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Post by LucianG on Dec 31, 2004 7:36:52 GMT -6
During the Tribunal, Lucian had been supervising first the delivery and then the installation of the next-to-last group of major replacement components in the Callisto’s ongoing repair. Overall, he was very pleased with the results, and the few minor improvements that had been worked into the new equipment. Unfortunately, time and resources prevented incorporation of several other improvements that had been designed yahrens before. Still, he thought, some minor improvements are better than no improvements at all.
As a former leader of Black Squadron, Lucian wasn’t overly concerned about the charges against Major Brie. She was an outstanding leader of an excellent squadron, and he knew that she would have done everything possible to protect her people on the mission. Because they had originally been from different, and usually competing squadrons, Lucian didn’t count Brie as one of his close friends. However, in his service as Senior Flight Officer following his departure as Black Squadron Leader, he had worked with her closely in coordinating assignments among the Callisto’s squadrons, had developed a good working relationship with her, and had developed even more respect for her abilities as a Warrior and leader. As a result of his knowledge of her, he knew that she would be exonerated. Finding her guilty would have a terrible impact on the morale of Warriors throughout the fleet, and would effectively tie the hands of other squadron leaders and other officers in charge of specific departments. Lucian knew two of the three Tribunes very well, and the third, Buellah, had been Silver Spar’s leader opposite Lucian before becoming Captain of the CQ. They would never find a Warrior guilty of doing her duty and protecting the fleet.
“They said she was ‘guilty as charged,’” related Lieutenant Finky from the Bridge after Lucian learned of the verdict from someone in the corridor. He’d tried to reach Major BatGal, but had transferred to Finky when he found that BatGal was off duty. “From what they said on the IFB broadcast, they didn’t think the Major did anything wrong on the actual mission, but they felt she shouldn’t have included Captain Amy on the mission in the first place. It’s like they thought she was unstable or something. Stupid people!”
“Lieutenant!” retorted Lucian. “We’ve spoken before about inserting personal opinions in reports. Facts, please.”
But Finky was on a roll, and picking up speed. “Sorry, Major, but this makes me really mad. Really, really mad! What’s our Warriors going ta do ‘f they got to look over their shoulders all the time like someone’s goin’ ta pinch ‘em an’ throw ‘em in the Brig why when I see Swensson, I’m gon’na, gonna punch him right in the—”
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Post by LucianG on Dec 31, 2004 11:26:40 GMT -6
“Lieutenant Finky! Slow down,” ordered Lucian even as she was continuing to speak. “Take a breath. Enunciate and punctuate, Lieutenant.”
“—nose and knee him in the—”
“FINKY!” blared Lucian into the comm. “The Colonial Military and I both have a lot of time invested in your training. You’re not going to do anything of the kind. Besides,” he continued, “I didn’t even think you knew Major Brie very well. What’s this about?” he asked, trying to refocus her attention and energies. Finky’s physical encounters with a couple of fellow crewmembers had almost ended her career shortly after she had joined the Bridge crew. Lucian and several others had worked closely with her for nearly three yahrens, helping her to curb her anger, work on her pronunciation, and, in general, help her turn into a good officer. Still, sometimes her youthful rambunctiousness and the underlying anger bubbled to the surface…
“Sorry, Major,” said Finky, slowing to a moderate clip. “It’s not about Major Brie. Like you said, I only know her professionally. It’s just that by finding her guilty, they’re making it more difficult for all of our Warriors to do their jobs. Everybody in charge’s going to be second-guessing themselves. Major, it just ain’t right!”
“No, it’s not, Lieutenant, but neither is punching someone in the nose. Don’t even think about it, understood?”
“Yes, Sir,” replied Finky, holding her fingers crossed tightly. As she ended the call, she was giving serious thought to where she could get in a good swing at Swensson.
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Post by LucianG on Jan 4, 2005 6:59:29 GMT -6
When he walked into their office, Fallel and Solon suddenly ended their very animated discussion. Lucian, having heard just the last few words hardened his expression as he approached and said, “No, gentlemen, please continue. I want to hear this, too.” Before giving them time to continue, though, he exploded at Solon, “How three very smart people could render such an utterly stupid ruling has me really, really curious. What gives?”
“Loou-sh-ian,” drawled Solon as he sometimes did when Lucian was acting a little dense, “I can’t talk to you about the details of the Tribunal. Sorry.”
“But Solon,” said Lucian, taking a more reasoned tone, “Why? What did Brie do that was worthy of a guilty verdict?”
“Loou-sh-ian, what part of ‘can’t talk about the details’ didn’t you understand?” asked the elderly man, who stood holding his cane in front of him with both hands.
“Can’t or won’t?” asked Lucian, again in a really foul mood. Solon had planted himself firmly in front of Lucian and the argument continued for several more centons. Lucian, arguing with a former Protector, ended up with no additional useful information. He finally sat down in frustration and said, “Solon, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to jump all over you, but I think what you guys did is just plain wrong, and that it will have a really bad effect on Warriors throughout the fleet.”
“Read the transcript before you say that, Lucian,” said Solon calmly. “I’ve got real work to do now, so please excuse me.” He started toward the door, when he suddenly turned and said, “As a Protector, after I read the transcript, then I’d be looking for anything suspicious or anything that could be appealed.” He nodded at this last part, pointing his gold knobbed cane at Lucian. Then, he walked out of the room.
* * *
“Yes, Captain. I understand your situation. The Fleet will not be leaving this system until appropriate reallocations are made. Sheba, out.” She closed the channel without giving him a chance to reply. Some of the Fleet Captains were so demanding. Of course, they were just trying to take care of their ship and their people, something Sheba currently felt helpless to do. Sheba stretched out her hands and looked at them with a frown. She imagined them tightly chained with the key kept just out of reach. Situations like having one’s senior squadron leader imprisoned on such ludicrous charges didn’t enter the Fleet Captain’s thoughts, but in Sheba’s situation….
Mentally dispelling her bonds, Sheba knew that there were desperate shortages of some materials; just getting replacement parts for her battlestar had been a nightmare, with one shipment still to arrive. Still, Captain Djovorish had a point. Something had to be done about the fuel situation. With the fuel supplies on Djovorish’s and five ships hovering near empty, the Fleet would not be able to make a jump without reallocating current fuel supplies…unless another fuel supply could be found. Thinking back over recent events, she opened a coded file and began rereading it for the first time since it had been given to her before the events at Pangara.
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Post by LucianG on Jan 4, 2005 11:38:12 GMT -6
A little later, Lucian closed the transcript file. As a layperson not that familiar with legal issues, he wasn’t sure he had found anything suspicious or anything that could be appealed. As he thought about it, though, he began to believe he might have discovered the point at which Solon had been hinting. Was it right that Solon, Senior Science Officer, serve on the very Tribunal in which Dr. CureMode acted as Major Brie’s chief accuser? The more he thought of it, the less he liked it, since Solon had served for several yahrens directly under the Director of Science who had brought Brie up on charges!
“This Boleman guy—where do we contact him? Can you find out if he’s gone back to his own ship?” Lucian asked Fallel as the Frodarian Outlander reentered Lucian’s temporary office in the Engineering Department.
“It is going to have to wait, Lucian,” replied Fallel. “We must go to the Bridge, Commander Sheba’s orders. She did not give a reason, but from my question and her response, I do not think it had anything to do with either the repair efforts or the recent Tribunal. She did say we should find Major JustinB and bring him with us though. I took the liberty to track him down. He was last seen in the Officer’s Club.”
As he rose from his chair, Lucian couldn’t help smiling at Fallel’s accent and efficiency. The Outlander had spent many yahrens as a techno-slave on the Cylon moon Frodar Alpha Epsilon. Fallel’s body had recovered, though he was small from yahrens of near chronic malnutrition, but his speech and accent were still influenced by his close contact with the Cylons. He had survived his captivity largely as a result of his own intelligence and efficiency that even the Cylons must have admired. Shaking off the image, Lucian said, “Fallel, let’s go get JustinB. Maybe then we’ll find out what this mystery meeting is all about.”
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Post by JustinB on Jan 4, 2005 23:17:20 GMT -6
As I was waiting for my next round, I saw Lucian and Fallel entered the Officer's Club from my table in the corner. I could see Lucian speaking to Osh at the bar, and then Osh turned and pointed in my direction.
Leaving Fallel at the bar, Lucian made his way around the tables to where I was sitting. As he got closer, I stood in respect.
"Sit down JustinB, how are you?" he asked.
"Well Sir, I guess I am not too bad considering."
"Osh seems to think that you have set yourself up for a session. He also said you are feeling down. Would it happen to be about your relationship with Lieutenant Rose would it?"
"No Sir, we broke up on good terms recently. I...." I couldn't get any more out. I wanted someone to talk to but maybe just not yet.
"Well, whatever it is you have to put it aside for now. I need you to come with me and Fallel to a meeting with the Commander."
I just wanted to stay in the Officers Club and drink grog until I couldn't walk. But if I was being summoned to a meeting with the Commander it is something important.
As I stood up, I asked a question that I surprised myself asking.
"Sir, what can you tell me about Major Brie outside the job."
"Why do you ask?"
"Curious I guess."
"Well Brie...." Lucian started off as we exited the Officers Club.
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Post by LucianG on Jan 5, 2005 6:10:54 GMT -6
“Well, Brie is one of those elements of life that I respect greatly but understand about as well as Cylons,” said Lucian as they exited the Officers’ Club, with Fallel coming up a short distance behind them, allowing JustinB and Lucian to speak privately as they walked. “No, I take that back, I probably understand the tin-heads better,” he chuckled. Becoming serious once more, he said, “You said ‘outside the job,’ JustinB, but in my experience, she has been all about the job. I guess that’s part of the mystery about her. We’ve had breakfast a few times when we were squadron leaders together, and then when I was Senior Flight Officer, but she always seemed careful not to stray outside the carefully defined lines of ‘Colonial Warrior’ and ‘Squadron Leader.’ On those fronts, she’s one of the bravest, most upstanding people I know, which is what really gets me about the results of this tribunal. If you ask me, this Pierce guy had it in for her in a big way and then happened to get lucky. Now, I suspect that her unwarranted conviction threatens the entire structure of the Colonial Military.”
“Privately,” Lucian continued, “I’d heard that she had issues related to her husband’s death, and after reading the transcript of the Tribunal, I guess I understand that a little better. Still, she’s dealt with that quite well, considering. Even with such issues, she's one of the few people that, as a Warrior, I would unquestioningly trust with my life.” As he was speaking, Lucian observed JustinB and could see that something was bothering his friend. He asked, “JustinB, I’m sorry about Rose. From your question about Brie, is there something going on that you need to talk about?”
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Post by JustinB on Jan 5, 2005 20:31:58 GMT -6
“JustinB, I’m sorry about Rose. From your question about Brie, is there something going on that you need to talk about?”
I was very hesitant in answering Lucian, but maybe my subconscious was pushing me to talk to Lucian.
"Well, it is just that Brie and I had just started to form a bond with Brie or so I thought. I know that sounds weird since we are from different squadrons and all. But since...." I paused there, as I didn’t want to make my personal life an open book for everyone to read.
"Since what JustinB?"
I knew I could trust him; he was my old C.O and someone I trusted.
"Sir," I said as I gestured for Fallel to increase his distance from us. "Pierce caught Brie and I in a very compromising position aboard the Galactica. We were assigned the same quarters and we met each other there and well we fought for a bit, then got friendly if you get my drift. Then towards the end Pierce barged in and took some pictures of us, which is why I didn't testify. Brie asked me not too because she didn't want it getting out. I feel as I betrayed her but she refused to let me testify. Now I think she is holding it against me or something. I am sorry Lucian for blabbering on, let’s get to this meeting and forget what I have just said as I feel too much shame."
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Post by LucianG on Jan 6, 2005 6:09:21 GMT -6
“JustinB, sometimes people develop seemingly inexplicable bonds,” said Lucian, subconsciously thinking of his unresolved feelings for Mar-nee’. “I don’t know if that’s due to circumstance, lust, or whatever, but sometimes with some people, it lasts a lifetime and they call it true love; other times, it might last an evening or less. You never know unless you take a chance, so don’t be ashamed for what Brie and you did.”
They crossed another corridor as they continued their quick walk to the Bridge. Lucian felt bad for his friend, who looked miserable as they walked together, but he also felt the anger over Major Brie’s conviction rising in him once more. Lucian continued in an even lower voice, “The one who should be ashamed is this Major Pierce who would basically blackmail the two of you to obtain his desired outcome in the Tribunal. From what you’ve told me, I can tell you he’s a dirty, rotten scoundrel. People like Pierce don’t belong in a Colonial Warrior’s uniform, much less in a position investigating other Warriors. He’s using his position for power. The question is, why? Is it because it makes him feel good, giving him some type of head rush, or is it for some type of gain? If we’re going to help Brie, we may have to take a closer look at his background to figure that—”
At that moment, they almost ran into another rapidly moving man coming from yet another intersecting corridor. “Excuse me!” said Majors JustinB, Lucian, Jorlan all at the same time. Lucian, on recognizing the leader of Bronze Squadron said, “Major Jorlan, it’s good to see you. We didn’t mean to run over you.”
“And good to see you, too, Major Lucian and Major JustinB.” Both Lucian and JustinB noticed the way Jorlan deliberately ignored Fallel’s presence, now that Fallel was once more just behind them. The cocky Frodarian continued, “I'm sure the two of you would not deliberately run over me, unlike certain other individuals," taking a direct jab at the Outlander. "From your pace and direction, I would guess that you are going to the Bridge to attend the same meeting as me.”
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Post by JustinB on Jan 11, 2005 20:42:50 GMT -6
"Major Lucian, I think we should talk a little more about that subject we were just discussing as soon as possible after the meeting if time permits."
"Yes JustinB, I think we shall. We might even see if Major Skyler has anything to add."
Major Jorlan curious to the cryptic conversation had to ask. "What subject would that be if I might ask?"
"Nothing major Major. Just a small conversation on Black and Gold Squadron rivalry, thats all. So Jorlan, what is the status of Bronze Squadron?" asked Lucian.
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