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Post by Brie on Jan 11, 2006 11:09:33 GMT -6
Absentmindedly, Brie made her way to the Gold Squadron Ready Room. She couldn't help but wonder how Astraea would react. The last time they had seen each other had been happy, with the lieutenant thrilled about having been assigned to such an important mission. Brie had done everything in her power to keep Astraea safe, loading the mission with over-qualified warriors who died in the Cylon trap. Until recently it had been thought that Skyler was the sole survivor. After the assignment had been made Brie had gone to bed. Having just returned from a mission herself she had followed a direct order to rest from Commander Sheba. When she woke up, she was informed of the news.
It wasn't my fault Brie kept repeating to herself. She knew in her head that it was true, but part of her had always blamed herself. She hadn’t planned the mission, just filled it, but it had been the first time after taking command of Gold Squadron that something had gone terribly wrong. She remembered talking with Commander Sheba not long after. “The first loss is always the hardest,” Sheba had told her. “You need to accept this and move on, because unfortunately, it won’t be the last.” The Commander had been right, over the yahrens there had been more losses, each person mourned and then filed away as a statistic. Brie thought briefly about the moon mission, she purposely didn’t want to learn the names of the Infantry members because they weren’t supposed to survive. When had she become so cold?
Thoughts of the Infantry brought a face into Brie’s mind, the dying face of Corporal Peterson. She only learned his name when he lay dying in her arms. Brie had made him a promise that she still intended to keep as soon as she saw Amy. Maybe there was still a little bit of humanity left in her after all.
Her thoughts turned to Charybdis. He hadn’t wanted Astraea to be a part of the mission team, didn’t think that she was ready. Their friendship had been strained because of it, but it had eventually become strong again. Brie had once thought that if they had survived Astraea's "loss", their friendship could survive anything, but she now knew that she had been wrong. At the micron she didn’t care if she never saw Charybdis again, although that would be hard, given the fact that he was her superior officer. She could be professional. She would have to be. She missed him, though, missed what she had thought that they had shared.
As she neared the Ready Room Brie continued to think about Astraea’s mission. Who had given the call to retreat? She had never found out. Why had Astraea been left behind? The thought plagued Brie as she entered the room and turned out the lights. Waiting in the dark felt like the right thing to do.
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Post by Astraea on Jan 12, 2006 5:58:56 GMT -6
Astraea stopped just outside of the Ready Room and stared at the door. Suddenly, she was nervous. The meeting with Major Brie was one that she anticipated and wanted to avoid at the same time. She was looking forward to seeing a familiar face, a person who knew her before she became a “Cylon spy”, but it was hard to forget the anger she felt toward Brie after her capture.
Reaching up, Astraea smoothed her long hair back then twisted it up into a knot at the base of her neck. Regardless of her feelings, Brie was her superior officer and Astraea wanted to look presentable. She checked the sleeves of her jacket for any lint and gave the waistband of her pants a little tug.
Astraea glanced up and down the hallway to make sure that she was alone before giving herself a moment to practice. “Put a smile on your face,” she instructed herself then followed orders. “Shoulders back, chin up.” She always felt more confident before an important meeting if she prepared at least the greeting. “It’s good to see you again Captain. Major!” Astraea instantly corrected herself then began to pace the empty corridor. “I’ve known since I’ve been back that she is a major and now I’m going to screw it up to her face. Focus!” she insisted.
But time had caught up with her and she needed to pass through that door. She couldn’t stand there any longer. “Okay, just don’t use her rank,” Astraea said to herself and stopped. “Simple.” She looked at the door, put a smile on her face, straightened her shoulders and opened the door.
Astraea took a step back when she saw that the room was still dark. “I must have beaten her here,” she reasoned since Brie was so recently out of the Life Station. “Now where’s that light switch.”
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Post by Brie on Jan 12, 2006 8:58:59 GMT -6
The door opened. “I must have beaten her here,” Astraea was heard saying. “Now where’s that light switch.” The lights flicked on.
"Surprise!" Every member of Gold Squadron, with the exception of Captain Stadia, who was on a mission, and those currently in Sick Bay, was present. On a wall a banner reading "WELCOME HOME ASTRAEA!!" was hung. In the back of the room a table was covered with food, and glasses of ambrosia had already been poured.
Two women, both lieutenants, stepped forward. "Hi, Astraea," the first one said, holding out her hand, "Remember me? I'm Mossycat. And this is SunTea. We put this party together for you.” Mossycat and SunTea had been members of Gold Squadron since it’s inception.
“We heard rumors that some members of Bronze Squadron had been giving you a hard time,” SunTea started. “Even going as far as saying that Gold Squadron wouldn’t want you back. But they obviously don’t know us that well. Gold Squadron is a family, and having you return after so long is nothing short of miraculous.”
Brie spoke for the first time. “She’s right. There’s not a person in this room who isn’t thrilled that you’re back. I would bet my life on that.” She moved slightly, and raised her voice so that everyone could hear. “Gold Squadron has the highest level of integrity of ANY squadron in the fleet, of any group in the fleet for that matter. We watch out for our own, and Lieutenant Astraea is and always will be one of us. Three cheers for Astraea!”
As the group started cheering Brie couldn’t help but noticed that Astraea had yet to say a word.
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Post by Astraea on Jan 12, 2006 10:41:22 GMT -6
Astraea was completely speechless. The party had been so unexpected that she couldn’t even mutter a response to the two women who approached her. Their faces were familiar, but her memory was as absent as her tongue at that moment. Someone shoved a glass of ambrosa into her hand and she could feel her face growing hot as cheers went up around the room.
As things quieted down, she knew that everyone was expecting her to say something…anything! “I…when…uh,” she stuttered then let out a nervous chuckle. She cleared her throat and shifted slightly as she glanced around at everyone there. A few of the faces she recognized, but most she didn’t.
“Let me try that again,” she smiled and looked down at her glass to collect her thoughts. “It has really been a mixed bag of receptions since my return to the Callisto, some sweet and others not so much. Seeing everyone here,” she swallowed hard, “really means a lot to me.” She was touched by the show of support. “Thank you, Mossycat and SunTea for going to so much trouble and everyone for coming.”
She knew that there were people in the fleet who would never accept her back or treat her as anything other than a Cylon agent. “It feels good to know that Gold Squadron is here to cover my back.”
Astraea lifted her glass and locked eyes with Brie from across the room. She knew that the major had a part to play in organizing the party even if she was still convalescing. “And thank you, Major,” she emphasized her rank as a reminder to herself, “for believing in me as much now as you did five yahrens ago.”
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Post by Brie on Jan 13, 2006 13:19:56 GMT -6
Brie pushed herself up and with the help of the walker, made her way to the Ready Room's podium. "With everyone here," she started, "I just can't pass up the opportunity for a Squadron meeting." There were a few groans and one or two laughs. "But don't worry, I'll keep it short. There's just a couple of things that I need to say.
"First, until the status of Major JustinB is known, I'm putting the squadron on unofficial alert. Since the glasses are small there is a two-drink maximum until you hear differently from me." A few more groans were heard, with a "boo" coming from somewhere in the back of the room.
She scanned the crowd. There were a couple of faces that she didn't yet know, people who had been assigned to Gold Squadron in her absence. She noticed Charybdis standing towards the back and purposely avoided eye contact with him. She wondered who invited him. "Second, the last time that I stood here before most of you, I was asking for volunteers for a suicide mission. By some miracle, we only lost only one member, Lieutenant Deke. I'd like to take a moment to remember Deke...a hero, and our friend." Everyone bowed their heads for several microns of silence.
When it seemed like enough time had passed, Brie continued. "My thanks to Lieutenants Mossycat and SunTea, for this incredible idea. Gold Squadron could use a good party, and what better cause for celebration than the return of one of our own after five yahrens in Cylon captivity! But before we continue, I need to publicly thank Captain Skyler for running the squadron in my absence. And thanks also to each and everyone one of you for believing in me during my recent 'trials and tribulations.' Being reelected first while I was in the brig and then again while I was in a coma means more to me than I can ever say.”
She glanced quickly in Charybdis‘ direction. "And one last thing. Doc Bkj has informed me that Captain Amy is awake and talking." This brought cheers from the crowd. "I haven't yet been able to see her since all visitors must be cleared by her mother,” Brie slightly emphasized the words, “but plan to as soon as I can. While Amy is on medical leave, Captain Hawke is acting third officer. I expect each of you to show him the same respect that you show me.” She smiled. “Or in some cases more. Okay, enough of the shop talk. This is supposed to be a party!" A bit wobbly, Brie stepped away from the podium. Fortunately Skyler had realized that Brie would push herself too hard, and was ready with the wheelchair. "Thanks," she whispered.
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Post by Astraea on Jan 14, 2006 11:19:36 GMT -6
Astraea smiled, shook hands and did her best to remain in the conversation as one person after another approached her, but there was only one thought on her mind. Captain Amy is awake.
Her initial reaction to the news was one of relief. There had been many times that Astraea had wondered if she had inadvertently killed Amy by giving her a dose of Gourt Root tea for the pain. She had learned how to prepare the root as well as dozens of other medicinal herbs from various people over the yahrens including many while in captivity, but she had never actually concocted the brew before. Living in space didn’t exactly give someone a place to look for roots and herbs, but she had found the practice of herbology interesting enough to memorize many of the potions.
When Astraea glanced up, she caught Charybdis’ eye from across the room. He smiled at her and lifted a glass in her direction so Astraea returned the gesture, but she could tell that the party was the last thing on his mind now. She had no doubt that Charybdis would find the first opportunity he could to be with Amy, but, somehow even with a twinge a jealousy, she was okay with that. Part of her wanted to run down to the Life Center and see the captain as well, but Amy wouldn’t have a clue who she was. Even though they had spent days together getting back to the fleet, Amy had been unconscious nearly the entire time.
“How did you manage to survive for five yahrens?” one of the pilots asked Astraea after introducing himself to her. “I can’t even imagine it.”
Astraea shook her head slightly as her gaze drifted off in memory. “There were times when surviving was the one thing I didn’t want to do,” she admitted. “But having other humans around helped.”
“There were other humans with you?” a woman interrupted in shock at the idea.
Astraea gave her a nod. “You’d be surprised how many people I’ve met over the yahrens.” She left out the fact that most of those people were tortured to death shortly after capture. That was one memory she would be happy to be rid of.
“So how did you do it?” the man persisted. “Are there any tricks to surviving Cylon captivity?”
Astraea’s eyebrows rose. “There is any number of things that people have done to survive.” She thought about it more carefully. She had known many with stories to tell of long captivity and she had memorized most of them by using the Caprican song. “For me, my one thought was of reporting back to the fleet with as much information about the Cylons and other prisoners as I could. It gave me a purpose and I think that was the most important thing when it came to surviving.”
“Hey, aren’t you a writer of some kind?” the woman asked. “Maybe you should write a book with tips. A kind of survivors guide to living on a basestar.”
At first Astraea laughed at the idea, but then she mellowed quickly. She stared down into her half-full glass of ambrosa as she swirled the contents then looked back at the woman. “The first thing you have to ask yourself is do I really want to survive because the Cylons will make you pray for death. Even beg for it.” Astraea saw the stunned look on the woman’s face and gave her half a smile. “That’d make some fun reading, wouldn’t it?”
“It would definitely be some interesting reading,” the man commented with a smile. “A survivor’s guide to the galaxy.”
Astraea chuckled. “Yeah, and we can pass it out to all the hitchhikers we pick up along the way.”
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Ike
Ensign
Be verwy, verwy quite. I'm huntin' Cylons. Hehehehehhe!
Posts: 16
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Post by Ike on Jan 15, 2006 23:16:40 GMT -6
Listening from the back corner of the room, Ike was impressed to finally see things coming together. It was interesting to hear the story of survival and he was new to Gold Squadron still, but, he thought to himself, he'll keep an eye on things as they unfold. Trusting others, after his past, has not been easy. He raised his mug out of respect and courtesy. Time and action will show true intentions. His loyalty to the fleet was ever-strong, and so it is with his home in Gold Squadron... no matter the views from outsiders.
"Astraea," Ike offered, "if you write the book, I want one of the first copies. Knowing an enemy can help overcome them. Just my .02 credits worth, I guess."
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Post by Brie on Jan 16, 2006 10:56:11 GMT -6
Brie kept one eye on Astraea, even though they were on opposite sides of the room. Astraea seemed to be enjoying herself. She seemed more relaxed than just a few centons earlier, like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Not knowing who to trust was an incredible burden, one that Brie had recently started carrying herself. Outside of Gold Squadron and a few other people she didn't know who might still have some allegiance to Pierce. Having her Protector's wife, her Opposer, several Agro Ship workers and her surgeon all try to murder her had shaken her faith in people.
The party seemed to be going well. Everyone was having a great time. Brie pushed the stack of reports and catch-up work from her mind, she was where she needed to be. Gold Squadron had stood by her and believed in her throughout the tribunal and the debacle on the Agro Ship. This was her family.
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Post by Astraea on Jan 16, 2006 20:50:37 GMT -6
Astraea was surprised to hear another voice chime in about writing a book on surviving Cylon captivity. It wasn’t something that she had even considered before, but she could see the benefits. She had to admit, she was intrigued by the idea. “I’d probably have to get command approval to distribute something like that, but I’ll put some thought into it and see if I can come up with at least a pamphlet of some kind.”
She extended her hand to him and he grasped her arm without hesitation. “I’m Astraea,” she said as if he didn’t already know.
“Ike,” he replied simply.
“Thanks for coming to the party Ike. I hope we get the chance to work together soon.”
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Post by Col. Charybdis on Jan 17, 2006 12:31:27 GMT -6
I saw how Gold squadron welcomed Astraea back. I knew they would. After all, I knew most everyone in the squadron since I had been its commander way back when it was first formed almost eight yahrens ago.
Astraea seemed happy, but this news about Amy. I had to find out more. I also knew that Astraea would understand and that this party was for Gold squadron. Not stuffy old bridge crew members. Last time I checked, my uniform was blue and not a brown battle jacket...
I quietly slipped out one of the other doors...
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