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Post by Logan on Aug 20, 2009 19:54:35 GMT -6
Logan sat still in her chair, next to Skyler and across from the two Kaltens. Her arms folded across her chest, she thought almost subconsciously that if she didn't stop biting her lip it was going to bleed all over the conference table.
Hearing Sheba speak the words made them real to her. Even though she had been one of the Warriors who had found the younger Kalten and been the one to discover the older Kalten in this very room, she hadn't given her mind time to catch up with these events.
She took a quick look around the table and the edges of the room, where Warriors from both battlestars sat and stood. Brik, stolid and sure, leaning against the wall, brow furrowed in thought. Hush, meeting her gaze and transferring hesitation at the news through those intense gray eyes. Col. Charybdis, face not giving away any clues, but sitting a little straighter than she'd ever seen him before. Col. Starbuck, arm over the back of his chair as he leaned forward to shift in his seat. Lt. Persephone, eyes wide in a face she had trained to be calm. Major Brie, looking completely taken aback, the old fire Logan remembered in her eyes.
She couldn't bring herself to look at Skyler. She could sense the tenseness in his shoulders even without looking. And she knew what he was thinking. She had been thinking it ever since finding out about the time rift. Kellie.
There were several people present whom she didn't know, including an Ensign leaning against the wall and a Lieutenant she had seen on the Bridge previously as she hurried to meet with the Commander. The Lieutenant sat at the far end of the table and she couldn't help but notice his eyes on her. Odd. Logan wasn't one to shrink from boldness, so she stared back, wondering what was going through the Lieutenant's mind. Her own was a whirl with images of one way missions and grand destinies.
Did they dare? Was Apollo that sure? And why?
Apollo cleared his throat at the head of the table and she turned to look at him, wondering what he could possibly say to allay the fears and inspire the hopes she saw in the people's faces in this room.
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bouriplwel
Viper Pilot
"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All I Do"
Posts: 354
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Post by bouriplwel on Aug 21, 2009 7:58:00 GMT -6
"Are we actually talking the possibility of time travel here?" Lt. Plwel thought to himself as he listen to Commander Sheba speak. "How is this all possible?" he whispered to himself as he was lost in his thoughts. Plwel thought of what would happen if he were to encounter himself at only 6 yarhens old at the time of the holocust. He wondered if his world, his family and his entire life would change as he knows it if he embarked on this kind of mission he feels is going to be proposed. Is there the possibility he could be "erased" forever?
As Bouri thought about these things he looked up and as he did, the first person who caught his eye was Capt Logan. As he stared at her with intensity, he thought to himself how he had never been in love....never been involved with a woman or felt her touch of her hand against his cheek. Would he ever have the chance now to be sealed for all time and eternity....to have a family and feel the loving embrace of his wife has he departs for a mission. At that very moment, Lt Plwel was very aware of Capt Logan and every detail about her. He noticed her deep green eyes that sparkled from every light in the room. He admired her long wavy auburn hair that he could imagine blowing in the wind atop the hills of the Pachangan highlands on his homeworld of Virgon. Although she tried to conceal it, Plwel could tell she took care of herself...a strong physique yet very feminine in appearance....
"I wonder..." Plwel thought to himself..."She's a Captain, and I'm only a new Lieutenant...why would she even consider going out with me?" Even though they still had not formally met, he knew she wasn't attached to anyone. He had heard in casual conversations about the ship that she didn't "Have time" for men, and that she was never seen in the company of a man by herself except professionally. Then he remembered why he was there in the first place.."Hey stupid...maybe you should pay attention again to the briefing your here for?" Yet, Plwel knew, at that very moment when he looked at Logan that his life was going to change in more ways than one........
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Post by Logan on Aug 21, 2009 10:13:02 GMT -6
Apollo stood at ease in front of the assembled Warriors. He leaned forward, resting his hands on the table, and looking up into the faces of his people. My people. More than that, his family and friends as well. Starbuck was at his side as he had always been, a counterpoint to his personality. His son, nodding at him in encouragement and support. Sheba, so much more than a person in his lfe, but part of his heart.
Glancing out at the Warriors he had worked with for yahrens, he felt both proud and reticent. So much had befallen them over the past 30 yahrens, since fleeing the scene of so much destruction. Some of these same Warriors were children at that time. Some not even born.
Rising to his full height, he began.
"I can tell that not everyone is pleased by the prospects before us. I only ask that you hear me out before you make any choices. From all conversations with our guests, it is clear that this seems to be a one way mission. I won't lie to you. Those of you who know me can attest to that. Kroll has told us that in his apst two battlestars came through the rift. And were destroyed by the Cylons."
Eyebrows were raised and more than one person present moved restlessly in their seat.
"But, you all have been taught of our histroy on this voyage. You will recall that Beings of Light appeared to Starbuck, Sheba and myself. We were given coordinates to what we believe to be Earth. That shining beacon of hope we've held onto for so long."
Pausing, he looked to Sheba, who nodded in acknowledgement.
"I have been visited by the Beings of Light again."
At this, the room was filled with whispers and excited voices. Everyone in the Fleet had heard the stories of the Ships of Light and the mysterious beings who guided the Galactica under Commander Adama towards the fabled lost colony.
Apollo described his vision to those assembled. Of the path the Beings spoke of and the choice that must be made.
A few in the group seemed to take comfort from his words. Others seemed even less sure.
"This mission will be on a volunteer basis. I don't know what will happen once we're through the rift. If we succeed and prevent the attack on the Colonies, millions will be spared and the pain and loss of the apst 30 yahrens may be erased. But, what will happen to those who go through the rift? To those who stay behind? We can't be sure. But I am sure, that this choice has been given to us for a reason and we can't ignore it."
"Before I lay out the plan that Sheba and I have drawn up, I'd like input. I know that some of you may not want to have anything to do with this mission. And I respect that. Just know that I am doing what I feel in my soul to be the right thing. And I will personally be heading up the mission. It's my neck on the line just as much as anyone else's. I only ask that you trust me."
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Post by Skyler on Aug 21, 2009 10:37:13 GMT -6
<<RPG NOTE.. This should be just before Apollo speaks>>
Full scale attack on the Cylons… With advance warning the Fleet at Cimtar and with a second Galactica and the Callisto would make short work of the Cylons forces that were there. After all surprise would be on our side this time around and we know the placement of all of their forces. The knowledge of the Cylons that Sheba and the crew of the Pegasus have from their time behind their lines would be the spearhead in a renewed war effort that might defeat the Cylon Machine. Could we change history? Do we have the right to try?
He would get to see his father and mother again. Would they be proud, they wanted more for him than being a Warrior and here he was a Major in the Colonial Forces….
Kellie, he would get to see Kellie again… Kellie of the past would be way too young for him now. To her he would be an old man, and she a little girl. Everyone’s life had changed that night; the survivors were not the same people they were before the destruction. His past self might not ever meet Kellie, and if he did, would they even like each other….
He glanced at Brie for a micron. His past self may never see Brie… would Brie even meet Turner or Justin B? What would happen to Amy and the twins? It was events after the destruction that lead to them being brought into this world.
Which begs to question, what of the other children born in space? There was no way to bring the entire 220 odd ship fleet back to the past, so after history was changed, would they just cease to exist? The population has tripled since the journey began, how can we just ignore that and condemn them to nothingness….
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Post by Logan on Aug 21, 2009 10:38:28 GMT -6
Logan looked to Starbuck for his reaction. His eyebrows raised and he winked at her, smiling. Even in this kind of chaos, she found his joviality comforting and understood why he and Apollo were such close friends. They were opposites who seemed to complete each other.
Putting on his most officer-like face, Starbuck spoke, "I have a question, Commander."
Apollo indicated with a nod for his friend to speak.
"Hmm, if these guys are from the past and have seen both battlestars destroyed, how do you think we'll be able to change anything this time?"
Logan frowned, thinking it was a fair question. If they'd done this and planned on doing it again, what could change? And how would they know they were changing the right thing?
Apollo breathed in deeply. "Because we won't be doing it that way this time. Kroll and the older Kalten were there. Kroll in a ship heading for the Colonies, Kalten on a transport. Before we sent through two shuttles with Viper escorts. The Cylons detected the movement through the rift and attacked the base and the battlestars. The temporal waves added with their weaponry collapsed the rift and destroyed the base." He looked towards Kroll, who nodded in agreement.
"Our problem is getting through the rift without alerting the Cylons to our presence, giving us time to mount a defense against them before they even know we're there. Kroll has been here, in the Fleet for yahrens, waiting for this day. And he hasn't been sitting idly by. He has come up with a way to realign our sensors to disrupt the temporal waves that alerted the Cylons to the increased activity from our ships entering the rift. They won't know we're there until it is too late."
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Reaper
Viper Pilot
Extreme Warrior
Posts: 412
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Post by Reaper on Aug 21, 2009 11:02:32 GMT -6
Edan had a choice to make, here and now. His life for the past 30 Yahrens was a decent one. He'd known many women and had many friends. But he'd left most to start warrior training. Most of his friends thought him a traitor being a warrior.
And the ladies, they might think more of him. But he'd trade them all for just one woman. He was older now then she was when she died. But now he had a chance to change that. And he'd give everything for that chance.
"Commander, Ensign Edan here. I'm new to the Callisto, haven't even been able to check in with Major Skyler. But I'm volunteering here and now. I'm in. All the way Sir."
He would save his mother.
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Post by Brie on Aug 21, 2009 13:01:31 GMT -6
Brie shook her head again. They were supposed to risk everything because Apollo CLAIMED that he had been given a vision from the Ship of Lights? If anyone else had been spouting such felgercarb they would have been sent immediately to the Catharsis Center.
Slowly, Brie raised her hand. “Sir,” she said, trying to keep her feelings for what was unfolding out of her question, “you said that the two battlestars went through the rift. What happens to the rest of the fleet, staying back unprotected, while you go and play God?” Maybe she hadn’t done such a good job of keeping her distain for the plan to herself after all.
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Post by Brie on Aug 21, 2009 16:06:03 GMT -6
Brie took a deep breath, ashamed at herself for her outburst. Patience and control. She knew better. “I’m sorry, Sir, I didn’t mean that.”
Apollo remained calm. “It’s a valid point, Major, one that I will address later in this briefing.”
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Post by Logan on Aug 21, 2009 21:20:33 GMT -6
Apollo wasn't surprised by Major Brie's emotional question. It was one he had expected.
"And as for you, Ensign Edan. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you may want to wait for the actual mission specifications before committing yourself fully." He couldn't stop the slight grin from creeping onto his lips at the Ensign's loyalty. His gung ho attitude reminded him of a brash friend of his. Starbuck returned his friend's smile as if reading his thoughts.
"What we'll need at first is a small team to fly a modified shuttle through the rift accompanying Kalten's probe ship to make initial contact with Lotus Lab and the Kroll who is its CO. This will also be a test to make sure that the wave displacement works."
"But how will we know that it works if we can't make transmissions through the rift?" It was Captain Brik who spoke in his deep baritone from the far side of the room. "Beggin gyour pardon, Commander, " he added as an afterthought. Brik was so caught up in the possibilities he seemed surprised he had spoken out loud.
"Not at all, Captain, " Apollo answered. "Simple enough. Kalten will come back through and tell us. The time lapse on either side of the rift should be negligible. It will seem like an instantaneous trip through and back to us, regardless of how long Kalten waits on the other side."
Apollo took a micron to let those assembled chew on the information. He wanted to answer every question he could. Even though he knew there were a few he had no answers for.
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Post by Logan on Aug 21, 2009 21:39:40 GMT -6
Logan chewed her lip in thought and was leaning forward in her chair, elbows on the table and hands cupping her chin. Not exactly a professional stance, but she always sat that way when she was thinking.
Thirty yahrens ago, she was 7. Her parents were alive and her baby sister was her shadow. But that was before the fires. She could still see the silhouette of the burning house on the hill, feel her sister's hand in her own as they stumbled dirty and stunned away from the remnants of the only life they'd ever known.
She had this thought, quickly followed by another. There were many in the Fleet who had no such memories. How would they feel about changing the past, their past? It was going to be a hard sell to those people and Logan knew it. Life in the Fleet was all they knew.
But she also knew that she trusted Apollo. And as a Colonial Warrior, she would follow him wherever he lead. Logan's periodic bucking of authority didn't extend to the people she respected above all others. Apollo had lead them well since his father's death. She wasn't about to start doubting him now.
So even without hearing the rest of the plan, what had her chewing her lip in consternation now was how she was going to talk Skyler and Brik into going too.
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