|
Post by LucianG on Mar 10, 2007 9:54:54 GMT -6
The resupply effort was complete, the ships were in position, and the last of the Vipers had just been pulled in from their patrols. At the appointed time, the Galactica, at the head of the Fleet, activated its jump engine, and it entered the netherregion commonly known as jumpspace. With the other ships trailing the Galactica activating their jump engines in the proper sequence at the precisely calculated point in the Quarro system, all of the ships of the Fleet, including those that didn’t have jump engines, were able to enter the artificially created fold in space that others sometimes called a wormhole. By doing this, the distance between two otherwise distant points in space was greatly reduced, by a perhaps a thousandfold or more depending on the relative masses of the systems, thereby allowing rapid travel between the points that would otherwise have taken yahrens to cross. In the case of Quarro to the Borreck Cluster, even at standard light speed, the time taken would have been roughly twelve yahrens. Traveling in jumpspace, the trip between the jump node in the Quarro System and the distant exit node in the Borreck Cluster would instead take just over four cycles.
A few centons after the Galactica led the way, the last ships suddenly winked out of the Quarro system. The very last ship to exit the system was actually the largest and newest ship in the Fleet, the battlestar known as the Callisto.
* * *
|
|
|
Post by LucianG on Mar 10, 2007 9:55:22 GMT -6
Personal log, Lucian, Major, Engineering, Battlestar Callisto
The Callisto has just entered the jump, and I’ve got that same nauseous feeling that I often have at these times. Some people claim it is just nerves, but I’ve always felt there really is some type of physiological effect that causes it. After all, we’re traveling along at a certain speed and then suddenly we use the gravitational forces of some distant star, maybe yahrens away, combined with a tremendous burst of energy from our ship to violently jerk us into a wormhole that leads us to that distant place in next to no time flat. I remember that the doctors on the O-9 did studies on it using all of us as guinea pigs when we were jumping around chasing the Fleet for all those yahrens, but for all their poking, prodding, probing, and scans, they were never able to prove anything at all. Oh, they claimed that there had been previous studies, but nothing had ever been proven about what causes some people to get violently ill, others to be mildly nauseous and others to not be affected at all. I guess I’m really fortunate that it just knocks my stomach out of whack a little bit rather than whole lot like some people. I just hope it won’t take long to get to sleep….
* * *
|
|
|
Post by LucianG on Mar 10, 2007 12:20:16 GMT -6
Personal log, Flynt, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonial Intelligence, temporarily on assignment aboard the Battlestar Callisto
I ordered my team to set up in this series of small rooms deep in the heart of this battlestar. Gods! How do these people live in these dismal conditions! Half this place isn’t painted, and the exposed underside of deck above with no ceiling makes it feel like you’re living in some type of utility room rather than a real ship. I did see one paint crew working in a corridor on the way down here, so I guess they’ve got someone working on it all the time, but still, I’d get it done if I were in charge of this boat.
Anyway, my team swept each of the rooms for listening devices, and didn’t find anything, so we got started right after the first members of the assault team arrived. I couldn’t believe it but these knuckleheads were talking to each other as they walked down here, so they’ve probably coordinated their stories to make sure they try to cover up any mistakes they might have made during the mission. We took care of that by separating them into different rooms as soon as they arrived. That blockhead Major Lucian should be shot for not letting me get started when I asked. He’s probably cut the amount of information we’ll gain by 30 percent or more by not letting us have a go at these people before they start forgetting details they might not have ever even really known they’d seen. I've sat in on a couple of interviews so far, but now I’m on my way to interview my first one, a Warrior named Lieutenant Logan….
* * *
|
|
|
Post by Logan on Mar 12, 2007 9:49:28 GMT -6
Logan had managed to get some much needed rest after Brik left the Ready Room. The barracks had been quiet but now there were Warriors milling about. The jump had that effect on people. Some liked to sleep through it. Others viewed the space-fold with trepidation and liked to be busy.
She nodded to several Warriors as she changed into a fresh uniform and combed her long, auburn hair. She pulled it back into a ponytail at the base of her neck and wrapped it tightly with a leather strip.
Sitting on a bench to pull on her boots, she looked around at the Warriors who were leaving the barracks for parts unknown, others obviously on duty and hurrying to their stations. She saw a few unfamiliar faces and guessed they were some of the new pilots fresh out of the Academy. She could always tell. They had set smiles on their faces that didn't reach their eyes. In their eyes, she saw excitement, caution and awe. Being aboard a battlestar was dangerous and being assigned to a squadron like Gold could be intimidating.
She had no clue what her new Wing looked like and she didn't have time to find her now anyway. Lt. Col. Flynt waited.
Logan knew nothing about the man. And she had already given Commander Sheba a full report. What more can there be to go over? Granted, the storming and destruction of a Cylon Base Ship was huge and unprecedented for the Callisto, but she couldn't help but wonder why the extra inquiry into the mission. She assumed it was because of the heavy losses. Ever since Brie's infamous tribunal after the Moon Mission, the higher-ups had been on edge. Double-checking every report to make sure that Warriors weren't being foolhardy and negligent in their duties.
Logan almost looked forward to the questioning. Gold had acted beyond reproach in her opinion. So had Bronze.
She stood up and strapped on her holster as she turned her thoughts away from Bronze. She'd have to relive the pain of making and losing new friends soon enough when the inquiry began. And she was both reluctant and anxious to run into Hush again. She didn't think his report would be glowing. For all she knew, he might want every member of Gold brought up on charges for letting his friends die.
She tried to shake it off as she exited the barracks and cut through the Ready Room. The Landing Bay was active. Vipers being checked and re-checked so they'd be ready for patrol once they came out of the jump.
Logan almost walked into someone as she entered the corridor.
"I was just coming to check on you." Lt. Baris had stopped short, blocking the doorway momentarily. He shifted to the side and allowed Logan to pass him as two Techs scurried past them, large equipment satchels weighing them down.
Logan was surprised to see him. "Is it standard medical procedure now to track down Warriors to make sure they are behaving themselves once released from Med Lab?"
A flush creeped up Baris' neck and Logan grinned. "Not usually. But when I meet a Warrior who is as stubborn as you are I like to make exceptions."
"I assure you, Lt. I am doing just fine. In fact, I am on my way to be grilled over an open fire by a Galactica Inquisitor." She looked him in the eye as she spoke, trying to gauge his true motivations for coming here. He had been very capable at healing her and her teammates in the Med lab and she appreciated all his efforts in getting them back in shape so quickly. But his presence here had thrown her for a loop. She didn't like being taken off guard this way. But his eyes spoke of his concern and interest in her well-being, so she tried not to view him harshly. In fact, she was highly amused by how he reacted.
"Grilled? By the Lords, after what you went through?" He was utterly flummoxed.
She put a hand on his shoulder and turned to walk down the corridor. He moved along with her as they talked. "Yes. It is all part of being a Warrior. Once that is out of the way, I have patrol after the jump." She waited to see if he would protest, saying she shouldn't be back in the cockpit so soon. He surprised her again.
"Yes. I knew you'd be back out there at the first available opportunity." He stopped at a junction in the hall and faced her. "I have to go back to Med Lab. I'm releasing Captain Skyler soon and I need to run a few more tests." He looked at the deck, back up at her face and down again. "Good luck at the inquiry, Lt."
With that, he walked away from her and out of sight.
Well, what the frack was that all about? Logan stared in the direction he had taken for a micron. She shook her head and turned in the opposite direction and continued down the corridor.
|
|
|
Post by LucianG on Mar 13, 2007 5:15:22 GMT -6
Personal log, N’Rondar, IFB Vid-Operator, temporarily aboard the Battlestar Callisto
My Lords, it’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen! First, the Fire Witch gets her 'big story' canned and her butt (more on that later!) handed to her on a platter by a Warrior so she's madder than Hades. She actually worms her way into his quarters but doesn’t find anything, and because she went off on this little adventure half-cocked, she didn’t even have a bug to plant in his quarters. I think he knew something was up, so I doubt that she’ll ever get back in there now. She knew she was cooked at that point, since no woman, no story. Then, when we reported to the Callisto’s IFB office to check in and see about rooms, the local news manager yelled at her for showing up unannounced, which was really fun to see. To make matters worse, for her anyway, since she didn't clear our little trip with the IFB brass, they won't help us with rooming assignments. We’re actually having to share TDY quarters since there was a big batch of gray-suits that showed up and took a bunch of the rooms. I know one thing, after trying to nap on that couch this morning, I’m sleeping in that bed tonight, I don’t care what that bi—
<unintelligible sound interrupts journal entry, followed by silence, and then entrant continues a few microns later in a louder tone>
And finally, the best part! Now, she's sicker than a daggit spun upside down and backwards on a centrifuge due to entering the jump. She’s thrown up at least three times in the past twenty centons or so since this jump started.
<high pitched female voice interrupts>
“N’RONDAR, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ME THROWING UP IN YOUR JOURNAL? YOU FRACKING DAGG—uuuhhhh BBBLLLEEEEEEECHH!”
HA HA HA HA HA HA! Make that four times!
|
|
BRIK
Viper Pilot
Posts: 227
|
Post by BRIK on Mar 16, 2007 0:23:09 GMT -6
--Warrior's Journal, pg 182--
Although it's only been a few days, it seems like eons since I last placed words here. It seems like eons, for that matter since I slept a full night, had a hot and un-hurried meal or a decent shower. I have the feeling that things won't feel very different until after my "interview". Well, at least I don't have Logan's bad luck at being first, although she will also be finished first. FRACK! As if there's not enough to worry about, now I may have to talk about my family! I just pray that that Cylon encounter somehow gets ignored. And the one person that knows...well somethings I don't write down EVER, not even here! Then there's Ally.
Ally is hurt badly and I'm not really sure what to do with that internally (always the analytical warrior, eh Brik?). I'm definitely worried about her welfare and my memories of her are simply exquisite...her voice, her smell, her arms around my neck, her kiss... But the very sad truth is that I don't know her very well in any day-to-day sense of the word and I would feel like a real daggit if I managed to see her or even find out about her condition ahead of her squadron, her family. I'll see if I can help them in any way.
And then there's my own family, beloved Gold Squadron.
I sympathize with Bronze getting the mangled end of the stick for so very long...but I will always be proud of my own, we've earned all we've received and paid dearly for it...just like every other squadron in the Fleet.
Well, at least I know that Logan and Skyler are ok but there's been no word about the rest of the squadron...especially since the "rest of the squadron" now includes people that I don't even know! I guess I should go take care of that, being a more experienced Warrior and all. And I might as well learn them because it's a certainty that eventually we will be fighting and/or flying side-by-side.
Perhaps it's time to see the Major (that I never really got to know, between her trial and all) then go down and meet the f...the squadron! Oh, and I'm hungry.
|
|
|
Post by Logan on Mar 16, 2007 8:42:22 GMT -6
Logan passed a few of the ground troops who had accompanied Gold and Bronze on the Base Ship mission as she made her way to the inner part of the Callisto's private conference rooms. They seemed tired and averted their eyes as she passed them.
Bringing up the rear of the group was a young man she recognized. Avery. He was part of Lucian's engineering team who had been on one of the drop ships in charge of retrieving fuel from the Cylon ship. It had been his first major mission and he had done well. Most of the Warriors liked him as he was very personable and had an outgoing manner. He seemed so youthful with his bright blue eyes and tousled blonde hair that looked like he never attempted grooming.
He saw Logan and shook his head. Pulling her to the side of the corridor, he whispered in her ear, "I'm not supposed to talk to you or anyone from the Team that hasn't been questioned yet. But Lords of Kobol, Logan, be prepared to have your thrusters kicked in by that head guy. He's not playing around."
Logan furrowed her brow as he patted her on the shoulder and wiped his hand across his forehead. "What do you mean?" She asked, genuinely confused by his agitation.
Avery looked over his shoulder and saw a couple of techs approaching. "Can't talk now, but good luck!", he called as he walked away from her at a trot.
The tall Warrior stared after him. I have got to stop having these strange conversations in the corridors. What had he meant? Couldn't talk to anyone? What sort of conspiracy theory had this Inquisitor imagined?
She had seen this sort of thing before. It had happened to Major Brie after the moon mission when she had been charged with letting Warriors die under her watch because of her mistakes. She had been exonerated, but Logan had that prickling sensation at the base of her neck that foretold of trouble.
She realized that she was standing there still, biting her lip in thought and turned back to her original destination. She reached the conference area and checked in with the guard at the door. He looked down at a list, nodded and indicated with a nod of his head for her to enter a room on his left.
No one was there. There was a small table with two chairs on opposite sides. The light strip in the ceiling was the only ornamentation of any kind. This looks like an interrogation room, not a debriefing room. She considered asking the man at the door what was this felgercarb really about, but thought better of it. If this Lt. Col. Flynt has my records, he'll know I have questioned orders before. All the cases were justified, but if he was a hardnosed, by-the-book person, any signs of defiance wouldn't get her through this any quicker.
So, she waited for the Galactica Intelligence Officer to come and question her. She sat in one of the chairs, propped one leg over the other and crossed her arms. She had a really bad feeling about this.
|
|
|
Post by Brie on Mar 19, 2007 6:31:04 GMT -6
A lot can be learned about someone when given a menial task. I like to sometimes test the new recruits, give them a task that most people would consider "under" a Colonial warrior. One of my favorite tests is the laundry test. Handing an ensign a bag of dirty laundry and telling them when I want it back tells me an awful lot. I put Ensign Persephone to that test today, technically she passed but she could have done a lot better. She flinched when I handed her the bag, not a good thing to do. I want orders followed without hesitation or question, no matter what the order might be. The Laundry contacted me, Ensign Persephone dropped off the bag. There's nothing wrong with that, but she could have gone farther. Amy set the standard with this test and she's the only one who has fully passed to my satisfaction. Instead of just dropping off the bag she did the laundry herself, showing that she will personally see things through. No other ensign has since shown such initiative.
I hope that Ensign Persephone takes my warning about the IFB seriously. Roxzanna-Rizou isn't going to get the story that she's currently after, making everyone else a potential target. If she finds out that Commander Apollo's cousin is now in GS she just might decide to follow him around for a while. If someone hasn't dealt much with the IFB they have no idea what they might be getting into. Their incorrect assumptions about me almost cost me my life. They're not to be trusted. I hope no one else has to learn that lesson the hard way like I did.
|
|
|
Post by LucianG on Mar 20, 2007 6:05:32 GMT -6
Personal log, N’Rondar, IFB Vid-Operator, temporarily aboard the Battlestar Callisto
Day two of the jump. It's been interesting....
RR is still really mad at me for blowing her cover yesterday. She usually coordinates a chase so I can follow her, but this time she was so ticked at me for making fun of her getting sick when we entered the jump that she wouldn't even talk with me. She charged off on her own...and look where it go her! Ha ha! Nowhere! She finally gave up and we went to the commissary to do a bit of shopping.
THEN, there was last night! She threw a fit when I told her I had to sleep on the bed, too, so I finally tried curling up on that monstrosity they seem to think is a couch. I think it's actually a reject relic from the Prison Barge. I tried to get to sleep, but had no luck on that thing, so I finally got up and climbed into bed with her, making sure not to wake her up. When she rolled over, I found out why she didn't want me in bed with her. She hadn't bought any night clothes at the commissary! WHOA! Anyway, I think the swelling around my eye has gone down a bit, though it may be discolored for a secton or more.
Today, Miss Martial-Arts changed her tune a bit, and we've been going all around this ship doing lots of human interest interviews while we're waiting for Commander Sheba to allow Major JustinB to be interviewed. I'm sort of surprised at the number of interviews we did today, particularly with red-headed ladies. Unfortunately, I must have lugged that vid-camera about ten kilometers tracking them down all over the ship. Then, late this afternoon, she met and interviewed this one guy who I even found to be a fairly interesting bloke. Still, he's at least 10 or 12 centimeters shorter than she is, so I was really shocked when she accepted a dinner invite from the guy! They must have hit it off fairly well since it's getting late and she's not back yet. Well, I'm going to take advantage of the situation and go to bed in the bed...at least until she gets back.
|
|
|
Post by Logan on Mar 20, 2007 14:12:46 GMT -6
Logan was silently fuming as she made her way towards Major Brie's office. Her 'interview' with Lt. Col. Flynt was the reason for her fists to be clenched at her sides as she strode purposefully down the corridor. A few crewmen passed her and seeing the flush in her cheeks and knowing her reputation made very obvious exits into whatever doorway, storage closet or turboflush that was closest to them.
I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. She was having trouble forming anything else with any sort of clarity.
The man had been insufferably smug as he had questioned her on the mission to the Cylon Base Ship. He had her official report in his hands and kept checking it each time she answered a question, as if trying to catch her in a discrepancy.
The strangest thing of all was that his questions didn't make any sense. He had briefly skimmed over the mission details, the journey to the Computer Core, how they had downloaded the information and set explosives to mask their escape. He had shown a brief hint of curiousity when she relayed the story of the Purple Cylons seeming to trap them, showing an almost human concept of strategizing that they had never seen before,
She was asked to describe the casualties she witnessed. Weasel. Ally. Hush and Janey's miraculous escpae to the Bay just as their stolen Raider was about to take off.
But for some reason, he had spent twice as long asking about the handover of the Core data to Captain Lazant. Exactly what was said between him and Skyler. Where were the other members of the team when the transfer took place? Could someone else have taken the computer besides Lazant? Wasn't it true that Skyler had overrode orders to share the leadership of the mission with Lazant?
It didn't make sense. Unless, someone was trying to imply that Lazant had been injured on purpose. It seemed idiotic, but she'd seen crazier things happen on mission reviews.
She was doubly infuriated with his dismissal of the fact that Bulk-Up had taken off on his own, against direct orders. No one in Gold would have done anything so foolhardy. She almost laughed as she shook her head. She knew Jorlan, Bronze's leader and she knew that he wouldn't have tolerated such behavior either. It was the infernal rivalry between Bronze and Gold. Bulk-Up had a chip on his shoulder from the start. And I'd really like to knock it off for him. Logan hadn't seen Bulk-Up since she had been released from Med Lab. It was probably for the best.
She thought she had caught sight of Hush when she had been dismissed from her interview with Flynt, but with so much angry energy coursing through her she hadn't taken the opportunity to look and be sure. She didn't want her next meeting with him to be when she was this angry.
She had almost gone straight to Skyler after the interview but had thought better of it. He hadn't been released from Med Lab yet and she didn't want him going off half-cocked before he was healed completely. Or end up in the brig.
So, she was taking her concerns to Major Brie. Before Flynt had a chance to talk to anyone from Bronze or Captain Lazant. Before all of Gold ended up in the brig.
Her nails were cutting into the palms of her hands as she stormed through the corridors like a thundercloud.
|
|