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Post by Logan on Feb 3, 2009 10:55:25 GMT -6
Dolet.
Logan was familar with the young lieutenant and liked him. His eagerness to prove himself was only slightly outmatched by his ability to be easily flustered in social situations. Or maybe it was just certain social situations, she amended.
But he was a top notch pilot and Warrior and Logan knew that protocol had been drilled into him just as it had every Warrior. He had already had some close scrapes on missions. Something had to be wrong for him to not manage some contact with the Callisto. And the Commander couldn't completely mask her concern.
The civilian shuttles were notoriously unorganized. Their schedules ended up being more a captain's whim than anything else. They attempted to fall in line when Sheba or Apollo needed them, but nothing was definite.
Logan wondered as she stood quietly beside Brik what it could mean. Skyler was looking at the latest readouts from the area in question, his brow furrowed in concentration, almost as if he could find the Viper and missing pilot on the page and solve the problem.
Bronze had proven themselves capable. She knew that delaying the mission was more cautionary than anything, but that little wriggling up her spine was back and becoming more and more difficult to ignore.
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Post by Logan on Feb 3, 2009 11:16:05 GMT -6
Lt. Baris strolled briskly into the launch bay and towards the civilian shuttle that had been tapped for the mission. His dark blue civilian clothes were neat and crisp and he had the air of an Academy instructor about him.
Hush lounged against the railing of the shuttle's loading ramp watching as the civilian crew prepped their ship for their rounds. Besides the few crewmembers and the bay techs who were attending to refueling, no one else was in the area. The Bronze Squadron lieutenant checked his chronometer once more and waited for Baris to reach him before standing upright.
The medical officer had a frown on his face. Hush had decided it was a permanent feature. "Well, the mission is off."
Hush became alert then. He had wondred where Logan and Brik were. He knew that they should have been here already even though there was plenty of time before launch. "What happened?"
Baris sighed dramatically and adjusted his collar, more out of habit than any real need. His clothing was immaculate. "I just got the call from Captain Logan. She, Captain Brik and Major Skyler are in Sheba's office. She didn't say much, only that the mission had been postponed and that she'd be here directly to talk to us."
Hush scratched his head. Something was going on. He didn't know what, but missions weren't generally postponed unless the Warriors were needed for something more pressing. With the other squadrons able to handle most anything that could come up, it must be something out of the ordinary.
Baris stood there as if expecting Hush to say something more. So, he leaned back against the railing and got comfortable as the crew finished loading supplies in the rear. "Pull up a crate, Lt. Looks like we're waiting."
Baris didn't look pleased at all.
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Post by persephone on Feb 9, 2009 1:56:29 GMT -6
Persephone had already reached her billet and was rumaging through her civilian cloths to see what would be appropiate to wear for the mission. She pushed aside her dresses, until at last she layed her hands upon a dark violet suite. The blouse had a pastel lilac pinafore that went on top to match, falling down past her hips over the pants and pulled in at the waist, as was colonial style. "Yes that will do", she whispered to herself. She pulled on a pair of high heeled black boots to go with her outfit, and brushed her hair to one side and tied it. Doing any final adjustments, with her blaster under her clothes, she then grabbed her small bag for the assignment, and proceeded to walk back out to the corridor, waiting for Triton to meet her. She wondered how long he would be speaking with Captain Troy.
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Post by persephone on Feb 10, 2009 20:13:54 GMT -6
As soon as Persephone was out of earshot, Troy ran his hand through his soft brown hair, as he turned to his uncle.
Triton looked toward his nephew and asked him, "So, what really brings you to the Callisto so soon after the jump, Troy?".
Troy looked serious, as he evaded his uncle's question, as he blinked a few rapid times, and then said, "Uncle Triton, did you ever see a picture of my mother?"
Triton was confused. He titled his face a little as he studied Troy's. "Ahh, no Box-eey-arr... I mean Troy, I ...I never saw a a photo of your mother. Why do you ask?" He took a shallow breathe, after shaking his head with a smile at Triton, thinking, He should be used to my adult name by now for Sagan's sake, but he was most fond of his uncle then looked back down the corridor Persephone had taken. "Then maybe you ought to take a look at this". The Commander's son looked almost as pale as an Orion moon. Troy walked over to a nearby corridor resting seat, and sat down. Triton followed, taking a seat beside him, puzzled as to what his nephew could possibly have to show him that seemed to have taken precedence over his answer to Triton's original question as to his reason for being on the Callisto so unexpectedly.
As the captain slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his flight jacket, he pulled out a small protective wallet case made of fine thin buckskin. It was a lighter brown to the usual cocoa shade of a colonial's jacket, and was laced up with a simple silk ribbon infussed with the hue of Osiris Blue. He proceeded to open it. Triton began to see the colour of a photo emerge from within the wallet case. Suddenly an image of a beautiful woman, wearing sky blue dress, off the shoulders, obviously a woman of high fashion, smiling out at them, made Triton's heart almost stop. His mouth was agape.
Troy's eyes looked side on at his uncle's obviously struck face of disbelief as he held the photo in his hand in front of his uncle. "Lords of Kobol..."Triton said like a whisper. "How can it be?" His own blue eyes, perplexed, looking up at his nephew.
"I felt the same when my eyes first fell on your friend. I swear, by all that's holy, Lieutenant Persephone looks like for all the twelve worlds, she could be my mother's sister. She has the same smile, and the same eyes. Although they're green, still they share the same shape and size, as well as her long hair. Who could forget my mother's beautiful long hair".
Triton felt himself take a much needed breathe of air.
"I can't believe you never saw what my mother looked like, Uncle Triton. You visited us so many times for family dinners and occasions on the Galactica in the past, didn't my father ever show you a single photo? "
"Troy, I only found out your father and his family were on the Galactica, safe and well just a few sectons after your mother died. Once I met with my relatives, I learned of your father's sealing to your mother a few sectons prior to my making contact with Apollo and my Uncle Adama. I had not attended your parent's sealing. From what I know, it had been a sudden decision to move forward their getting married at that time, and as I mentioned, I had not yet had been re-united with my family on the Galactica at that point. I was living on the Aedina, once I had been upgraded to it, that is, from an over crowded Virgoan star cruiser. When Apollo told me that his wife had recently passed away, I thought it would be insensitive if I asked to see a photograph of her, or of their sealing day so soon. I guess... the moment just never arrived when your father thought of showing me a picture. And I didn't wish to bring up any painful memory for him or for you. Our conversations thereafter went onto other things, whenever I came aboard to visit with my Uncle Adama, cousin Athena and and you and your father."
"I understand."
"Your mother was a very lovely woman. I'm glad I got to see who she was, and I'm sure she is now a very beautiful spirit that lives on forever".
"Uncle, this may sound crazy but", he shifted his position on the seat, "You don't think she lives on in your friend, Persephone?"
Triton smiled with a sympathetic feeling for Troy, but answered thoughtfully, "If you're asking me if I think Persephone is your mother, perhaps re-incarnated, then I'm deeply sorry, but no, it's impossible. Persephone was born in 7344, on Piscon. She was already five yahren old at the time of the destruction of our colonies. For anyone not to be incredulous of such an idea, Persephone would first have to have been born on the Fleets after the time of Serina's death."
"I see how it would be impossible." Troy paused before expressing, "Then why did I feel some sort of connection to her when we shook hands? It was as though we are supposed to know each other".
"I don't know, Troy." His personal comm beeped. It was Persephone, reminding him that it was getting late, and that she was waiting for him up at Squadron quarters.
"Troy, I hate to cut this short, but I have an assignment to get to today. I promise we'll try and continue this somehow, even if it's by inter-ship communica. I can say this though. There's not a single day or yahren that hasn't passed when I don't wish I could see my mother again. If met a person who possessed a striking resemblance to my mother, I think I too, would feel the same as you are now".
"Thanks, uncle. But it felt like I was stepping back into the past seeing you and a woman who looks so much like my mother, walking together like that. Y'know, the way you share the family likeness of my dad and all. It was like looking at my parents together again. " Triton put his hand on Troy's shoulder to comfort him somehow. "I'm sorry if our image took you by surprise like that, Troy".
"Oh, no, I'm fine, really, but it was just a little unexpected. Anyway, it was great just to chat a little bit again. Oh by the way, Dad says he will try to arrange a get together with you some time soon, when things are not so hectic."
"Thanks Troy, I was looking forward to the last anticipated dinner.Maybe it's just as well, I was going to bring Persephone as a guest to the Commander's dinner".
"I wonder what my father would have thought if he saw her."
"Perhaps it would be best to give him a bit of warning if that dinner does eventuate one day, I still wish to bring Persephone along".
The two men exchanged farewells and went on their ways.
Troy never did mention what he was doing on the Callisto to Triton.
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Post by Logan on Mar 3, 2009 8:10:13 GMT -6
A harried young Ensign hurried into Commander Sheba's office and pulled himself up short as he realized he hadn't stopped at the threshold and asked permission for entry.
Skyler and Sheba looked up from the report they were discussing and Logan turned from the status board where she and Brik had been watching for sensor data to change.
Sheba raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Ensign?"
The Ensign gulped, eyed the officers in the room, and said, "Commander. The patrol...it just...disappeared."
Sheba put the report on her desk and straightened. "What do you mean disappeared?"
"Just that, Ma'am. They were on the sensors and then...they weren't." He seemed to come back to himself now that the words were coming more easily.
The sensor data began to scroll on the status baord and Logan could see the blips indicating the two Vipers. They winked out of existence near the source of the disturbance where Dolet had also disappeared.
That bad feeling she had intensified. She looked to the Commander and Skyler. Her first instinct was to hope that Gold would be sent to investigate. But with three Warriors and their ships now missing, she had no idea what Sheba's next move would be.
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Post by Skyler on Mar 4, 2009 9:21:55 GMT -6
Skyler studied the readings from Dolet’s Viper while information from Bronze Squadron’s two Viper scrolled passed on another monitor. The readings were starting to mirror each other, almost exactly. They were scanning a planet void of life. Not a lifeless moon, or some other like object, but a planet. The scars of something huge still shown on the surface, like it had been ripped from orbit and tossed across the universe like a handful of marbles from a child’s toy chest. Judging from the first set of readings, everything was getting ready to change, and there it was, the interference, then the planet had shifted orbit, it bore life, a complex of some kind, a base maybe and just as before. Sheba and Skyler looked at each other and started discussing the report from the scanners. What the information was telling them and what it might mean.
A harried young Ensign hurried into Commander Sheba's office and pulled himself up short as he realized he hadn't stopped at the threshold and asked permission for entry.
Skyler and Sheba looked up from the report they were discussing and Logan turned from the status board where she and Brik had been watching for sensor data to change.
Sheba raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Ensign?"
The Ensign gulped, eyed the officers in the room, and said, "Commander. The patrol...it just...disappeared."
Sheba put the report on her desk and straightened. "What do you mean disappeared?"
"Just that, Ma'am. They were on the sensors and then...they weren't." He seemed to come back to himself now that the words were coming more easily.
The sensor data began to scroll on the status baord and Logan could see the blips indicating the two Vipers. They winked out of existence near the source of the disturbance where Dolet had also disappeared.
That bad feeling she had intensified. She looked to the Commander and Skyler. Her first instinct was to hope that Gold would be sent to investigate. But with three Warriors and their ships now missing, she had no idea what Sheba's next move would be.
In the blink of an eye, Janey and Bulk-up were gone. There wasn’t enough data off of either reading to figure out what had happened.. Skyler turned and looked to Sheba and she nodded and all the Warriors in the room took off towards the flight deck. Microns later the klaxons sounded and the deck was cast in a red glow. Sheba entered the Bridge and took her position at the upper platform as it rotated around to view open space.
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Post by Logan on Mar 4, 2009 10:33:29 GMT -6
Logan activated her personal comm unit as she followed Skyler and Brik out of the Bridge and into the corridor beyond heading towards the flight deck.
A male voice on the other end struggled to be heard over the alert klaxons. "Kurtz here."
She vaguely remembered Kurtz as one of the recently graduated Warriors who had just been assigned to Gold Squadron. So many new people and so many more lost friends. She had hoped someone familar would answer the call in Gold's Ready Room, but didn't have time to worry about it now.
"Kurtz, this is Captain Logan. Go to the extra uniform locker in the barracks and get me a jacket." It wasn't the best solution, but all she could do with the little time she would have once she reached the Flight Deck. There was no time to change into her uniform now. She was aware of Brik's large form lumbering in front of her and added, "And get one for Captain Brik as well. A big one. Meet us on the Flight Deck. Logan out."
Skyler glanced over his shoulder at her and shook his head. He was focused but hadn't missed the exchange. He understood that pilots had their little ticks and being completely out of uniform in the cockpit was one of them.
Microns later, the three marched into the Bay to a flurry of pre-flight activity. Heading towards their Vipers, Logan saw the Techs hovering around making last minute adjustments and Lt. Hush waiting next to his own ship, helmet under his arm. Lt. Baris stood off to the side, intent eyes not missing a thing. When he saw Logan, his perpetual frown became even more pronounced.
Skyler was all business. "Lt. Hush, you wing with Logan. Brik's with me." Lt. Baris raised a finger as if to question the sudden change of plans, but Skyler cut him off. "We don't have time for long explanations now, Lt. We have three missing Warriors out there. I'm sure the Commander will brief you after we launch."
Baris may have been a bit stuffy, but he was a professional. He nodded and took his leave of them, walking crisply towards the exit. Logan thought she heard him muttering something about preparing the Med Lab for the next round of lunacy.
A tall, lanky Ensign with jet black hair rushed across the deck towards them as Logan climbed onto the wing of her ship. His arms were loaded with uniform jackets. "I wasn't sure about the sizes," he offered in apology.
Brik had already walked over and was unceremoniously digging into the pile. He tossed Logan a jacket, which to her surprise fit perfectly. Brik discarded two more before finding one that fit him.
"Good work, Lt. " Brik clapped the man on the shoulder and hurried to his own ship.
As Logan settled into her seat, lowering her helmet onto her head and adjusting the seals on the cockpit controls she glanced over at Lt. Hush making similar preparations in his own ship. She nodded to him and gave him the thumbs up, but in the back of her mind she was already dreading him finding out exactly who the Warriors who were missing really were.
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Post by Logan on Mar 4, 2009 13:14:31 GMT -6
Meanwhile on the planet……
The base Commander watched as a volunteer climbed into the probe craft. The information they had received from the captured Warriors needed to be verified. It was one thing to work on the time displacement tech and another to actually have tangible results. Even though the Commander had been privy to the scientific team's experiments from the beginning, he was having a hard time wrapping his brain around the possible implications of a successful time rift.
One of his best men, Lt. Kalten volunteered to pilot the probe craft through the rift to see if their story was true and report back, if possible. Kalten knew full well that this could be his last mission. Could it be possible that with all the testing they had done they had opened a rift to the future? He would soon find out as the count down began.
Kalten was strapped into the single seat craft, scanners and sensor data screens took up most of the craft. It was one of the older manned probes and offered little room for comfort. It was devoted mainly to gathering data. There were no provisions for defense. If you ran into trouble it was a one way mission. To avoid capture and advanced scanner technologies falling into Cylon hands, it was equipped with a self destruct that the pilot could trigger as a last ditch measure.
Kalten took a deep breath as the pod's hatch closed and hoped he wouldn't have to use it.
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Post by Logan on Mar 5, 2009 9:53:35 GMT -6
Gold Squadron cleared for launch. Launch when ready.
Logan registered the clearance and pressed the turbo on the joystick. Somewhere in the back of her mind she noted that her hand on the throttle looked odd with the black gloves she was still wearing as part of her civilian disguise. That thought came and went like drifting smoke as her Viper shot through the launch tube and entered space.
Checking her scanners, she saw Hush pull into position on her wing. Skyler's voice came over the comm as he and Brik formed up and took the lead. "Gold clear and heading for coordinates."
Logan synched her onboard syustems with the scrolling coordinates the Bridge was transferring to the patrol. Making the necessary adjustments to the flight plan, the four Vipers banked and engaged thrusters.
Commander Sheba's voice came over the comm. "Gold Squadron. The coordinates sent are the approximate position of last contact for all three missing Vipers. Get close but not too close. I don't want you all to disappear as well."
"Affirmative, Callisto," Skyler replied. "Gold, we have three missing Warriors to locate. They were investigating a planet just beyond Callisto's sensor range before we lost them." He paused for a micron, then added. "Don't take chances. Follow my lead and stay alert. Ensigns Dolet, Janey and Bulk Up are counting on us."
Logan could swear she heard Hush's intake of breath over the comm. before he said, "Understood, Major."
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Post by Skyler on Mar 6, 2009 8:21:58 GMT -6
Lt. Kalten cleared the planets atmosphere and angled for the area of the rift in time. His heart beat quickened and pounded against his ribs and felt like it would burst free from his body. They were using a spermal goad since the receiving point was not going to be used as the beaming point in their communications. He wanted to make sure the wide angle communications being used were at the right frequencies. His sensor data started to change, he would get a glimpse of something, maybe it was another ship, it wouldn’t last long enough to determine exactly what he was seeing. He redirected a tight beam scanner at the exact spot he would catch a blip and adjusted his course to match.
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