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Post by Brie on Jun 16, 2007 3:48:25 GMT -6
A centar after he had brought their food, Den return to pick the dirty dishes. He stopped at Comeek's cell. Comeek was doing one-armed pushups. "You didn’t drink your juice," Den observed.
"Wasn’t thirsty, " Comeek said without breaking his rhythm.
"You need to finish your juice," Den ordered, louder than he had intended.
One of the brig guards approached him. "Hey, Old Man, what’s the big deal?"
Den thought fast, angry for calling attention to himself. "If he doesn’t drink it, I’ll just have to throw it out. After what he and his cohorts did on the Agro Ship, I hate to throw anything out! We barely have enough supplies as it is."
The guard nodded. "Drink your juice."
Comeek stood up and took his glass. He pretended for a micron that he was going to throw it, but he saw the panicked look in Den’s eyes. He downed what was left. "Happy?"
"I’ll be happy once I’m rid of the lot of you, " the guard replied. He turned to Den. "Hurry up with the rest of them. They need to be prepared for transfer."
"Whatever you say," Den replied, starting to move towards the next cell.
"Hey Old Man," the guard called after him. "Make sure all of them have finished their juice!"
"Oh I will," Den called back. "You can count on it."
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Post by Brie on Jun 17, 2007 12:20:08 GMT -6
"Don't look so surprised, Captain. Don't forget, I know you very well. And one thing I want everyone to remember. These people have been brainwashed. None of them had been looking to become cold blooded killers. Pierce used their hopelessness, their losses, and their longing for a better future to his advantage. After his takeover attempt a profile of his followers was drawn up and several people in this room fit that profile perfectly, including me."
Brie turned back towards the screen. "This is Trula. To our knowledge, she's been a follower of Pierce longer than any of the other prisoners. Her involvement goes back before Pierce's first plan. Besides the crimes that they have all pled guilty to she has confessed to her part in my husband's murder. She is as ruthless as they come. Fortunately for me she's not a very good shot, although I do have a pretty nasty scar on my arm from where she shot me. She was formerly the Head Chef on the Galactica."
Brie changed the slide. Two woman's faces appeared. "Millie and Tanya. They were with Fleet Security. Both are expert marksmen. They attended the Academy together, both flunked out during their final yahren."
"Shawney," Brie informed them when the next picture appeared. "She was a backup pyramid dealer on the Rising Star. She wanted to be one of the main dealers, but according to her file, her boss said she wasn't 'sexy enough'." The picture changed again. "And finally, as far as Shuttle One is concerned, this is Raina. She was an assistant med tech."
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Post by Brie on Jun 18, 2007 9:55:14 GMT -6
"Now on to the males." Brie changed the slide. "Ivan. Former shuttle pilot. Rumor has it that he was brought to the Agro Ship in case they needed a pilot, a role that Logan ended up filling. Even though Pierce's supporters have been taught to follow orders without question there may be some resentment on his part so Logan, keep an eye on him."
Two faces showed with the next slide. "You might recognize these two. Sid and Vreemer. About ten yahrens ago they were one of the top triad teams in the fleet. They became a bit of a joke on the IFB, because they made it to the finals of several tournaments but never won a single championship. If you've heard the expression that someone 'pulled a Sid Vreemer', referring to coming close but not quite reaching a goal...that's where it came from."
Brie changed the slide for the final time. "Chip and Comeek. Former roommates. They're both computer geniuses, things wouldn't have made it nearly as far as they did without these two. They may not look like all that dangerous, but both have shown an unwavering devotion to Pierce." She paused to take another sip of coffee. "Don't let any of these people fool you. They all believe that they missed Pierce’s call 'home', which makes them unafraid to die. Not just unafraid, they feel that they've failed their god, and need to make it up to him so they can join him. This assignment looks easy on paper but none of us can let our guard down for a moment. None of these ten are to be trusted, and don't believe one word that they say." She took another sip. "Questions?"
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Post by Logan on Jun 18, 2007 13:40:38 GMT -6
Logan watched as the mug shots of the prisoners came up on the screen individually. She could hear the barely contained strain in Brie's voice as she talked about Trula. This must be what was making the Major so tense. Not only was she assigned the mission to transport the followers of a man who tried to have her killed, but the one who actually perpetrated the crime was involved. She couldn't help but feel a new measure of respect for Brie growing in her. This was double-tough for her, as a Warrior and as a wife who had lost her husband to these people. Being in charge of this mission took a strength and courage that was above the norm. She could have just as easily assigned Logan as pilot on Shuttle 1 with the women, but she hadn't. This was soemthign she needed to see finished for herself.
Logan only faintly recognized the other women prisoners. While she was masquerading as part of Pierce's group, she had only had contact with a few of them. Pierce did this on purpose. to protect the identities of his cohorts.
The male prisoners' pictures started and Logan held her breath waiting for the face that made her nauseous.
She heard Brie describing possible hatred toward her from the prisoner, Ivan and her head popped up to examine the man's face more closely. He seemed familar, but she had never heard that she had taken his place as pilot on the Agro Ship mission. She knew that with the cult's stance towards women and their belief that they were inferior to men, this one would not look on her too kindly. Bad enough to be replaced, but by a female? That had to sting.
Chip and Comeek were on the screen now. The picture of Comeek was how Logan remembered him from the Agro Ship, small, scrawny with beady eyes. She couldn't help but wonder what she had ever done to the Major to be given the pleasure of piloting a shuttle with a murderous maniac who wanted to own her and a murderous pilot who wanted to strangle her for replacing her. At any other time, Logan would have seen some kind of hysterical irony in the situation, but the meeting with Comeek in the brig was all she could think of now.
"Questions?", Brie asked after taking a sip of coffee.
Logan was standing before the word had completely escaped Brie's lips.
Brie didn't look too surprised to see Logan with the first question as she had been with her on the Agro Ship and knew everything that had transpired there. Brie nodded her head towards the lieutenant, giving her permission to speak.
"Major, I think it is fair to let the mission team know that I received a message from Comeek last cycle to meet with him in the brig."
Brik and Skyler already knew this of course and had teased her mercilessly about it, but now, in light of the upcoming mission, they both seemed to understand that the meeting was too coincidental. The grim line that took the place of Brik's mouth and the steely gaze that Skyler gave her showed her the gravity of the situation. No one was laughing now.
"I think it also necessary to let the team know that while I was infiltrating Pierce's group, I...I had been promised as a reward to Comeek, who harbors some sort of...attraction to me." Logan couldn't stop herself from looking at Hush surreptitiously. Her cheeks were red and she knew it.
Focusing back on the Major, she continued, "But the important thing is that he still thinks I'm a member of the Secret Survival Society. I went to see him in case he had something important to let slip before being transferred."
Brie looked hopeful, but Logan shook her head. "He didn't. He wanted to know if I knew of any other members who were still at large, pursuing Pierce's plans and to let me know that he was glad I had avoided detection and arrest. It seemed that he just wanted to see me again before the transfer."
Logan could feel Hush's eyes on her, but she kept going. "He also...doesn't look like that anymore, " she pointed towards the screen. "He's been working out while in the brig and he has doubled in size."
Under ordinary circumstances she could almost hear Brik and Skyler in unison saying "Getting all big and strong for his woman." Thankfully, this was a briefing, but she knew she'd hear about it later, in the O Club when the mission was long over.
"I don't know why I did it, but I didn't let him know that I wasn't in Pierce's group. He advised me that 'the faithful will be rewarded.'
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Post by Brie on Jun 18, 2007 16:35:15 GMT -6
"Let him keep thinking that," Brie said, more as a suggestion than an order. "I've been told that all of Pierce's followers have either died or been caught, but I don't believe it. There's something too coincidental about all of this. With the exception being Trula, nine of the ten decided to plead guilty to all charges right before the start of the jump. Supposedly they've had no contact with each other. There are red flags all over this mission."
Brie looked at the group as a whole, then said her next comment while looking sometimes at Skyler, sometimes at Brik. "I know how revolting it is to have someone like that attracted to you. Pierce himself offered me the choice or taking the seal with him or being publicly executed. I told him I'd prefer the execution." She looked back at Logan. "What you did, visiting Comeek, took a lot of guts and I commend you for it. But, given the situation, if you'd prefer to remove yourself from this assignment I would understand."
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Post by Logan on Jun 18, 2007 20:32:08 GMT -6
Logan inclined her head in acknowledgement before saying, "Thank you, Major. But I'm seeing this through. I don't start things and leave them unfinished."
"My being on the same shuttle as Comeek can be to our advantage. Make him too comfortable or sure of himself. It could make a difference. I could make a difference. And thats why I became a Warrior in the first place."
Logan was sure that there was more to this mission than met the eye. She knew that Comeek completely believed that she was on his side and that could help them. She appreciated the Major offering her a way out, but just like the Major herself, Logan wasn't about to let this mission be left up to others when she could do it herself. She had faith in the abilities of everyone in the room. But her infiltration was already established. It would be the height of foolishness on her part to let this small inconvenience of unwanted attention from a slimey creature such as Comeek throw her off. Her resolve on this was firm and she hoped that the Major knew it.
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Post by Brie on Jun 19, 2007 8:44:18 GMT -6
"I had an inkling that you'd feel that way," Brie said to Logan, "but hopefully it won't come down to that. Besides Janey and Hush, we'll have limited contact with the prisoners. The doors to the cockpits will be closed in case the anaesthesine vapor is released. But I do want you to oversee the boarding of the prisoners onto your shuttle. Each prisoners will be searched and given new clothes before they are brought to us, in fact," she glanced at her chrono, "that's probably getting underway right about now. And thank you, Lieutenant Logan, for seeing things through. Being thought of as some sort of a token to be given away is degrading, disgusting, and nothing to joke about. Even in the Officers' Club long after the mission is over." She glanced around the room. "Are there any more questions?"
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Post by Amy81 on Jun 19, 2007 10:07:08 GMT -6
Hush leaned over closer to Janey. "Prisoner guard duty, there's some training that hasn't been of use yet."
"None of our training has" Janey whispered back. Hush had to cough to hide the laugh that wanted to come out. He put his head down and acted as if clearing his throat.
"You don't have it half as tough as me" Janey went on. "I'm working the shuttle with THE Major Brie. Talk about pressure."
Hush stopped talking. "Yeah? See who I've got? Logan." He glanced her way for an instant, impressed with what she had said about seeing things through. And this Comeek... Hush instantly wanted to squeeze the life out of him for what he had planned to do with Logan, taking her as some sort of gift? Hush's desire for a chance to talk to Logan grew stronger as he peeked over at her again.
Janey read his conflicting emotions. "Good thing this ain't a social cruise" she said. "Or should I say bad thing?" Suddenly her eyes locked forward, noticing that THE Major Brie was looking her way. Janey braced for something, anything the Major might say, but just then....
Captain Amy breezed into the room. "I'm so sorry" she said, hands behind her neck trying to straighten out the collar of her jacket, which somehow had gotten tucked in under her tunic. "I went as fast as I could. Er-- Got ready I mean." The wicked case of indigestion that came from the drinks she'd had earlier in the day had left her more than a little unsettled. That was one turboflush no one should go near for a least a secton...
Amy grew self-conscious at the silence in the room. She looked around, then slipped into a seat at the front of the room, giving up on straightening her collar. She was going to say something else, but instead looked silently at the Major, her expression trying to convey how sorry she was to her mom. She wished she had time to talk, for there was so much to say, mostly off the record daughter to mother, but that would have to wait.
She nearly jumped as she felt the hands of someone behind her on her neck. One of the warriors in the seats behind her had decided to straighten out her collar for her...
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Post by Skyler on Jun 19, 2007 11:20:37 GMT -6
Skyler knew what the "escort" really meant. While it sounded all heroic, protecting the shuttle, it really wasn't. IF there were danger from hostile ships, the shuttles wouldn't be launched. If hostile forces were to jump into the sector, the shuttle would have no problems making it to the Prison Barge, especial with the full compliment of two Battlestars Vipers scrambled to intercept whatever. No, it was simple, if something went wrong on those shuttles the vipers would be ordered to take them down. As this thought rolled around in his head he watched Amy fidget with her collar then take a seat. With out thinking, he reached over and started to fix the collar, he felt her jump....
"Its ok Captain, just a little assit with the collar, they can have a mind of thier own when they want to."
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Post by Logan on Jun 19, 2007 12:00:37 GMT -6
Sitting next to Logan, Brik rubbed his hands together and placed them on his thighs. Leaning towards her, he said, "Well, sounds like a simple, staightforward mission."
"Absolutely."
"Which means there's not a chance in Hades it will be."
"Yep." Logan grinned at her friend in understanding. Neither of them could remember the last time they had been on a 'simple' mission.
She noticed that Hush kept glancing at her as he spoke with Janey. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes told a different story. He wasn't happy about something. Could it be the mission? Or, Logan wondered, was it more? She had noted his discomfort when she had been talking about Comeek. Granted, everyone in the room thought that the beliefs of the Society were monstrous, but she almost thought that Hush seemed a bit more upset than the others. You're imagining it. Why would he be? You're reading more into it than there is.
Regardless, Logan decided that after the briefing she needed to talk to Hush, even if only for a few microns. It was suddenly very important to her to make sure that he knew all about Comeek. And Hush would be guarding him along with the other males on the shuttle. She told herself that it was just so he'd be prepared, have all the information, but even as she thought it, she knew it was more than that.
Captain Amy walked in, breaking Logan out of her reverie, and sat down. Logan couldn't help smiling as she saw Skyler reach forward and adjust the Captain's collar. She'd been on the receiving end of Skyler's attention to detail many times. He was maniacal about regulations and she knew that his eye would start twitching if he had been forced to sit behind someone with a crooked collar for more than a micron.
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