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Post by Amy81 on Jun 23, 2006 5:37:20 GMT -6
Bulk-up leaned over and whispered to Grease. "One guess what our assignment will be."
Grease nodded. "My money's on support." Hush said nothing but began to smile.
Weasel leaned in, shaking his head. "Support for the support. We won't even launch. What's the point being the best without the cheering section?"
Bulk-up nodded, agreeing. "Pack yer pom poms?" They all suppressed laughter as they sat up straight and silent again.
Ally and Janey looked down the row at them, both shaking their heads. Ally touched Janey's arm, then pointed several rows ahead to where a well built male warrior sat next to a stunning female pilot.
Janey looked, then looked at Ally. "Brik?" she whispered. Ally nodded, returning her attention back to the front of the room.
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Post by Brie on Jun 23, 2006 11:58:30 GMT -6
Lazant stood up, slightly acknowledged Skyler, then walked to the front.
"Thank you, Captain Skyler. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Captain Lazant, head of the Callisto Training Academy. I will also be the Second in Command on this mission. I am here to brief you on a new breed of Cylon, one unlike anything that we've ever encountered before. Few of us have seen them and lived to tell about it. Before I start to sound like an alarmist they may have existed only on the moon base so we might NOT run into them, but in case they have spread we need to be prepared.
"What I need you to do is get rid of all your previous assumptions about Cylons. We all know that centurions, having been poorly designed in a human-type form, are big, bulky, and not always coordinated. They're not known for their marksmanship, although the weapons that they carry are deadly if they hit their mark. And they're fairly easy to stop, one or two well-placed shots on our part and they fall to the ground.
"This new breed of Cylons, the 'Purple' Cylons as some have taken to calling them, are almost the opposite. Although still big and bulky, they use their size to their advantage. Their accuracy is deadly, they know exactly where a shot will do the most damage and will make it every time. And as far as stopping them...our lasers did nothing. We will be bringing along with us some of the most powerful weapons that we have, but I want each and every one of you to assume that even our best won't work. If we do encounter more Purple Cylons we will need to think outside the box."
A hand was raised, one of those Gold Squadron warriors who had transferred from the Galactica. "How did you stop them before, Sir?"
Lazant smiled, hoping to change his image in the eyes of some of those before him. He knew what people thought of him. "Let's just say that a roof collapsing can come in handy sometimes. As I was saying, we need to be creative. Think. Our ability to think will always be an advantage that we have over the Cylons. If there are no more questions, I'll let Captain Skyler wrap up this briefing."
He glanced at Skyler and sat back down.
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Post by Skyler on Jun 25, 2006 18:50:46 GMT -6
"Ok, team leaders, brief your teams on thier jobs for this mission and then report to your assigned shuttles/dropships."
Skyler turned the conference mode off on the briefing screen and all was silent. He pushed a few buttons and looked up. The screen showed the schematics of the Basestars central computer core.
"Ok, everyone in this room was chosen for a reason and I mean EVERYONE. If you think this is a joke or something to snicker about in the back of the room the door is right over there and it isn't locked. No one will stop you from leaving, but be warned, it will end your Military Career, so if you are not ready to give this mission your all, I want you to get the hell out. I do not have time to play nurse maid to a bunch of children. No one is going to die on this mission because you think its a joke. The chances of death are high. We are stepping into the unknown on this one. If that purple Cylon is as described, it will up the ante and if we are not acting as a team, we ain't coming home. Do I make myself clear?" Skyler paused for a few microns as he looked around the room. He paused on Lazant and the Bronze Warriors. "Lazant, you are here as my Second in Command, mainly because of you knowledge of the Purple Cylons and your experience in fighting them. If you have a problem with me or anyone on this mission, it stays in this room." Lazant started to roll his eyes but Skyler raised his voice to a level that brought his attention back to the front of the room. "After this mission I will be more than happy to meet you and work out your problems, but now is not the time. Get over it or be replaced!" before Lazant could answer Skyler turned his attention to the Bronze Warriors "I picked the six of you for a reason. Your records show you to have the skills and abilities to complete this mission. Any problems?" they all shook their heads no. Skyler turned to the screen.
"This is the main computer core. We will have portable energizers to power up the system if it is down. We will gain access thru this corridor. Ike, you Wraith, Lazant and Bulk-up will be our rear guard. This is our only known way out. If it falls, the mission is busted. Brik, Logan, Grease and Ho-down will secure this corridor. Blow the thing if you have to but seal it so we don't have any surprises, then fall back to this position, from here you can either assist us or the others, depending on who gets in it the deepest. I will be at the core with Ally and Hush and Weasel. Hush and Weasel, we are your cover, you have to hack into the system and download everthing you can. IF we can't hack it, we rip it out of the wall and take it with us. Any questions?"
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Post by Amy81 on Jun 26, 2006 6:06:14 GMT -6
The assignments hit the bronze warriors hard. They'd all assumed they'd be together in whatever job they were given to do. But not only were they working with Gold, they were being split up individually within the squadron for this mission.
Ally sat staring straight ahead. Inside, her mind as racing. Janey had always been at her back. They'd been each others support system since day one. Even if it'd only been while working with solium leak scanners, they'd been together.
Things were changing. Quickly. And in so many ways.
She thought about not being assigned with Brik and Logan. And about being assigned with Skyler. The thought of working with him excited her.
Focus, Ally! she thought. You've never had a problem focusing before today. Lock it down. Do your job. Save the rest for when we're all hoisting a cold one in the O-club after it's all over.
Next to her, Janey stared straight ahead as well. The importance and danger of this mission had her heart pounding. Still, she looked at the back of Brik's head as he sat a few rows ahead of her. This might be good. This guy has Ally's head spinning. If Ally won't tell me everything, maybe Brik will. She looked over at Ally, and Ally looked back.
They exchanged stoney, deadly serious expressions. They looked down the row at the others from Bronze, and saw more of the same on their faces. Questions, concerns....
But no one said a word. They were professionals, warriors, and it was time to prove it. To Gold, and to themselves as well.
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Post by Brie on Jun 26, 2006 13:55:56 GMT -6
Quick note-assume that the Bronze Squadron officers are being referred to by their given names, not their nicknames. But since we know them by their nicknames that's what we'll keep using those to avoid confusion.
**
Captain Lazant was silently fuming. Dressing down his SIC in front of the troops was not a good idea on Skyler's part. Oh well, he thought, I'll just include his lack of professionalism in my report once the mission is over. Why Brie trusts this guy I'll NEVER undrstand.
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Post by Logan on Jun 26, 2006 15:08:20 GMT -6
Logan sat and absorbed Skyler's briefing for a split micron. Then she turned to Brik, slapping her hands on her thighs, and said, "Well, I'd say this mission just got a lot more interesting."
Skyler was talking to a couple of Gold Squad pilots at the front of the room. Logan looked over her shoulder and saw that Bronze Squadron all wore similar expressions...disbelief, trepidition, surprise. Logan stood and reached for her pack that she had placed at the foot of her chair.
Brik looked at her and smiled mischievously. "Do you have everything you need?"
She gave him her best pained expression and said, "You doubt it?"
She saw that the other Warriors were beginning to grab their gear and several had already left the Ready Room to head for the ships. Lazant seemed to be turning purple as he stood to the side. Logan knew that the dressing down he got from Skyler could not have made him happy. But Skyler had to make it clear who was in charge here. She had no doubt that had their situations been reversed, he would have been just as plain with Skyler.
"Excuse me a micron, Brik. I am going to meet our new teammates." And with that, Logan strolled to the back of the room to face Bronze Squadron.
They didn't look too sure as she approached them, but she had made up her mind to put them at ease right away. They had a job to do and obviously Skyler had placed them where their skills were best suited. Ally gave her an unsure smile as she walked up to the group.
Logan didn't like the look of the bruise that had blossomed on Ally's eye and cheek. She didn't want to embarrass her or bring added attention to it, so she neglected to say anything about it...for now. She was determined to find out how she had gotten the injury. But it could wait. "Ally, good to see you again. Looks like we are fated to work together for a bit longer."
Ally nodded and introduced the Bronze Squadron Warriors to Logan who extended her hand in greeting to each one in turn. The last one to shake her hand was Bulk-Up. Logan got a chill as their hands touched and there was something in his eyes that she found disconcerting. It was an appraising look. She'd seen it before. She was a woman after all. She didn't like him.
She turned her attention to Ho-Down and Grease as they were more directly involved in her part of the mission. They were discussing the schematics of the hallway they had been charged with securing when Logan commented to Grease," That felgercarb won't be easy, but you make a good point." At that micron Bulk-Up made a noise that could only be interpreted as a disbelieving snort.
Logan stopped and looked at him. "Do you have a problem, Lt.?" Her expression was all business and her eyes went straight through him like lasers.
Bulk-Up squared his shoulders and brought himself up to his full height, but didn't break her gaze. She could tell he was used to intimidating people with his size. "No, I don't have a problem. But, seriously, why are you acting like our input matters? You're Gold. You don't need input from us. You're going to do what you want and save the day anyway. Lt."
Logan didn't know if any members of Gold Squadron were close enough to hear the conversation. She was completely focused on Bulk-up at the micron. She could almost feel Ally tightening up beside her. In other circumstances, Brik and Skyler would probably be clearing chairs out of the way in anticipation of Logan punching him in the face for taking such a tone with her. But, they weren't in the O Club over a card game. They were preparing to go on a dangerous mission to a Cylon Baseship.
Logan let the silence hang and drew herself up to her full height, crossing her arms across her chest and giving him the same appraising look he had given her earlier, before she said very slowly and very quietly, "Bulk-Up, now is not the time for posturing in the name of squadron rivalry. We have work to do. Whether I like it or you like it, you're going to have my six over there. If you don't think you can handle it, now is the time to back out. Otherwise, you'd do well to remember that the Fleet is depending on us to get this information. There are more important things at stake here than egos."
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Post by Brie on Jun 27, 2006 9:45:40 GMT -6
Lazant watched the room, sizing people up. Bulk-Up seemed to be in some type of confrontation with Logan. Lazant remembered Bulk-Up from when he was in the academy, he had always liked him. He was glad that they would be working together. He wasn't sure who Ike and Wraith were, since they were transfers from the Galactica.
Seeing that he was done speaking, Lazant approached Skyler. "I don't know what you think you know about me," he said in a professional tone, "but now is not the time to base anything on hearsay. I have no problems with you. Major Brie trusts you, and that's good enough for me. She trusts me too, I'd hope her opinion would be good enough for you as well." He held out his hand.
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Post by Amy81 on Jun 28, 2006 6:31:11 GMT -6
"Yeah Bulk-up" Grease agreed. "You trying to blow it for all of us?"
Bulk-up stared at Logan, his eyes flashing down the length of her body then back into her eyes. He thought what he usually thought of any female he encountered. Bed her. He'd seen her before, many times, in the O-club mostly. She was attractive, with looks nearly as intimidating to him as he found Ally's to be. But she was Gold, and he took her manner to be part of the whole problem he had with the squadron. It was easier being part of the top squadron, easier to enjoy life, and easier to extend the olive branch to a bunch from a squadron more likely to be assigned mops and buckets than vipers and blasters.
"Keep it up and you'll mess this up for everyone" Ally chimed in. Bulk-up shot her a glance, and though it was subtle Ally flinched slightly.
"I can understand why Grease here is suddenly so gung-ho" Bulk-up said, his eyes returning to Logan and again flashing down her form.
"Oh for the love of Kobol...." Janey began.
Bulk-up raised his hands slightly, and again Ally flinched. Hardly noticeable, but there. "Fine" Bulk-up said. "Fine. You know what? You're all a bunch of sell outs. I'm not saying anything you guys weren't thinking. I'm just the only one with the guts to say it."
"And the lack of brains" Hush blurted in a low voice. The others turned to him, surprised either by what he said or the fact that he'd actually said anything at all.
"There's a time and place for this" Janey said, "and now isn't the time." Oh great she thought, blushing slightly. If that doesn't confirm what Bulk-up said: Yes Logan, we're honored to work with you. And by the way, we all hate your guts and whine about you guys all the time, just like Bulk-up says we do. She stiffened. I could just kill Bulk-up! Making me look like a daggit's hindquarters....
Ally just looked at them with growing concern. This is going to spin out of control if I don't do something. I'm the closest thing to a go-between here, like it or not. She spoke, trying to sound as commanding as possible. "You in or out, Bulk-up?" she asked. "Cause if you're out, we're all out. You want to mess this up for everyone? Cause if one of us has a problem, they'll have a problem with all of us." She wasn't entirely sure of that, but went with it anyway. It might be true. "So say the word. Just say it and we all go back to square one."
Bulk-up looked at her. Her defiant stance, her defiant tone, her beauty in spite of the nasty bruise on her face, a bruise he'd caused. He blinked, looked down at the floor. "Jeez" he said, "I never said I wanted out." He looked up again at Logan. "I only pointed out what an arrogant bunch of daggits Gold is. I didn't say I wouldn't tag along."
Janey shook her head. Half apology and half insult... that's Bulk-up for you. She looked at Logan, wondering what was coming next.
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Post by Logan on Jun 28, 2006 17:52:32 GMT -6
Logan watched the exchanges among the members of Bronze Squadron with interest. She learned much in a short amount of time.
Bulk-Up was a daggit with zero respect for women and a chip on his shoulder the size of a Viper. He was also used to getting his way by intimidating the other members of his squadron with his size.
Ho-Down was a peacemaker. That was obvious. And if she did share her teammates less than savory view of Gold, she also held an equal measure of awe for them.
What was most interesting to Logan was Ally. She had taken on the middleman role here, which had to be a lot of pressure, but she carried herself with a quiet authority that Logan could appreciate. But during the conversation she had noticed something. Something that many in the room may have overlooked. Ally flinched slightly when Bulk-Up was gesticulating to make his point. Not once, but twice. That troubled Logan. Ally didn't act like she was one to balk at anything, regardless of how intimidated she might be inwardly. The hairs on the back of Logan's neck prickled a warning. And she didn't like what her instincts were telling her. Her fists clenched of their own volition at her sides, but she took a deep breath and steadied herself. Careful, girl. It wouldn't do to knock a Warrior on his rear in the Ready Room right in front of the rest of the squadron, not to mention Skyler and Lazant.
So, Logan kept her suspicions to herself, with the intent of asking Ally about the details of that bruise later. There was still a mission underway and they needed to get to it.
Bulk-up looked at Ally. Her defiant stance, her defiant tone, her beauty in spite of the nasty bruise on her face, a bruise he'd caused. He blinked, looked down at the floor. "Jeez" he said, "I never said I wanted out." He looked up again at Logan. "I only pointed out what an arrogant bunch of daggits Gold is. I didn't say I wouldn't tag along."
Logan smiled at him, her most charming and disarming smile. He looked a bit surprised but didn't say anything.
"Listen, Bulk-Up," Logan's tone was so sweet that she thought she saw a frown of worry cross Ally's face, afraid that Logan may have lost her senses. "You're fracking right that Gold is arrogant. We can afford to be because we get the job done and we don't sit around wasting time whining when we should have our gear stowed on a fracking dropship and not arguing in the Ready Room with Warriors who may be better suited to mops and buckets than going against an enemy that almost wiped out our entire race."
No one said a word.
"Now, Lt., do I need to get some rope to lead you to the ship or do you think you find the way on your own?" Logan stood there and waited. One thing Bulk-Up needed to learn and learn quickly. Logan didn't back down from anything.
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Post by Skyler on Jun 28, 2006 18:29:39 GMT -6
Seeing that he was done speaking, Lazant approached Skyler. "I don't know what you think you know about me," he said in a professional tone, "but now is not the time to base anything on hearsay. I have no problems with you. Major Brie trusts you, and that's good enough for me. She trusts me too, I'd hope her opinion would be good enough for you as well." He held out his hand.
Skyler took Lazant's hand and returned the handshake. "Lazant, it isn't about trust. If I didn't trust you, you wouldn't be standing here. I respect Major Brie's opinion of you, and I know you are a good Warrior and a fellow Warrior. Its about the attitude you are projecting. Like everyone in this room is beneath you. I am sorry if I came off harsh and out of line in the briefing. With the snickers and the attitude I wanted everyone to know and understand this mission isn't a joke. As you well know, if these purple Cylons are on this tub, we are in for a fight. Hades, if their full compliment of centurions are functional, we are going to be in for it. We can only hope our data is half way correct and all their systems are off line. If they know we are coming their landing bay will be a blood bath of the likes I hope no one has to see. "
Thinking back to when he was in the Infantry, Skyler remembers another bloodbath, on that claimed the lives of almost every Warrior in his company, one that earned him a bronze cluster. For Sagan's sake, he hoped no-one would have to live through that again.
At that micron, Skyler noticed an exchange between Logan an Mr Snickers himself, Bulk up. Excusing himself from Lazant, he crossed the room....
"What the Frack is going on?" The Warriors all turned to look at him as he approached. "What are we doing here people, please someone tell me, I need to know. I thought we were getting ready to go a mission that can get us all killed. Did I miss something in the briefing? You are Warriors, but you are acting like First Orbit Cadets.... no Council Security... thats it, I will leave the whole lot of you here and take a squad of Blackshirts with me, they atleast know how to act when they have an assigment. Do you remember your assignments? Well, its not standing around jaw jacking, grab your trash and head for the drop ship...." The rest of the Warriors grabbed their gear and headed for the ship, Bulk up stood for a few microns before turning and heading for the ship.
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