigned to escort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There will be several meeting points set along the way. There are paper printed orders that are not in any computer system. However, these will enable the navigation computers to calculate the jump points. The plan is somewhat intricate as if the enemy is found at certain way points, the paper plan will be altered accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The reason we have a hybrid, computer and paper plan is due to the new technology we are using. I assure you that HG has vetted this technology as best he and his team can. There is a lot riding on this, and there are other ways that our course can be compromised.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have developed a command code system for the paper orders. They are quite short and use one time paper keypads for decryption. This is to ensure that even if an entire ship is captured or hacked, that they cannot obtain our destination from that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith the exception of the task forces led by the Solaria, every other military ship will receive at least 1 logistics feint mission. Some will work several missions over a seven day period. Seven days from now we will disappear. Hopefully without a trace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“As I’m sure some of you know the battle star, fearless, is leading a task force, composed of several transport ships and two Valkyrie class battle stars was assigned to do reconnaissance on the old settlement. They have the necessary means and technology to meet us at one of the 25 possible unification waypoints built into this plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter completion of operation magic trick, hopefully the Fearless will meet us. If there are souls to be rescued in the settlement, or New Colonies as they are also known, we will be able to gather a rescue mission and save the souls we left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The Mercury will be receiving assignment orders for its diversion mission at 09:00 hours. All pilots prepare for action. I want losses as minimal as possible. I don’t want to leave anybody else behind. Good hunting!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n