CHAPTER 18—THE DERELICT

[LucianG]

Lucian

Commander Sheba’s Personal Log

It is difficult to imagine the differences aboard the Callisto that the last eighteen cycles have wrought. When the Noman’s security plot was foiled and it was revealed that Major Brie and Lieutenant Amy were alive, it was a major step in bringing normalcy to this Battlestar. In addition, when it was revealed that Yvarran had been murdered by the conspirators and not by one of their own, the Frodarians picked up the cry that Yvarran had been a hero who had discovered the plot and had been killed attempting to foil it rather than attempting to become part of it as we suspect. Nevertheless, since the evidence was sketchy and since the actual reason for Yvarran’s murder was never discovered, in the interest of peace, we have allowed this little fable become reality, and there has been a major narrowing of the rift between our peoples.

The food situation has worsened, and the water supply has become a real problem, but we have reason to believe that this may be resolved shortly. The Axcian system, where we are arriving in just a couple centars, is large and appears to have numerous planets. We are hoping to find or be able to trade for food and water in the system. If we don’t find anything, we will be imposing further rationing restrictions and be skipping from nearby system to nearby system until something is found. We will survive and will eventually catch the fleet.

The Frodarians are also encouraged that Captain Jorlan was made third in command of the Silver Spar Squadron. At thirty-three, he is several yahrens younger than the other leadership in Silver Spar, and appears to have gained the respect of everyone in his Squadron. Major Brie has reported that he can be quite chauvinistic, but my sense is that tendency may be directed more specifically toward Major Brie than anyone else due to the death of Jorlan’s friend on Frodar Epsilon and her saving his life in the debris field in the Pauvwell system. The females in the squadron have reported that he respects ability when it is clearly earned. I may bear the blame in this case since I promoted Brie to Field Colonel for the mission but then reinstated her as a Major when she returned. Jorlan has evidently always seen her as illegitimate as a resu—”

“Commander, sorry for the interruption. Nurse Jarrynn has asked to see you at your earliest convenience,” said Major Joey via the comm. “She said that she needed to speak with you personally.”

“After we arrive at Axces and get our food survey crew on the way, I’ll be glad to speak with her,” Sheba said.

Returning to her log, she focused on the food mission.

“Lieutenant Amy’s crew has been busy studying xeno-biology for sectons, trying to gain every advantage possible to be able to restock the Callisto’s larders. Major Lucian, whose father had been a Xeno-biologist, was approached in the Med Lab recently to see if he could offer any further advice since he had lived on several alien planets as a child as his parents had explored. I heard that he laughed and said that the team would be better off without his input, since he’d ended up on some of the most barren rocks in the galaxy. The Warriors in the food survey mission will explore planet by planet using some pretty sophisticated sensor equipment. Once the best target is located from orbit, they will land, assess the safety of the situation, and then, if the risk is judged to be acceptable in their opinion, with my concurrence, we will send in the shuttles and volunteer harvest crews. The work will be accomplished as quickly as possible so the Callisto can chase after the fleet. We hope to be able to rejoin them in one or two more jumps if all goes well.”

Turning to the situation in the Med Lab, she recorded, “Most of our Warriors are now healthy. Lieutenant Rose has been recovering nicely, and should be returning to duty any time. Lieutenant Stadia is still being evaluated, with final results expected shortly. She’s been moved to Gold Squadron after a strange request from Major Lucian, who is now back at work, but won’t be able to fly Vipers for another couple of sectons due to rate of healing of the multiple breaks in his arm. Doc said he could probably fly now, but to keep from taking chances, she has put him on a new weightlifting course to rebuild his strength.”

She ended the entry a few centons later, and took care of some paperwork before returning to the bridge. On arriving, she asked, “What is the status of our food survey team? Are they prepped and ready for launch? We want them on the way as soon as possible when we arrive in the Axcian system.

The jump counter showed that that would be in 1 centar, 37 centons.

* * *

Charybdis

Core Command is pleased to announce that Cadet Finky has graduated from the Callisto Training Academy with High Honors! She is hereby commissioned with the rank of Ensign in the Colonial Military.

She has decided to serve her tour of duty on the Bridge of the Callisto under Major Joey. Major Joey is the Callisto Bridge Supervisor.

Congratulations to our newest Warrior!!

<chorus of welcomes!>

* * *

"They're ready, Commander. I'll put them on alert. As soon as we hit that system, they'll launch." I replied.

"Good. See to it that the Callisto does an intensive scan of whatever is out there. These unknown systems can be harboring who knows what..." she said.

She seemed a bit nervous. More so than usual. But then again, most of us were feeling the exact same way.

* * *

I was about to turn to Lt. Aegina to give the alert for the mission crew when Major Joey approached with a new Ensign. It seemed we had a rash of new Ensigns lately.

"Colonel, sir? I would like to introduce Ensign Finky. She has just been assigned from the training academy to the bridge. She graduated with High Honors and she has requested to serve with us here."

I looked over at the new Ensign. She seemed a bit more reserved than the last one, that Ensign Nefeteri.

I think she might do quite nicely on the bridge. "Ensign, glad to have you with us. Come over here with me." She gave a quick look over to Major Joey who nodded her assent to the Ensign. Finky followed me down to the front of the bridge section where Lt. Aegina was seated.

I introduced them to each other and told Aegina to allow Ensign Finky to give the alert order to the mission crew.

She seemed genuinely excited as Aegina showed her the ropes.

She proceeded to give her first order to the Warriors...

* * *

Finky

I followed Lieutenent Colonel Charydis and met Lieutenent Aegina. Everyone was so nice. I wondered if they knew how nervous I was. Agina told me what to do and I did it. Just like that I had given the orders to the warriors. I was glad that I worked so hard at the training acdemy.

* * *

Lucian

According to the prearrival survey, the Axcian system was large and sprawling. The star was a large yellowish orange body, with a number of planets orbiting it. Most of those were gas giants, so the food survey crew would be generally avoiding them; however, there were at least four of the intermediate planets that could potentially house life.

Since Gold Squadron was to handle the food survey mission, Commander Sheba had ordered Black Squadron to handle the short range escort duty while Silver Spar searched for jump points.

The jump countdown clock clicked down. At the advance time, there was a flurry of activity on the bridge in preparation for the end of the jump. The system engines, which had been completely repaired of the minor damage experienced in the Pauvwell system, were activated so there would be no delay when the jump engines cut out.

As the clock clicked to zero, the stars nearest the edge of the Callisto's forward viewscreen suddenly seemed to stop moving. For those near front and center, there was no significant change.

"Commander, welcome to Axces."

"Thank you all," said Sheba. "Anything on short range scans?"

"Nothing unexpected, Commander."

"Good. Let's get started."

* * *

Major Lucian had reported back to work in the Black Squadron office several cycles earlier, but he was still on limited duty due to the rate his bones were mending. Doc had told him that multiple breaks, especially in close proximity, often took a little longer, so he was starting to get impatient. The Callisto would be arriving in the new system shortly and he was disappointed to think that he probably wouldn’t even get to make a flight.

Someone had to make that flight though, so he pulled his records and typed, forcing himself to use both hands:

Black Squadron Short Range Survey/Protection Mission—Responsible for checking the outer gas giants Axces Kappa, Axces Mu, and Axces Xi as the Callisto passes within range of them, and for protecting the Callisto.

He debated his options for a few moments, then continued.

Lieutenant Kris, Flight Leader
Lieutenant JustinB, Flight Second in Command
Lieutenant Phlandor
Ensign Vexis

Black Squadron Support Team—Responsible for backing up the Short Range Survey Team, this group will be on standby, ready to launch at a moment’s notice. Primary responsibility is to protect the Callisto, secondary responsibility is to go to the aid of the Short Range Survey Team in the event of an emergency.

Lieutenant Anubis, Flight Leader
Lieutenant Nylah, Flight Second in Command
Lieutenant RaycerX
Ensign Konrad

Second Shift Support Team

Lieutenant Randrius, Flight Leader
Lieutenant Wendy, Flight Second in Command
Lieutenant Lusitan
Lieutenant Aliana

* * *

Nefeteri

The new Ensign Finky had just called an all out alert. Teri had not been given a Viper to fly. She gathered her helm and stuff from her locker and followed Brie down the corridor. Surely someone in the lauch bay would help the Ensign. She awaited further orders from Finky.

* * *

Finky

After I gave the orders to lunch Agina told me I could take a break. I looked around the bridge. I didn't know most people yet. I saw two women standing in the back. I could tell that they were from Gold Suadron. Since they both had red hair like I do I thought I'd say hello. "Hi" I said. "I'm Ensign Finky." One of them held out her hand. "I'm Major Brie. This is Ensign Teri. Nice hair." I shook hands with them. "Thanks. I thought you were dead." Brie shook her head and said "That was just a set up. We were in hiding." "Were were you hiding?" I asked her. "In Charydis's room" she said. "Oh." I couldn't thnik of anything else to say.

[LucianG]

Nefeteri

Brie and Teri smiled at Finky and patted their own red hair. Boy, Charybdis was going to like this. How many redheads did he have in the squadrons now?
"You took a break and Brie and I came here to ask about which Viper I am to fly. Have you been given the order for me. The bay said I need to ask the Lt. Col. but he is not in sight," Teri attempted to be her nicest.
Finky acted hesitate.
"I guess you'll need to wait until the Lt. Col. gets back. By the way, he is good-looking. Is he married?"
"I don't that should be on your mind at the moment," Brie barked. "And he is taken!" She was thinking of Amy who at the moment had no idea whether he was or not.
"I'll await him here if that is all right," Teri said. She looked at Brie in chagrine.

* * *

Charybdis

Sheba gave the order, "Launch!!"

The orders went out immediately and the whole launch bay converted into a maelstrom of activity bathed in red light. Pilots and techs were running everywhere to get to their ships.

The Gold squadron food survey team was first to launch. They might need to go the farthest, so they needed to get out first.

Black squadron would launch to begin the short range scans of the nearest bodies.

Silver Spar would then launch to keep watch over the Callisto in close quarters.

May the Lords be with them all...here we go again...

* * *

Finky

I thought to myself who wuz this Teri anyways. Asking me questions that I did not have answrs for. Finally, a friendly face. It was Lt. Col. Charydis. He looked like he was headed our way but took one look at teri and turned and walked away. I wuz on my own.
I don't know what viper if any you have Ensign. Teri looked as if she wuz goin to sock me one but I wuz ready for her.
I gave her a punch before she even kew it. Brie was on top of me. Lt. Col. Charydis left the bridge. Sheba brok us up.
She was pissed. No figting during her 8 centers.

* * *

Lucian

According to the word that swept through the Battlestar, Commander Sheba was "pissed" about the actions that had just taken place on her bridge. In reality, "pissed" didn't even scratch the surface of her displeasure.

"Major Brie, please inform your squadron member that you are in charge of assigning missions and flights for members of your squadron, and that with the severe shortage of Vipers we are now experiencing, sharing ships is now a necessity. I expect the punishment to fit the crime as an example to others that this lack of discipline will not be tolerated on this Bridge."

Turning to Charybdis, she said, "Colonel, you are to deal with our new Ensign personally. She must know that Bridge personnel rarely ever get to fly missions since our duty is to run this ship and protect our people so our Warriors have a home to which they can return after missions. Again, I expect the punishment to fit the crime, especially when it appears that one of our own officers started the incident. Perhaps a joint punishment would be appropriate..."

* * *

Nefeteri

Teri couldn't believe it. She was going to get punished for something she didn't start. As a new ensign she had to learn but she was not going to accept this so called punishment.
"I protest!" Teri vehemently stated. "I refuse to be called down when I didn't start it. I just wanted to know the Viper schedule. Maj. Brie did not tell me of the shortage. I will accept that. If the Lt. Col. had told us then that would have sufficed but no, he heads the other way. Well Brie, what do you have to say?

* * *

Brie

"Well Brie, what do you have to say?"

Major Brie looked sternly at Teri. "The punishment stands, Ensign." Teri opened her mouth to say something but Brie cut her off. "We've spent the last several sectars trying to get RID of our internal problems, and I'm not going to let them start up again. Just because you didn't throw the first strike doesn't give you the right to let it continue. And I will not tolerate disrespect towards a senior officer. Now I would suggest that you leave the Bridge at once and give yourself some time to cool off. Understood?"

"But..."

"Dismissed, Ensign." Teri quickly walked away, taking one last look at Ensign Finky.

"Major, I'd like to speak to you," Commander Sheba ordered. Her tone still was not happy.

"Yes, Ma'am," Brie said and followed Sheba into an empty room.

"Okay, Major, what happened?" Sheba asked.

"I'm not really sure," Brie said honestly. "Ensign Finky came over and introduced herself, and the next thing I knew the fight had started. Finky did take the first swing."

"Are you sure you're not just trying to protect a member of your squadron?" Sheba asked.

"Not at the expense of the truth, Ma'am," Brie said, hurt by the question but not showing it. "I admit that I haven't been able to go over all of the ins and outs of viper assignments and other squadron business with Ensign Teri yet..."

Sheba cut her off. "And why is that?"

"Because everywhere I go someone else is slapping me on the back, telling me that they're glad that I'm alive," Brie admitted. "It's hard to keep a train of thought. I'd go over things with her in my office, but the repairs from the explosion aren't done yet so I don't even have an office to use."

Sheba's expression softened. "All right, I understand. Just try and keep Ensign Teri under control."

"I'll do my best, Ma'am. I think she'll fit in once she finds her place."

"Remember, Major," Sheba added, "you've had control problems with members of Gold Squadron before. That's something that I haven't forgotten."

* * *

Charybdis

"Ensign Finky, this way" I motioned for the new Ensign to follow me into the war room. She quickly moved.

"Ensign, with your actions I don't even know how in the twelve worlds you managed to graduate from the training academy, but it better end right now. Everyone says you took the first swing at Ensign Teri and all I can say is it better not happen again. If she decides to press charges against you, that's her busines. But for now, your punishment is to be confined to the bridge and living quarters during this mission. You are NOT to have any contact with members of Gold squadron and least of all, Ensign Teri! Is that understood?"

She lowered her head and nodded, "Yes, sir. I'm sorry sir. It won't happen again. I'll prove I'm cut out for this."

"I hope so, Ensign. You've shown great promise. And your record from the academy speaks for itself. But now, I think it's time to speak with your actions on this bridge. We've had enough of the fighting in our ranks. Let's direct it toward the Cylons from here on out, eh?"

She cracked a slight smile and was dismissed. She went back out to the bridge and joined Lt. Aegina.

Doesn't it get any easier?

* * *

Finky

I thought about what Charydis had said. I didn't want to disapoint him. Did he think that spending time on the bridge was a punishment? Not if he would be their too.

* * *

Brie

Just a reminder, the Gold orders are as follows:

Captain Cain
Lt. Amy, Cain's Wing

Captain Skyler
Lt. Najin, Skyler's Wing

Captain Cain will be in command of the mission, but Lt. Najin will be in charge of the fact finding.

Good luck, I'm hungry!

* * *

Nefeteri

Teri was more than upset. Not only did the new ensign not have a Viper for her to fly she didn't know who's wingman Teri was to be. This is what Teri had gotten into the Colonial forces for. To fight the Cylons and othe races against them. Where was Lt. Col. Charybdis? No offense, but Finky really was not helping much, redhead or not.
Finally she saw the Lt. Col. and she looked flustered. She knew he was still mad at her but she needed answers and fast. Was she to be Brie's wingman? Only the Lt. Col. could answer her many questions.

[LucianG]

Lucian

Major Lucian made his daily visit to see Lieutenant Rose. She was up and about, but Nurse Holodoc had told her to take it easy, so she was trying to stay on the head nurse's good side. When Lucian asked the question, she gave him a surprised stare, but he nodded silently, so she quietly agreed.

A few centons later, the two of them were in the Beta Bay flight observation office, waiting for the launch.

Lieutenant Kris was speaking with her team about the Black Squadron Short Range Survey/Protection Mission. They were responsible for checking the outer gas giants Axces Kappa, Axces Mu, and Axces Xi as the Callisto passed within range of them, and for protecting the Callisto. Lieutenant JustinB would back up Kris as Flight Second in Command, with Ensign Vexis flying as Kris' wing, and the squadron's newest Lieutenant, Phlandor, flying with JustinB.

In the standby room, Lieutenant Anubis, the backup team's Flight Leader, Lieutenant Nylah, its Flight Second in Command, Lieutenant RaycerX, and Ensign Konrad began their long wait.

"I just wish we had plenty of fuel and plenty of replacement Vipers," said Lucian. "These four person flights leave us too open."

"I just wish I was going with them," said Rose.

"I know what you mean, Lieutenant," Lucian replied. "Believe me, I know."

* * *

Nefeteri

Teri trudged down to the launch bays to see the fighters off. She was really down. Maj. Brie had put her on suspension the first day out, she was not going with their squadron in a Viper for two weeks and Brie was mad at her.
Her first instinct when Finky hit her was to hit back. Now it was all over the ship. Not only had she pulled Lt. Col. Charybdis off the bridge, she had decked a new ensign in front of Commander Sheba and Major Brie.
"What else can go wrong," she spoke to herself as she suddenly hit an obstacle in her path. She looked up and into the face of Lt. Col. Charybdis.
"These centars just keep getting better and better. Excuse me sir," she mumbled.
"I don't think I would mumble to an officer higher ranked than you," he replied attempting to hold back a grin.
She cocked her head as she looked up at him.
"Are you laughing at me?" she asked boldy. Heck...she had done her worst already.
"Not laughing, merely surmising in my mind all the problems you've caused on the first day out." he stated. "Do you have a history of this form of behavior?"
"I don't do it on purpose and Finky started the fighted."
Charybdis just shook his head.

* * *

Rose

Rose silently looked out the observation window watching two of the few friends she had on board the Callisto get ready to go out on the mission they had been assigned. Rose had heard from Lt Holodoc about what Kris had come close to doing to Hawke soon after seeing him there in MedLab. She had also learned that JustinB had come by to visit soon after the fighting was over and he had done his reports.

Rose thought that she would go down to the landing bay and talk to both JustinB and Kris for a moment before the launched. "Major Lucian," Rose says, "if you will excuse me for a few moments I want to go and speak with both Lt Kris and Lt JustinB to wish them well during this mission." Lucian nodded and continued to look out the window down into the landing bay.

Rose headed on down to the landinbay so that she could talk with both Kris and JustinB. When she walks up to them Kris was just finishing up her mission brief with her team. "Kris and JustinB," Rose says, "I wish I could go with you two on this mission, but I have to stay behind until I get the all clear from Lt Holodoc. I hope that things go well for you during this mission and everyone returns safely. When you get back I would like to buy you a drink down in the O'Club."

* * *

JustinB

As soon as Lieutenant Kris finished her briefing, I noticed Rose make her way over to us. To Kris and me she said "Kris and JustinB. I wish I could go with you two on this mission, but I have to stay behind until I get the all clear from Lt Holodoc. I hope that things go well for you during this mission and everyone returns safely. When you get back I would like to buy you a drink down in the O'Club."

Kris smiled; "I will be looking forward to that." Seeing that I had something to say to Rose, Kris took Ensign Vexis aside so we could have some privacy. "Rose, it is good too see you on your feet again. For a moment there, I thought I had caused your death." I sigh and see Rose's face say 'How did you do that?'. "Look I cannot really talk now, but I really think you should find Hawke. Talk to him. We exchanged a few words earlier on, but he is everything you said he was. One thing though, he should count himself a lucky bloke, to have you. See you after the mission."

I could see she wanted to say something, but I had a job to do. Plus, I wanted to a conversation with her without time restraints and interruptions. As I walked away I heard her say, "Stay safe JustinB, may the Lords of Kobol protect you."

With that I made my to my wingman, Lieutenant Phlandor. As I approached him, I said "Hi there Lieutenant, I am JustinB." "Hi, I'm Phlandor." Before we headed to our vipers, I spent a centon chatting to him. "and remember stay on my wing and nothing fancy you here. Phlandor replied with a smile and a nod. I jumped in my viper and waited for permission to Launch.

* * *

Rose

Rose sadly watched JustinB, Kris, and their wingmates finish getting ready for the mission that they were being sent out on in a matter of centons. She stood back out of the way of the other crew members working on getting things ready for the current mission. After standing there for a little longer, Rose though she might better get back up to the observation area where Major Lucian was located watching things down in the landing bay area.

During the short walk back up to the observation area there above the landing bay, Rose thought about what JustinB said about Hawke. She wondered what could of be said between the two of them.

Rose walked back into the observation area there were Major Lucian was still watching the activity down in the landing bay. She went over & quietly stood watching also, not wanting to disrupt his thoughts.

* * *

JustinB

Shortly after Gold Squadron launching, we finally got our launch clearance. Sitting as far back as I could, I hit the Turbo's. Once clear of the Callisto, I formed up on Lieutenant Kris's right wing. Lieutenant Phlandor was lagging behind slightly. "Lieutenant Phlandor, If it pleases you, try and stay in formation." With that he closed the gap. Wondering how Gold Squadron was going, I plotted a heading for the large gas giant, Axces Mu.

* * *

Finky

I can't believe it. Their punishing me for Teri's remark. I hve to take thre double duty shifts. That was begining today. I have it in for Ensign Teri, just her wait. I'll get her now that i herd she was out of flying for two weeks. Maybe that place they all go to for drinks will be where Ill git her. Dont know what Ill do yet but she bettr watch her step.

* * *

I sat back down and tried to concentrate on my duties but I wuz to mad. That Teri. She is not the only one. Commander Sheba is aganst me. Major Brie is a Sheba wanna-be. I think all wariors are mean. They stick together. The only person who has ben really nice to me is Lieutenent Colonel Charydis. He's diferent. He's cute too.

* * *

Nefeteri

Teri was really hurting now. She held her left hand and arm which she had relayed a punch back in response to Finky's right punch for no reason. Finky was a lunatic, pure and simple. Teri hadn't said anything to make her go off like that.
A nurse approached her.
"Hello, I'm Holodoc, what can I do for you. Ouch, that looks like it hurts."
"I'm Ensign Teri of the Gold Squadron. I kind met up with someone from the bridge who decked me."
Jarryn walked up. "She's the one who pulled Charybdis over on her." Jarryn and Holodoc laughed much to Teri's chagrine.
"Let's look at her face and her arm. Hmmmm...doesn't look too bad. It won't keep you from flying,"Jarryn stated.
"It won't but Brie will. I've been grounded for two weeks."
"So they're going to take it serious, huh," Holodoc added.
"Yep, got any place to heal your wounds?" Teri moaned as they attended her.

* * *

Lucian

"Lieutenant," Lucian said to Rose, "we better get you back to the Med Lab before Nurse Holodoc puts my head on a pike. She said you could get a little exercise, but I suspect she would classify this hike instead as a 'little excessive.'"

Rose halfway broke a smile at Lucian's poor attempt at a pun. She was looking a little tired, so Lucian helped her into the wheelchair and started wheeling her toward the Med Lab. She was obviously worried about them.

"They'll be back soon, Rose. Our brothers and sisters will return to us soon, and we'll be able to be going out with them shortly after that."

"They are like our family, aren't they, Major?" said Rose.

"We laugh and cry with them, we miss them when they're not here, we're sorry we can't go out with them, and we grieve for them when they never come back. Our squadron mates are the only family many of us have left. Yes, I think they're fam--"

Nurse Holodoc rounded the corner in front of them. She jammed her hands onto her hips and said, "Where in the twelve worlds have you been? I've been looking all over the place for Lieutenant Rose! Major, I ought to--"

Lucian didn't really hear the rest of the sentence. He was too busy having terrible thoughts about how his head would look on that pike.

* * *

Jarrynn

Jarrynn shook her head as she saw Major Lucian and Lt Rose come in. It seemed that the warriors were always the ones that were the hardest to keep in the medlab while they healed. It was in their genes she guessed for them to get up and wander so much. Too much idle time to a warrior is their death warrant, or so they act. Major Lucian looked pitiful though. He looked like he had already been scolded. Jarrynn stiffled her laugh and walked over to him.

"Major Lucian, really? You? Come on!" (giggles as she shakes her head) "What am I to do with you?"

He just shrugged and gave the best puppy look. Jarrynn giggled and walked out. She was waiting on her next patient, Major Buellah. He scheduled his much over due eye exam.

[LucianG]

Lucian

Major Buellah came into the Med Lab and was surprised to see Major Lucian accepting, rather calmly it appeared, a lecture from Nurse Holodoc. He was holding his almost healed left arm in his right hand as if protecting it, just in case he had to dive for cover if Nurse Holodoc heated up too much. She was being nice, though, not threatening Lucian too badly, so Buellah moved on with a grin and tapped on the door to Nurse Jarrynn's office. He hated being poked and prodded by Doc or any of the nursing staff, and eye exams weren't any more fun in his mind, so he didn't really want to be there. He'd missed the last eye exam due to a snafu with the paperwork, but he wasn't complaining about that one bit.

"Nurse Jarrynn, good morning! Thanks for rescheduling for me."

* * *

In the SIM Training Room, Lieutenant Nat was running several cadets through a rather challenging session. They were joined by Lieutenant Hawke, who was in his last session being recertified for Viper duty. He'd already run through more SIM sessions than he was expecting in the past two and a half sectons since he'd been reinstated as a Warrior. Nat had made each one more challenging than the last, and Hawke was pretty pleased with his performance so far, though he'd had some trouble keeping the cadets in line. This time, he'd talked with them in advance. If they had their way, the training Lieutenant was in for a surprise.…

* * *

Holodoc

Once Holodoc had finished lecturing Major Lucian, she made sure that both him & Rose were both settled back in their beds so that they could get the needed rest both of them were in need of at the moment. She could tell the that excursion out of MedLab for awhile had drained Rose & Holodoc made a mental note to herself to see if she could find out what happened during her outing with Major Lucian.

Holodoc went over to the private room where Maggie & her baby were located to check up on them to see how both of them were coming along. During the last few cycles while Maggie & her baby had been there in MedLab, several of the Frodians ladies had been by to visit with her & have actually been back for their medical check ups also. A few of the ladies had even gotten the men to come in for a medical check up & even would visit with Maggie for a few centons. Holodoc had a feeling that a few of the Frodian ladies had been doing some arm twisting of their own with the men, but said nothing about it when the men came in for their medical checks.

Holodoc went over to her desk to work on some paperwork once she had visited with Maggie for awhile. Once seated at her desk, Holodoc started working on some of the paperwork she need to work on so she wouldn't have to worry about it later.

* * *

Rose

Rose was laying on her bed there in MedLab trying to rest some, but she was unable to rest well. She was wondering what Hawke was doing since she hadn't seen him all cycle and she was also wondering what words could of been spoken between Hawke and JustinB. She hoped that Hawke didn't cause trouble with JustinB, for both were special to Rose in their own way. Rose considered JustinB to be a good and dear friend. He had been there for her when she needed a friend and when she felt ignored by Hawke or others, JustinB was there to cheer her up some and to listen when she needed someone to lean on or talk to for awhile.

Rose closed her eyes to try and get some sleep, but it was evading her at the moment. While just laying there, Rose mumbled to herself, "oh Hawke, where are you? Have you said something to JustinB to make him question being my friend? Why haven't you explained to me what you were doing?"

* * *

Finky

I looked at the kronometer and saw my shift was up. I walked over to Charydis.
"sir can I go now? my shift is up"
"ok Ensign Finky, remember streight to your bunk now. You are bean punished."
I smiled at him. Gawsh he sure was good looking. He looked a little longer.
"Yes Ensing?"
"Oh nuthing sir. night sir."

I headed down the hall and bumped into some girls from gold, so i herd them saying. Something about their names MaraJaded and Kellan. I just kept walking and went between them and they bumped into me! How dare they! did they not see me?
"Hey watch were you are going! I was walking here! Mess with me again and I will report you to Charydis!"
"You gotta problem with us Ensing?" the one called Marajaded got in my face. I wanted to pop her a good one the other one to! But Charydis's words kept me from doing so.
"You are just lucky I didnt do anything cus the Charydis said not to. Just next time watch what your doing!"
I headed to my bed. I knew he would be proud of me. All I could see in my dreams wuz Charydis.

* * *

MaraJadeJedi

Mara looked at Kellyn as they were walking to the work out room when that strange bird walked between them. She had heard there was a new trouble maker on board and it was not their new Ensign Terri. This Finky had a rep of starting fights after just punching Terri like that. Mara looked at Kellyn,
"You would think they would screen people before putting them on the bridge like that. Man that one is weird!"
"Well times are tough Mara, maybe she is just trying to fit in like we all did at some point. Just give her time." Kellyn said.
"Yeah I guess. Still that one is weird. Punching Terri like that! And Terri is one of our own, so of course I am biased."
"No! Really?" Kellyn said saracstically.
"Oh cut it out already and lets go work out. I need to look good in that dress for my sealing, when ever it happens."

* * *

Finky

I went to bed but couldnt sleep. Why was everyone so mean to me? I know that those wariors stick together. I gues I cant trust any of them.

One was diferent. Charybis was diferent. I herd that he used to run Gold Suadron. Its gone down hill since then. I wunder why Charybis isnt married. Never found the right women I gues. None of the women that I met so far were good enough for him anyways. I closed my eyes and finaly fell asleep and dreamed about Charybis.

* * *

Charybdis

The vid screen crackled for a moment and the report came through. It was from Cpt. Urdea. The headline read: Delta Quadrant Garbage Chute DNA Analysis: Final Results.

I had almost forgotten about it. The garbage chute that was to be tested to see if Ensign Eirikhr had been unceremoniously dumped through it and out into space. He had disappeared for over three sectons now and he had not shown up. He indeed was not onboard any longer.

Final results: a lot of DNA organic matter, but spectral analysis of all material revealed no matches to Ensign Eirikhr's DNA. He didn't go through the chute willingly or by force.

"Frack." Still no answers...

* * *

Nefeteri

Ensign Teri came out of Med Lab with hand and arm in cast. At least she'd have something hard to hit with if she ran into this Finky person again. She saw some other members of Gold Squadron coming toward her and attempted new friendships.
"Hi!" she smiled at the twosome "I'm Ensign Nefeteri but my friends call me Teri."
The twosome in question were MaraJade and Kellyn. They smiled back. Mara touched the cast lightly and asked "Is that the result of Ensign Finky?"
"Yep, I gave her good as she attempted to give me. I don't know what set it off."
Kellyn smiled,"Yeh, I heard you gave Charybdis as good as he got, also."
Teri turned red at that comment.

* * *

Finky

I had just runned into two idots and then another dressed in diferent warior uniform hit me.
"Excuse me," Cris stated "an who do you think your runing into?
"Idont know,"i replied, "butt it was you who hit me. Better watch out or my new boyfriend will get you."
"Only on the ship for how long," she sad, "an you have a boyfrend. thats got to be a new one. who is he?"
"Charydis." I stated totally asure that I was rite. "He hasnt said anythin but I can tell by the way he loks at me."

* * *

I needed to return to the bridge but i reelized that I didnt know where I was. I wundered if i would run into any more of those stuck up wariors. Maybe Charybis would come and find me.

* * *

Nefeteri

Now that Teri had met more people she saluted the ranked ones and began walking down the breezeway. A moment later she met Brie.
"I was looking for you," Brie stated. "I need you to take this to Lt. Col. Charybdis for me. Usually I would store it my office but since I don't have one anymore he is going to have to so it for me. Perhaps the more he has of mine the more he'll realize I need my office repaired."
"Why don't you just request new office space," Teri asked innocently.
"on these ships there is hardly room for bunks. No, they are going to have to repair mine. Back to my train of thought, this is the ledger for the water pipe repairs. They need to go straight to him or Sheba."
Teri was afraid of seeing the Lt. Colonel again. "Do I have to take them?. I'm terrified of the man."
"Which is exactly why you need to do it," Brie smiled. "He won't bite you but stay away from Ensign Finky. That's an order!"
Teri grimly took the ledger and began walking. Soon she was near the bridge but who should be walking into the bridge was Ensign Finky. Now Teri knew she was in the wrong place.
They gained the doorway about the same time.
"Excuse me,"Teri said nicely.
"I was here first!" Finky said not so nicely.
"I was going to let you in first, I was just being polite," Teri attempted niceness again.
"You don't have to be nice to me. I have all the friends I need." She smiled up at Charybdis who returned the smile unknowingly. "He's my new beau you know."
Teri laughed out loud just enough to get Charybdis' attention and a slap in the face from Finky.
"Are we at this again,"Teri questioned smarting from the slap. "I may have one broken arm but I still have plenty to work with."
"Take that laugh back and you won't have to," Finky demanded.
"And what if I don't," Teri asked.
"Then this is what will happen." Finky walked over to a pitcher of water and picked it up. Then she strode back over to Teri, now fully near the bridge, and dumped it over Teri's head. Before Charybdis could do anything Teri was on top of Finky and this time with the intent to do real damage.
"Lord of Kobols, I swear you won't get away with this," Teri screamed, water dripping from her head to toes.
The first swing was from Teri and it took Finky reeling backwards and onto some of the control panels, people and all. Before she could get up Charybdis had the both of them by the neck and was dragging them from the bridge.
"If you two can't play together than in the brig you go!" he snorted.
The more he held Teri the wetter he got. "Guards come and take these two to the brig and put them in seperate quarters.!"
"Sir, I had a reason to be here,"Teri yelled. "The ledger on the floor is from Major Brie."
"I had reason also!" Finky yelled. "I work here per Charybdis's orders."
"Well if you really are his sweetie why is he throwing you in the brig?" Teri asked sneeringly.
This one took Charybdis by surpise.

[LucianG]

Charybdis

I could not believe that two Warriors would be acting like this, and in full view of everyone on the bridge.

Teri said something about Finky and I and caught me by surprise, I had no idea what she was saying.

"I dont' know if you two have been smoking plant vapors, but I think some time in the brig might clear both of your heads!!!! Guards, take them to the brig...NOW!!" I was almost yelling by this point.

Commander Sheba poked her head out of the war room to see what all the commotion was and she came out just in time to see several Warriors taking the two uncooperative ensigns to the brig.

"Colonel, what's the matter with them? Are they at it again?" Sheba asked.

"I'm afraid so, Commander. They're being sent to the brig to cool off. Perhaps you could have a talk with them. If they dont' shape up, and soon, they could be dismissed from the service for the type of activity they've been engaging in lately."

"As if we dind'nt have enough trouble already." She shook her head and headed back in to the war room.

I returned to my duties thankful that the two feisty ensigns were off the bridge...

* * *

Skyler

The Gold Squadron Patrol splits in two flights. Capt. Cain and Lt. Amy head towards their assigned planets, and Capt. Skyler and Lt. Najinn head towards their assigned planets.

Najinn called Skyler on the comm system "Looks like we need to head towards Axces Gamma first, Axces Epsilon is still on the far side of the star."

"Sounds good to me Najinn."

As they get closer the scanners pick up atmosphere. The closer they get the better it is looking. The scanners flash and show that water is present on the planet. Spots of the planet look green from space. This planet is looking better all the time.

"Captain Skyler to Captain Cain. We have a planet that fits our search criteria. Things are looking promising. No signs of civilization at this time. We are going to enter the atmosphere and see if we can get a little closer and run more scans. We will report what we find then. Skyler out."

Skyler received a go from Cain, and they edged the Vipers over to enter the atmosphere.....

* * *

Lucian

A silent figure sat on a rock with a device pointed toward the heavens. A light blinking in the monitor field told him something was coming. He scanned intently into the dark night sky, but saw nothing but uncountable stars in the distance. A scrambling noise below alerted him to another approaching below. He looked down to see his friend coming up the rock.

“How was the hunt today?”

“It was an excellent day! We captured two of the kononie beasts to add to our breeding stock, but so far, they are resisting all of our efforts to domesticate them.”

He laughed. “Can you blame them? We chase them through the forest when they out of their holes, then we throw them in a pit and try to fatten them up. This is all so we can make them breed to make more so we can eat them! I think I’d resist domestication, too!”

“I just wish they’d cooperate. They are quite tasty!”

“True enough. Have our hunters had any luck tracking down their main nest?”

“We are getting closer, but it may take a while longer. Soon, we will locate it, and then we will have plenty of breeding stock.”

The device beeped, and the second asked the first, “Did you see something?”

As the first again looked through the device, he said, “Yes. I think something is coming, but we can’t tell what. It looks like one or maybe two small ships at most.”

“Do you think we can bring them here?”

“Yes. We can build a bonfire which we can use to draw their attention. Have our people gather brush. We’ll light it when the device says they are within range. They’ll see it and will come. We’ll stay hidden until we find out who it is. Then, we can decide what we should do.”

“I’ll go tell the others! Should we have all of our laser pistols and other weapons ready just in case?”

“Yeah. Have everyone armed...just in case.”

* * *

He was now intensily frustrated. The Captain had turned down the suggestion to build the bonfire, since there was always a danger that the incoming ships could be Cylon or some other hostile alien race. Being trapped on the surface of the planet, one had to draw someone in close to be able to strike back at them. The Captain had reasoned that if someone was searching for something, they'd find the wreck of the escape pod in the ravine, and that might draw them in to that critical point.

A couple of centars later, vapor trails appeared in the sky, far to the south. He tried to adust the viewer, but his skill wasn't up to the task of bringing the ships in for a close visual observation. Moments later, he cursed to himself that the Captain was so stubborn.

* * *

* * *

Charybdis

To Major Brie:

Ensign Nefeteri has been sent to the Callisto's brig for unruly behavior and fighting on the bridge. She was involved in another incident with Ensign Finky. Both were under strict orders not to interact with each other stemming from the last encounter.

I must inform you that since Ensign Nefeteri is in Gold squadron under your supervision, you must do what you have to in order to control her actions in the future.

Unfortunately, if another incident such as this occurs, she will be brought up on official charges of misconduct, which as you know, could lead to her expulsion from the Colonial Military.

See to it immediately that it does not happen again.

Lt. Col. Charybdis
Callisto Personnel Officer

* * *

To Major Joey:

Ensign Finky has been sent to the Callisto's brig for unruly behavior and fighting on the bridge. She was involved in another incident with Ensign Nefeteri. Both were under strict orders not to interact with each other stemming from the last encounter.

I must inform you that since Ensign Finky is assigned to the Bridge under your supervision, you must do what you have to in order to control her actions in the future.

Unfortunately, if another incident such as this occurs, she will be brought up on official charges of misconduct, which as you know, could lead to her expulsion from the Colonial Military.

See to it immediately that it does not happen again.

Lt. Col. Charybdis
Callisto Personnel Officer

* * *

Lucian

It was later in the cycle, and Major Lucian visited the bridge to see how his mission team was progressing. Lieutenant Colonel Charybdis was busy and Major Joey was missing, so he sought out Lieutenant Aegina to get the inside scoop.

“Joey’s in the brig?! Good joke, Aegina, but I’m not buying it,” replied Lucian a few moments later.

“Sorry, Sir! Not IN the brig, Major, just VISITING in the brig,” a slightly flustered Aegina said. “She’s checking on Ensign Finky who had a run-in with Ensign Teri. Now, they’re probably at opposite ends of the brig, though if they were sharing the same cell, it would probably serve them right for acting that way right on the bridge.”

“If memory serves, Crewman Descara is the only person still in the brig, and he’s awaiting transfer to the prison barge when we rejoin the fleet.”

“You’re right, Sir. He’s a loony tune, from what I’ve heard. The psychologist has worked with him every cycle since he went in, but so far, there’s been no progress, at least according to the reports I’ve forwarded to the Colonel.”

“Speaking of reports, Lieutenant, any word from the Black Squadron team?”

“They’re closing on the large gas giant now. That’s Axces Mu. It’s got more moons than we can really see from here. So far, we’ve confirmed thirteen, and we believe that there could be two to five more hiding there. They’ve got to look at all those bodies, so it could take a while,” she said.

“Please keep me informed, Lieutenant, and thank you,” he said, smiling, as he went on his way.

[LucianG]

JustinB

As soon as we were away, we made our way to Axces Xi first. After scanning the medium gas giant and its several small moons nothing of significance was scanned.

Following Lieutenant Kris's lead, we made our way to the gas giant, Axces Mu. From what our scanners showed, there were 13 moons surrounding Axces Mu. For all we knew, there were more that we couldn't see. Before I could speculate anymore, we received an update from the Callisto.

"Black Squadron leader this is the Battlestar Callisto."
“Callisto this is Lieutenant Kris, go ahead.” "Black Squadron leader we have an update for your mission. We believe that there is possibly two to five hiding there. Make sure all those bodies are looked at, Callisto Out."

Lieutenant Kris sighed, "Ok group, you have just heard the update. We are looking at a possible 18 moons to scan. I would rather keep the Flight together, but it will take time. JustinB, what do you think?"

Looking at the time frame we had, I had an alternative. "Kris, I think we should split our flight. You and Ensign Vexis take the first seven moons, while Phlandor and I take the rest starting from eight."

"Ok, I don't like it but we will do it your way. Any problems, contact me straight away. Vexis, you're with me."

"Good hunting Kris. Phlandor lets go." Kicking in our turbos we made our way for the eighth moon.

* * *

Lieutenant Phlandor and myself had finished scanning moons eight, nine and ten of the gas giant Axces Mu without incident. As we approached moon eleven, we picked up on our scanners an additional three moons.

"I wish we would run into some cylons," Phlandor said, "Recon of these moons are useless, they are all frozen and devoid of life."

"Recon may be boring, but this is the perfect place for a hidden underground base for pirates or cylons. Gold Squadron have the people who have the knowledge in our need for food, what to look for and whether it's edible or not. Just being to be able to fly is what matters to me. Even though a little action may be good, whats the use in battling, when we have just about exhausted our food and water reserves." I said.

"Yeah, I guess you right. But you can't say to me you wouldn't mind killing some Tin-headed gol-monging Cylons?"

"Yes, some payback would be good," I replied.

Due to moon elevens large size, we needed to scan as much of the moons surface in the quickest time posible. "Phlandor, move out to medium visual range of me. We need this rock scan quickly. We will do the Northern Hemisphere first." I ordered.

"Copy," came the reply.

* * *

Lucian

"Lieutenant JustinB, my scanner just started yelling at me," said Phlandor. "There's something in very low orbit around this moon, and it's a lot bigger than both of us combined. I've tried to shift position, but chances are, if I've detected it, it's probably detected me. Be on the lookout for any nasties that might come calling."

* * *

JustinB

I could see in the way he was flying that Lieutenant Phlandor was getting bored during the recon mission. His ship was constantly shifting in distance to my viper. I couldn't blame him because recon was boring, but it is viper. Suddenly his viper lurched, as if he was trying to hide from something.

"Lieutenant JustinB, my scanner just started yelling at me," he said. "There's something in very low orbit around this moon, and it's a lot bigger than both of us combined. I've tried to shift position, but chances are, if I've detected it, it's probably detected me. Be on the lookout for any nasties that might come calling."

"Ok Lieutenant, get back in cover formation," I said. As he slid his viper to my right, I also got the object on my scanner. It appeared to be about a hundred and fifty to two hundred meters long, but it was hard to tell. Activating my Warbook, I hoped to get an identification of the object. "Phlandor, Warbook comes up negative on Cylon or Colonial recognition. Let swing out to course 270 degrees, as it doesn't appear to have spotted us yet. We are going to meet up with Lieutenant Kris, so lets kick in our turbos"

I hoped to make our way towards the direction of Lieutenant Kris to inform her without being detected. I marked its location and kicked in my turbos. 'Kris should be at moon seven by now' I thought to myself. After a centon, I turned on the scrambler com hoping to raise Kris.

"Black Flight Alpha, This is Black Flight Beta, Over."

"This is Black Flight Alpha, go ahead."

"Kris, this is JustinB; we have just picked up an object in a low orbit on moon eleven. It is about a hundred and fifty to two hundred metres long. No matches Colonial or Cylon wise in warbook. We bugged out just in time. You might wanna warn the Callisto," I said.

"Meet us at moon eight. I will raise the Callisto and get instructions. Kris out."

I smiled as I thought, 'Maybe Phlandor will get the action he wanted.'

* * *

It is my pleasure to announce that Cadet Stargazor has graduated from the Callisto Training Academy and has been commissioned with the rank of Ensign in the Colonial Military.

He has been assigned to serve aboard the Battlestar Callisto under Major Lucian in Black squadron.

The following is a short declassified bio of the new ensign:

"Stargazor was stationed on the Battlestar Galactica, when the Cylon empire attacked the colonies. Stargazor was a technician for vipers but always dreamed of becoming a colonial warrior. After his duty, Stargazor brought most of his time in the viper sim. Learning from Lt. Starbuck all the tricks and moves he became very talented.
When the opportunity came to serve on the Battlestar Callisto he went to the recruiter to embark on his adventure and fight the Cylon Empire.
He wanted to join Black Squadron known for it's bravery and legendary kill ratio. He got his chance to become the best of the best."


Welcome aboard our newest officer!

(Also, please make note that there is another Warrior aboard who goes by the name of Stargazer. They are two different individuals!!)

<Chorus of welcomes!>

* * *

Finky

The security guard throwed me into a brig and throwed Teri into another one. The door shutted and I rattled on the bars while Teri starred at me. "What are you staring at?" I yelled at her.

She said, "Just settle down."

I said "you" and she turned away. That mad me really made. I took a towel from the sink and tried to snap her with it through the bars. I couldn’t reach her. She laughed and I got madder. Then a mechanical security daggit walked by. "Come here, daggit" I said. He walked over and sat down by my brig. I took out paper and wrote a note.

"Dere Charybis, plese get me out of my brig and leaf Neteri in her brig. I promise I wil be good then. Love Finky"

I put the note in the daggits collar and told him "Go find Charybis, boy!" The daggit walked away. I smiled at Teri. "What are you smiling about?" she said.

I just smiled back. "Youll see," I said.

* * *

Brie

Major Brie received an official notice that Ensign Teri had been fighting once again with Ensign Finky, and that both women were cooling off in the brig. That was about the last place that Brie wanted to visit, she was hoping for a long overdue talk with newly reinstated Lt. Hawke, but that would have to wait.
Brie entered the brig area, and wondered briefly about the mechanical daggit sitting near the entrance with a paper stuck in its collar.

Taking a good look at Ensign Teri in the brig, Brie said the first thing that came to her mind. "What the frack did you think you were doing?"

"I..." Teri started, but Brie cut her off.

"Don't tell me, I don't want to know," Brie said. There had been times that she had been angrier, but they were few and far between. "You are a Colonial Warrior, you're supposed to maintain a certain amount of dignity. You're also a member of Gold Squadron, and the only other time I've ever seen such shameful behavior from a squadron member was when he was working undercover for Commander Sheba. I will not tolerate this."

Teri considered blaming the fight on Ensign Finky, but thought better of it. "I'm sorry, ma'am," she said at last.

"You'll have to prove that," Brie said. "I'll see what I can do about getting you out of here," Teri's eyes brightened on hearing those words, "first thing in the morning."

Teri looked at the floor again. "I have to spend the night in the brig?"

"You're lucky it's not a sectar or more," Brie informed her. "Next time it will be." She turned to go.

"What about me?" Brie heard Finky call behind her. She ignored the question.

[LucianG]

Nefeteri

Teri cuddled up on her bunk in the brig. She just wished Finky would shut up. She kept badgering her. If she heard one more word, sector or not in there she was going to throw a glass of water at Finky.
"Don't you know how to do anything but talk," Teri growled. "I'm in trouble with my commanding officer, you're sending messages to lover boy by daggit and now you are just being offensive!"
"I'm not the one being offensive," Finky retorted back. "I just hate being in the same room with you."

"Think about me," Teri snarled."The smell alone could kill a person."

"Are you talking about me?" Finky was mystyfied. "Why just for that I'll do this and see where the smell is."

Just as she grabbed a jug of water and threw it at Teri, Captain Urdea, Fleet Security Chief aboard the Callisto walked into the brig area to check on the status of the new spate of prisoners. He caught the full brunt of the water. He was soaked to the skin. Teri sat huddled on her bunk. Now she was seeking refuge from the maddened Security Chief.
Teri uncurled her legs and let out a stupid laugh. She always laughed at the wrong time and when she got afraid. She was really afraid this time but she had not done anything.
Captain Urdea just stood with his graying hair dripping water and a puddle forming at his feet. Finky was the one now to curl up on her bunk.
Teri held out a towel for him. He took it but was dead silent. In fact the air was freezing where he was standing and his icy stare was not one of thank you.
"Sir, she did it. I did not antagonize her. I was sitting here on my bunk attempting to ignore her. This is completely her fault. I am not to blame. I remember that I am a Colonial Warrior and a proud member of Gold Squadron. Uh, this doesn't mean that if Brie asks I can be released tomorrow does it. Sir, when it comes my time to fly a Viper it will still be IN IT and not ON IT. Excuse me sir, I babble when people in command are silent. Are you Okay?" Teri with a sickening smile asked.

* * *

Lucian

Major Joey had just walked into the brig area to visit with Ensign Finky when she stopped in surprise. She was now standing just a few paces behind a dripping Captain Urdea. She was very surprised to see him standing there soaking wet, but then again, those in other services sometimes participated in practices that Warriors couldn't readily fathom. Meanwhile, an obviously nervous Ensign Teri was babbling about something. Joey did her best to stiffle a snicker, but the evil looking brute in the only other occupied cell didn't. He was guffawing, making some comment about "acid instead of water." Joey didn't know Descara personally, but she knew he was insane and had been responsible for an incident that had caused serious damage and wounded a couple of people including a Warrior some sectars before. Since then, he had acted completely insane. The psychologist couldn't explain it; Descara was being given drugs and other treatment that should have helped, but nothing seemed to be working.

Descara was now whispering something totally unintelligible toward Ensign Finky. She made a face back at the despicable man, who seemed to take it as an invitation, returning the look with a suggestive look of his own. Finky threw the empty cup at Descara, but Joey grabbed it out of the air, knocking it to the deck to keep the inmate from having a potential weapon. She stepped to the control panel and looked to Captain Urdea to see if he wanted her to activate the front force screens to isolate the two feuding Ensigns from each other and Descara...or if, just maybe, he'd have his Security Officers throw the two into a cell together to let them work out their differences in private!

Urdea shook his head and said, "If this prisoner," pointing to Descara's cell, "obtains a weapon through the antics of either of you, you will be charged with aiding and abetting a convicted felon, and will be brought up on charges. Do I make myself clear. Any thoughts of getting out of here soon would need to be abandoned at that point, because I'd be sure the Tribune in charge of your case gave you a long, long time to think about the danger in which you've put others. Good day!" He turned and left.

Major Joey nodded to Teri as she approached the cells, but went over to Finky's cell to speak with her. "Ensign..."

* * *

Stargazor

Stargazor visits the brig to see a friend from Gold Squadron.

Just as Major Joy walks to Ens. Finky the door to the brig opens and Stargazor walks in.
In one of the cells he sees Ens. Finky from black squadron and in the other cell he sees Ens. Teri.
Since he already knows Ens. Teri he walks over to her.
Stargazor say’s “I heard about this crazy situation on the bridge”!
Ens. Teri looks up and sees Stargazor.
Ens. Teri say’s “Shouldn’t you go to the other cell, to you’re squadron mate”!

Stargazor looks for a moment to Ens. Finky and then looks back at Teri.
He say’s in reply to Teri “O i will talk to her later”!
“But its you i came to see”!
“Way do you keep letting her get to you”, “this could get you of flight status”!
“Why does she even get under you’re skin, are you jealous of her”?

* * *

Hawke

I just got done with another round of viper training under my belt. As I was climbing down from the sim, Lt. Nat came up to me and said, "Not bad Hawke. You're progressing faster than most of my cadets.",as he looks at them with a dissapproving look. I smiled at him. "Well,Nat,thanks. I really appreciate it. I have to admit it feels really good to get in a viper sim again. But it's not really like the real thing." I said. "Well, you're cleared to fly. But could you go for one more round to show the class what a REAL viper pilot looks like?" he looks at the class again with that disapproving look. I hear a couple of giggles from the gathered class. "Sure, why not?" I say. I get back up into the sim. I put my helmet back on and start the sim up. "Ok,Hawke. Let's try program Omega 13, ok? Your callsign is Rogue Leader" Omega 13? Awww man. That's for pilots the caliber of the legendary Starbuck!! An entire phalanx of Cylon raiders against a squadron of vipers and no battlestar anywhere around. "Yeah let's get this over with. Oh, and Nat? Thanks alot." I sighed sarcasticly.
The sim started and I hear frome one of the cadets "Here they come.. Lords there's alot of them!" "Yeah. So many you can't miss!" I said. "Rogues 2 through 6 go left with me, the rest of you go with 7. 7, you have control of Rogues 8 through 12. Let's break them up and take 'em out.....NOW!!" I break left Rogue 7 breaks right. "Remember to stay with a wingman Rogues!" I say.
The battle starts. I see Cylons blowing up left and right. I get 4 kills before my wingman gets even one. "C'mon Rogue 2, get with the program. I'm getting you 4:1 !!!" I say. "Sorry Rogue leader I don't know what's wrong." "You've got a pair on your tail that's what's wrong!! Bank left NOW!" I say. I ease my viper over and blow the two off of Rogue 2. "Rogue 2, this is Base One. You are out of the sim. Rogue Leader, Rogue 3 is your wingman." Great. I sigh "Aknowledged, Base One."
The battle continues and I notice the Cylons are slowly dwindling. "Rogue Leader we've lost Rogues 4,5,8,9,11 and 12." Great, 2 to 1 odds. That's better than 10 to 1. "Ok, regroup at 127 mark 35. We got them dwindeled to the point where they're thinking of running. Let's finish this."
We regroup at the co-ordinates. "Ok, sound off Rogues." I say. "3 here" "6 here,sir." "7 here." "10 here,barely." "Ok, same as last time." I say.
We finish the sim but lose 3 more pilots. I take my helmet off and pop the cockpit cover. I put my helmet down and start to get up out of the cockpit and look up into the face of Major Brie. "Hello, Lieutenant." She says.I temporarily forget where I am and stand up straight trying to salute her and promptly hit my head on the cockpit cover. She starts smiling at me. "You can get down before you hurt yourself." she says. I turn beet red as I climb down and salute her. She salutes back. "What brings you down here,ma'am?" I ask her.

* * *

Brie

"Lieutenant, I'd like to talk to you, if you've got a centon," Brie said to the newly reinstated Hawke.

"Sure, ma'am," Hawke replied.

"I wanted to thank you for all that you did," Brie told him. "Your dedication went above and beyond the call of duty. I've recommended you for a star cluster. It hasn't gone through yet, but since I gave the request to Commander Sheba herself, I'm sure that there won't be any problems."

"Thank you," a surprised Hawke said.

"One more thing." Without his being ready for it, Brie punched Hawke squarely in the jaw. It wasn't nearly as hard as he had hit her all those sectars ago, but it still hurt. Brie smiled her most innocent smile. "Now we're even."

Hawke grinned. "I guess so. Major, I'm sorry about..."

Brie waved him off. "No need to be." She held out her hand. "Welcome back to Gold Squadron, Lieutenant. It's good to have you back where you belong."

* * *

Hawke

There was a murmur from the gathered class as Brie hit me. "I figure it's par for the course after what I did to everyone. It'd be a typical reaction for awhile until everyone hears about me being undercover. Until then, I'll just have to be able to duck." I said to Brie with a smile. I began rubbing my jaw. The throbbing still hadn't stopped from the last person who decked me. She was smiling at me as I said that.
"Um, Major, I'd like to talk to you about something if I could. In private?" I asked her. "Sure, what's on your mind,Lieutenant?" she asked as we walked out of the sim room. "Well, Ma'am, I feel really bad about what I did to you and Amy. But to you in particular. I want to try to make it up to you. I heard that you had lost your husband and his body has never been found, is that correct?" I asked her. I could see her bristle at the comment. "What's your point Lieutenant?" she said. "I would like to try to find him. Dead, alive or otherwise. Do I have your permission?" I asked.

* * *

Brie

"I would like to try to find him. Dead, alive or otherwise. Do I have your permission?"

It took a moment for what Hawke had said to register. Turner, her missing husband, was just about the last thing that she had expected to be discussing with Hawke. She had a hard enough time talking about his disappearence with her closest friends. She smiled. "That is probably the nicest thing that anyone has said to me in a long time," she said sincerely. "But the thing is, Lieutenant, that my husband has been missing for yarhens. It would require going back, instead of forward. We can't do that. When you take the seal with a warrior, you have realize that you might not have much time together."

"I'd still like to see if there's anything I could do," Hawke said.

"There isn't," Brie told him. "Sometimes we have to make personal sacrifices in order for our race to survive. I would think that you know that just about as well as anyone on this ship. I really admire what you did to solve our internal problems. There is nothing that you need to make up to me, or to Amy for that matter. I'm sure she'd tell you that herself if she wasn't on the mission."

[LucianG]

Hawke

Damn. There wasn't anything I could do for her. I really wanted to help her. I sighed. "Could you at least tell me what happened to him? And your history together? If you don't mind. It's kind of my hobby getting couple's histories and what led to their leaving each other. If it's too personal I understand."

* * *

Brie

"Well," Brie started, still surprised to be discussing this at the moment, "we met in the academy. I had grown up in a military orphanage, Turner in a civilian one. He was a bit of a troublemaker. That was good, because believe it or not he taught me how to lighten up." As Brie talked she started to look past Hawke, almost as if he wasn't there. "We took the seal not too long after graduation. Then while making assignments they put us together in the sims, and we blew it. We couldn't work together, we were too conscious of each other and pretty much ignored everybody else, so we were assigned to different squadrons. We had four glorious yarhens together." She sighed, pulling herself back into the here and now. "He went on a routine recon mission. He and his wing just disappeared without a trace. Charybdis was the one who told me. We've known each other just short of forever. There was nothing that could be done. There were Cylons bearing down behind us, so we had to leave. No chance to send out a search party or else the whole fleet would be in jeopardy. He's officially listed as MIA, and has been for yarhens." She grinned at Hawke. "And that, Lieutenant, is my marriage in a nutshell."

* * *

Hawke

I was listening so intently to Brie I forgot where I was for a moment. I had known that her husband had been MIA for yarhens but I hadn't known the circumstances of her and Turner's mission. "What was the mission where he dissappeared? And what was the last thing he said to you?" I asked her. "I know that you must miss him very much. And if this is bringing up too many bad memories I'll understand. But I need to know what happened." "Lieutenant, if you're going to do what I think you...." she got out. "Oh no. ma'am.. I'm just genuinely interested in what happened to your husband, that's all." She gives me an 'I'm not to sure about this' look. I wait anxiously for Brie's response.

* * *

Brie

Brie had no idea why Hawke was asking her all of this. Maybe it was because he still hadn't given up the idea of doing "something," whatever that might be. Or maybe it was because he was also involved with a warrior.

"As I said, it was a routine recon mission. He was with a guy named Ensign Cal, it was Cal's first mission. They were checking out the Chilwa system. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it. There didn't seem to be any danger anywhere. They just never came back."

Hawke looked at Brie as if he were seeing her in a different light. "What was the last thing that he said to you?" he asked again.

Brie smiled. "No matter what, if you love somebody, make sure that the last thing you say to them is 'I love you.' Everytime you leave them, even if you're upset. That's one of the few things that I remember about my parents, and it's a rule that Turner and I lived by." Brie paused for a moment. "Why are you so interested in this? There are as many sob stories aboard this ship as there are people."

"I'm just trying to figure out what makes my squadron leader tick," Hawke said. "If it's too uncomfortable..."

"No," Brie said. "It took me a long time to come to terms with it, but I'm okay now. I've made my peace with it. In my mind Turner is living it up on some planet somewhere, happy as can be. Except he misses me like crazy, of course."

* * *

Part of Brie almost wanted to talk about Turner forever, no matter why Hawke was asking. But she had other responsibilites. "I'm glad we had this chance to talk," she said, "but I've got to run up to the bridge. If anyone gives you a hard time, let me know. We need to make sure that everyone knows that you're back in Gold Squadron." She shook his hand once again, and left.

* * *

Nefeteri

Teri not only had a cast but it was soaked. She laughed it off.
"Oh well, it will dry out some day," she surmised. She watched as Finky stared at her from her place cuddled on her bunk.
"Look," Teri attempted. "I don't want any more fighting. We're both Colonial Warriors."
Finky did not answer.
"Okay, I attempted to make peace," Teri smiled not receiving one back, "We'll leave it like it is. How about truce for tonight because I want out in the morning?"
Still nothing.
No peace was made but no further incidents happened that night.

* * *

MedievalSong

((OOC this is to happen before Kris goes on recon))

I headed in as soon as I heard what happened. I walked in and looked at Terri in the brig.

"What happened?" I asked.
"I still don't know. I was giving him the ledger for Major and I was in another fight. Kris you gotta understand I didn't look for it this time." I looked at her. I could tell she was telling the truth. She was asking for help but not in so many words. I remembered how hard it was to fit in with the group when I first became warrior in the black squadron. My heart went out to this newcomer, even if she wasn't in black.

"Terri, I gotta go, but I will be back. When I do, if you think it will help I will talk to Lt Colonel Charybdis. Maybe I can get him to remember when he was a new ensign. Try to hang in there, ok? As soon as I get back from recon. I promise."

I headed out. I felt bad for Terri. Part of me knew she could be a friend. I made sure to put it in my mind to talk to Charybdis when I got back. Someone needed to stick up for Terri. I held the briefing then got the black ice team out and headed to the gas giants.

* * *

Nefeteri

The centons passed until it was finally a new cycle. Teri did feel bad about causing such a problem but Kris' coming to see her was so great. She had summed it up with feeling. Teri and Finky both were new. Perhaps a person had made Finky feel as unaccepted as Teri was feeling right now. It was not a good feeling but Kris made her feel great. Now if only the persons she was sorriest about would come to see her and perhaps spring Finky and her. Brie and Charybdis; she admired the both of them more than they could imagine and now they were mad at her. She was new as a young fleet officer and they needed to realize that but not from her. Kris was right. Kris needed to talk to them. If only they would understand how hard it was to fit in and be new. From now on Teri swore, she would follow the clean path.

* * *

Stadia

Stadia looks at Lt. Holodoc.

"When are you going to let me out of here. I am going stir crazy. I dont know how long I can stay cooped up in here." Stadia says as she plays with her toes.

Lt. Holodoc looks at Stadia with a bemused look.

* * *

Lucian

Holodoc looked at the chart. It showed that Stadia had been in the Med Lab for almost three sectons since the accident in the shuttle, and for a couple cycles more since she'd been poisoned with the brain crystals. She flipped through the chart to see the results of the latest round of tests...

* * *

Holodoc

Holodoc continued to look over the test results a little while longer while she was thinking about Stadia's request to be released. After some thought & looking over everything, Holodoc looked back up at Stadia.

"Stadia," Holodoc says, "I am releasing you from Medlab & to light duty. I want you back in here in 5 cycles so that I or one of the others can check up on your progress before signing off on you being able to go back to full active duty. Also, should you have any problems before then, I want you to come back here immediately for treatment."

* * *

Stadia

"Yes Holodoc." Stadia says with a grin glowing from ear to ear.

Stadia turns toward the room sshe was staying in. She grabs the uniform someone had brought for her snd slips the pants over her legs. She hurries to get into her uniform.

She turns and leaves the room. She smiles as she wallks thru the medbay doors. It felt good to be wallking out of the room. She wasnt sure, as were others, that she would walk out of the medbay.

She turned and headed to Major Brie's office. She had to check on her transfer orders.

* * *

Nefeteri

Teri paced back and forth. An entire cycle had passed and no Brie to get her out. She had thought she would be long gone by now.

Alas to be back at her bunk or even under the glowing glare of Lt. Colonel Charybdis. Anywhere but HERE!

* * *

Teri was high pitched in her singing and even was driving the crazy man crazy. "Five thousand bottles of ale on the wall, five thousand bottles of ale, take one down..." the brig superintendent finally had had enough. "You began a half cycle ago. Be quiet or else I'll sick the Lt. Colonial on you."
Teri was swinging her cup on her index finger in circles. She looked at the super nonchalantly.
"Bring him on. What can he do? Leave me here for another thousand cycles. Gee...won't that be fun for you if you do call him. I WANT BRIE!" she jumped up.
"Finky has been released,"then she gestures to the crazy man,"and I see why he is nuts. Guess what? If I don't get out you'll have two crazies on your hands."
In a deep voice like Charybdis, "Join the Colonial Warriors and find adventure. Fight for a cause and whatever else we saw on the training tapes." Back to her usual voice except very sad.
"I just want out of these now dry clothes and into something else. Commander Sheba would take pity," she smiled, "If she knew. Hint. Hint. I would be the most excellent prisoner. Heck, I've only had one visitor," then in a elongated voice,"Come on..."

* * *

Stargazor

Ens. Stargazor from Black Squadron came in the brig room.
He sees Teri and say’s “I heard about this crazy rookie who was in here and i tought why not go and pay her a visit”!
“So what are you in for”? (With this grin on his face).

[LucianG]

Brie

After her conversation with Hawke, Major Brie went to the bridge. She needed to speak with Lt. Col. Charybdis. Her mind was distracted, so many memories had been brought up.

"Major Brie," Charybdis called to her. She approached him. "Nothing significant yet from the mission," he informed her. "I'll keep you posted." He took a good look at his long-time friend. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh, I was just talking with Lieutenant Hawke. The first time since my so-called death."

"How did it go?" Charybdis asked.

"I hit him," Brie said absentmindly.

"You what!?"

"Not that hard," Brie explained. "But I owed him one." She waited for a few microns. "He asked me about Turner."

"Turner?" Charybdis sounded more surprised than when Brie told him that she had hit Hawke.

"Yeah, it wasn't exactly the conversation that I was expecting. Listen, Charybdis, if he asks you anything about him, don't give him too much information. Please. Especially if he asks about that last mission."

"That information isn't classified," Charybdis reminded her. "He can find out easily enough."

"I know," Brie replied. She paused again. "I have a feeling that he's going to try to do something, what I don't know, but I can't live through all of that again."

"I'll do my best," Charybdis promised.

"Thanks." Brie took a deep breath. "So what do I have to do to get Ensign Teri out of the brig?"

* * *

Brie was dead serious about not talking or bringing up Turner with anyone. We were the only ones for the most part who knew the whole story about that mission. Commander Sheba would have known something about it, but she was not a commander at the time and it was before Brie or I came onboard the Callisto. I wonder what Brie had told Hawke? and I wonder why he was asking about it?

Anyway, I think that Brie was right. The last thing we needed was to bring that up. It wasn't good for Brie, or myself for that matter...

As for Ensign Nefeteri, "You know the drill, Brie. She will be released under your recognizance as Squadron Leader and you will be responsible for her actions for a probationary period. Ensign Finky is not pressing charges so they will be released to their superior officers. The order has been given. I suggest you go get her and drill it into her head that she'd better not do anything like this again. We'll have no choice but to prosecute her."

Brie nodded. "I'll go get her. I never realized that being a squadron leader was like being a mother. Of course, I guess I don't really know what that means since I've never had any children. And I guess I won't..." her voice trailed off and she suddenly seemed far, far away.

I imagined that she was someplace with Turner at that very moment.

I didn't want her to have to think of that again and again. She had been tortured enough with it at the time...

* * *

Brie

Staring at her computer screen, the conversation with Hawke was still running through Brie's head. She wondered just how much information he would be able to find out. For the first time in yarhens she typed in Turner's name and the dates of the mission. It flashed before her. All that was there were the basics. There was nothing that had been classified in it, it was almost as if parts of it had never happened.

Out of curiousity she typed in her own name. Her life showed up before her eyes. Her birth on a battlestar, her parents' deaths, her life in the orphanage, her time in the academy, her sealing, her service record, everything. There was one area that was classified as Gold, meaning that only Commander Sheba, Lt. Col. Charybdis, Doc Bjk and herself, as leader of Gold Squadron, had access to it. Her hands shaking, she entered her code.

The worst time in her life was staring back at her. It was all there, her emotional breakdown, her suicide attempt, her struggle to get her life back together. The only one on the Callisto that Brie even felt like she could speak to about any of this was Charybdis, and that was partly because he had been there when it all happened. Even her closest friends didn't know the hidden details of Turner's mission or her reaction to his disappearence.

She switched off her computer. Things were better now. She was a respected leader, trusted by most aboard the Callisto. Even Captain Lazant liked her, and he didn't make friends easily. She could talk about Turner and even his disappearance without breaking down. No one else would ever know the whole truth.

* * *

Lucian

“Commander, we’ve got long-range messages coming in from both mission teams,” said Flight Specialist Geenie. “Text is being printed now.”

“Let’s see what we’ve got,” said Sheba.

Captain Cain of the Gold Squadron team reported that water had been located on Axces Gamma, and that abundant vegetation was sighted in a band near the planet’s equator, although the majority of the planet was relatively barren, with jagged tectonic and volcanic mountains mixed with deserts and grasslands. So far, there were no signs of any type of threat or of any type of intelligence. They were continuing to scan the surface for additional information. Location of an isolated island where water might be obtained and purified was included.

The second message was from Black Squadron. They had located medium sized vessel in low orbit around one of Axces Mu’s moons. They hadn’t been able to identify it from the long range peek they’d taken before hiding, though they had relayed the information to the Callisto for additional analysis. According to Lieutenant Kris’ message, they were preparing to close on the ship to take a closer look, using the moon and other bodies around the gas giant to shield their approach.

“Let’s see what they saw,” said Sheba, and the image was displayed on one of the large monitors. “Anyone have any ideas? I don’t recognize it. It does look like there’s some damage, though.”

Neither did anyone else, but Lieutenant Swensson, the tactical officer in charge of the pulsar cannons, who was one of the most knowledgeable officers about alien ships featured in the Callisto’s databanks (since he was constantly studying how to most effectively destroy them), said, “Commander, that looks like a laser cannon mounting from an old Cylon design, but here, this looks like something we saw on one of those Eastern Alliance Destroyers long ago. That pod right there, or at least what’s left of it, looks like it’s from a Rhodarian freighter the Galactica encountered about twelve yahrens ago. There are a couple of other parts that look suspicious as well. If we delete those…”

* * *

They’d closed to within a few hundred kilometers of the craft, so that it was just visible above the horizon. JustinB and Phlandor were down low, and Kris and Vexis had hung back, in a higher plane, which kept both groups on the same approximate line with the alien ship. Kris and her wing were flying cover for those below and ahead, in case enemy craft jumped the lower group, or in case they tried to slip around from behind the moon.

“JustinB, it looks to me like its’s got a lot of damage,” said Phlandor. “Several of those pods around the perimeter of the ship look like they’ve been torn in half.”

“I think you’re right. Let’s try this,” he said, making some adjustments in the active scanning he was feeding into the onboard computer. The Warbook hadn’t had any luck identifying it so far, so JustinB ordered it to ignore the strange, unmatched parts that looked similar to fungi growths surrounding a dead stump.

“BEEP BEEP BEEP!”

“I think we have a winner,” called JustinB. “According to the Warbook, it’s an older model Colonial interstellar freighter, but from the looks of it, it’s picked up spare parts from a lot of different places over the yahrens. As well as some holes!”

* * *

After the initial sigh of relief on the bridge that the ship orbiting Mu’s moon was of Colonial origin, the next surprise came from Captain Cain’s team. Lieutenants Amy and Najinn were on their way from Axces Delta, a hot barren world with no significant atmosphere, despite the thin wisps the Callisto had detected from the outskirts of the system. The message continued, “We’ve located signs of a small crashed vessel on the planet, but it’s in a remote mountainous area covered with dense vegetation in the equatorial band. Nearest safe landing area is about fifteen to twenty kilometers away, so I don’t think we have time to check it out right now. So far, there’re still no signs of intelligent life on the surface below.”

* * *

“Relay the following message, ‘We’re dispatching shuttle teams to take on water at the previously suggested location. Continue search for food and for—”

“Commander, message from Black Two is that the ship they found appears to be a derelict. They think it's abandoned and powerless. Looks like they launched up to six life pods, and probably any shuttles they had aboard.”

“Change that message. ‘We’re dispatching six shuttle teams to take on water at the previously suggested location. Crashed ship may be from Colonial ship, now possibly a derelict, in orbit around outer planet’s moon. Find suitable landing site, check for survivors, and see if anything is salvageable. Additional support is on the way with the shuttles.’”

“Major Brie, please dispatch six Gold Squadron Warriors to escort the water collection shuttles. Captain Hector will supply two Colonial Infantry Troopers with each shuttle. Colonel Charybdis, please relay a message to Major Lucian that I want Black Squadron to take a shuttle with six Warriors, plus two escort Vipers, to that derelict.” IF, she thought, it really is a derelict. “Make sure he sends Lieutenant Titon with the team. He’s to assess its condition to see if we can make it functional again or if there is anything we can salvage,” Sheba commanded. “In the meantime, have the Warriors there verify that we’re not flying right into a trap. Have them close to within short range and do whatever it takes to get the ‘derelict’ crew’s attentions.”

[LucianG]

Charybdis

The orders had been given and the away teams were preparing for their mission to collect the water and to help search the derelict ship.

That ship. We had all taken a good look at the scan when it first came through. I didn't say anything right then because Swensson had hit it right on the head. It was a Colonial freighter alright. I could recognize it immediately.

I remembered my childhood days on Caprica and going with my father to the spacedock where he worked on an orbiting station. We saw all kinds of Colonial ships coming and going. It was the busiest space dock around Caprica. Those types of freighters were interstellar. Heavily built and made tough to last. I had seen those kind before. Usually, they were built at the Tauran spacedrome. They were primarily used to take foodstuffs and supplies to some of the most remote outposts of the Colonial empire such as prisons and deep space stations.

I wonder why such a ship was this far out. They were certainly not on a direct route through here. Either they got lost some yahren ago and drifted out this far...or they came this way on purpose. Of course, it all depended on just who "they" really was. The ship could have been commandeered a long time ago by pirates or...cylons.

We had proved that humans had ventured this far out. The episode with the Frodarians proved that. I wondered if this ship could have brought humans, possibly from the colonies themselves to whatever fate awaited them here in this remote system. I was anxious to find out...

* * *

Lucian

Commander Sheba was disappointed that Captain Jorlan was on the Silver Spar team searching for jump points in the system. She really wanted to speak with him; however, since that was out of the question, she pulled Major Brie's reports from Frodar Epsilon. Somewhere in that report...

It was only a couple of lines, so it took a little while to find.

"According to Commander Tolar, the people from the Colonial ships had told them the Colonies were destroyed, and that more Cylons would come soon. The Frodarian leaders didn't believe them and the Colonials were so concerned that they left without further contact."

Sheba looked at the latest image of the battered freighter, pocked with holes and sporting evil appendages. Could this be the ship that had visited the Frodarians? If it had taken the same route as the Callisto, it would have had to traverse the Pauvwellian asteroid belt alone.

She again glanced at the lines, and only then noticed the 'S.'

* * *

Brie

Brie was sitting in her almost-refinished office. She needed to pick six warriors to escort the water collection shuttles. It shouldn't be a difficult assignment, but she was having a hard time concentrating. She still hadn't collected Ensign Teri from the brig, she would in a few centons. If given the okay from the medical staff, she was planning on assigning Teri to the mission. Teri's arm was broken, but that shouldn't make a difference in a viper. Going on a real mission might be all that the new ensign needed to help her find her place, plus it would keep her away from the bridge.

"Okay," Brie said to herself, "Mara and Kellyn, SiressEden and Ben, Teri and Hawke. That works." She wrote down the orders as follows:

Gold Squadron assignments to accompany the water shuttles.

Lt. Mara, Lt. Kellyn as her wing,
Lt. SiressEden, mission SIC, Lt. Ben as her wing,
Lt. Hawke, commanding the mission, Ensign Teri as his wing.

She smiled at that last part. Giving Hawke command of the mission was a good idea. It would show everyone that he was once again a part of Gold Squadron, a trusted member at that. He'd keep an eye on Teri. And, maybe best of all, it would make sure that he didn't have a chance to dig into Turner's final mission.

* * *

Brie decided to make a change before posting final orders. With both Cain and Skyler gone, she wanted Lt. SiressEden closer to home. She deleted Eden's name and added Lt. Kiwi as mission SIC instead.

* * *

Expatkiwi

Kiwi was on his way to the O-club when he decided to drop by the Gold Squadron Ready Room to check on the assignments.
He saw the rearranged schedule with his name on it and shook his head ruefully. Looks like he was going to be flying again VERY soon.
He went over to his locker and checked over his flight gear, then went over to the BBS again to check out his fighter assignment. Satisfied, he then went to his ready room bunk to relax. When the launch command came, he would be ready to go.

* * *

Amy

Putting the disappointments of Axces Delta behind us, I flew back toward the Gold team and Cain, who were still in orbit over Axces Gamma. Beside me I could see Najinn keeping pace with me in his viper.

"Not much to write home about there" he said into his com.

"Yeah" I replied. I shook my head. There seemed to be some ringing in my com line. It was really quite annoying. "Is your comline clear?" I asked.

"Clear?"

"Yeah. Mine's got a terrible ringing. At least I think it's the com. It's giving me a killer headache."

"Have the tech's check it out when we get back."

"Yeah" I replied. My ears had been giving me a little trouble since that locker explosion, but it was difficult to tell just what that ringing was with my helmet jammed on tight to my head.

Just then my storage compartment popped open. It was a place to store small items, but I hadn't put anything in it before launch. But something was there. I reached in and pulled out a single stem violon! I looked at it in wonder, then held it up to smell it's beautiful fragrance. Such a beautiful flower!

"Najinn" I began, "did you..." My scanner interrupted me with a few insistant beeps.

I looked over my readings from Axces Gamma. My onboard system was still processing the reams of data that I had scanned. "Well" I said, "now THAT'S interesting!"

"What is" Najinn asked.

"I'll explain in a micron." Axces Gamma loomed large ahead of us. "Lt. Amy to Cain, I'm going to do a low level pass over sector 55A. I need to verify some data."

"Roger that" came Cain's reply.

I spoke to Najinn. "Hold position, Najinn. I'll make one orbit, then rendezvous with you here at these coordinates."

"Okay" he replied. "It must be good stuff for you to leave me all alone up here."

I laughed, then winced at the whine I heard in my ears. I kicked in my turbos and headed for the atmosphere. As I headed for the horizon line I could hear Najinn singing some sort of tune until I passed around to the backside and out of communication range. I set the violon back into the compartment, wondering just who had given it to me. Najinn, or Charybdis?

I could feel the pull of gravity on me as I headed through the clouds, my attention on my previous readouts, comparing them to the new stream of data coming in. If this holds up, I thought, our food troubles would be...

The pain that raked through my head suddenly caused my vision to dim. It was all I could do to keep control of my viper, and I wasn't doing a good job of it. I was decending at a steep angle, feeling like I was on a bad roller coaster. My eyes, I couldn't focus! What was wrong with me? The pain in my head increased, made worse by my rapid freefall.

I could see land coming up, coming up way too fast. I was off course, nowhere near sector 55A. Then my systems all went red, and the stick grew sluggish in my hand. Too steep, too many G's for the viper to take. I was going down, the viper completely dead. Last thing I remember thinking is that I was going down and noone would even know until I missed my rendezvous with Najinn. I hit my distress becon, but got no response. I felt like the planet was going to swallow me whole without a trace.

* * *

Charybdis

Information had been coming back from the survey teams. It looked like we had found a good supply of water, thank the Lords. But food...that was another story.

My thoughts went out across the system to think of the team members. One in particular...Amy. She had been quite distant lately, part of that because of her fake "death" where she and Brie had to hide out in my quarters. We couldn't talk then, and now she was out there somewhere once again.

I thought back to the time on the last asteroid mission when I had put the sealing necklace in her viper so she could find it. It was still there when she returned. She had obviously not seen it.

I had hoped that the trick would work again. This time, not with the sealing necklace, but with something much simpler...a single violon. SHe loved those flowers.

THey were not easy to come by. But some of the science techs like to keep homegrown violons and other botanical species alive for study and for decoration aboard the ship, so getting one from them was relatively easy for the second ranking officer of the Callisto.

I hoped that Amy would find it and know that I cared for her and that nothing had changed with the way I felt about her. I still wanted her to be my wife. If it took some time for her to figure it out, well, then I was prepared to give it to her. Some things are worth waiting for...

A beep sounded on the comm unit. A guard informed me that Major Brie had collected Ensign Teri from the brig. I knew that Teri was assigned to the water collection mission. Maybe that was best for her.

Finky had not been back to the bridge. She was to take a cycle off and then report tomorrow. We certainly needed to keep those two apart for the good of us all.