Chapter 28N - The End

[BRIK]

"Sir..." begins Brik as he picks up Skylers various missing insignia and his weapon and holster, extending this handful of items his furious friend.
"If you'll put these back on, I believe that you'll find a very formidable TEAM on your side. There are enough good warriors in the brig for one day, don't you think?"

He wipes the sweat from his brow and makes a mental note to work out more often.

[Skyler]

Skyler looks at his friends and know they are right.... He can't do anything to get Brie out if he is in there himself, but damn, it would feel so good to kill that little bastard. He reaches out, slightly calmer than he had been, the anger part finally settleing down and takes the items from Brik. Before he can speak Boleman enters the room, does a quick survey and then looks right at Skyler....

"Major Skyler, Brie wanted me to let you know that she is counting on you to run the squadron. She needs you to do that and nothing else. Gold Squadron is the pride of the Callisto, and she expects it to stay that way. She expects you to continue to act in a professional manner." Boleman looked at the wall locker and knew right away which one had done this, it was Skyler.... "and Major, she wanted me to make sure you know she is Alright....."

Skyler squeezed the items in his hand so hard the Major insignia broke through the skin and caused his hand to start bleeding. The torn unit patch qucikly sucked up the blood, so no one noticed it at all. He looked from Boleman to his friends.

"Ok, you ALL have made your point. Peirce gets to live a little longer.... I will behave in a manner befitting a Warrior, and will Honor MAJOR Brie's wishes." Everyone in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief as they thought Skyler was finished. "However.... if I should happen to catch Pierce in a area of the ship that is off of the Security Grid, well, I know the access codes to the Garabge Scowl, NO ONE will be able to find him..... if they even miss the bottom feeding slug.."

Boleman, being an officer of the court, eyes got a little wider at Skyler's comment, put his fingers in his ears and left the room repeating the phrase... "I hear nuthing.... NUTHING....." The others smiled, taking it as a joke, but know deep down he meant it.....

[Logan]

After Boleman left the office, the Warriors present spent some time just watching Skyler to see what his next move would be. Logan could see the turmoil playing over his face and she hated it. Skyler was a good man and didn't deserve to have his world shaken this way. She'd seen him hurt before. She'd felt it herself, many yahrens ago. Remembering made her angry.
Skyler stood holding the insgnia in his hand and seemed at a loss for words. Brik and Ike exchanged glances, while Wraith watched on stoically as was his manner. Logan caught Wraith's eye and he gave her a wink, attempting to reassure her that everything would work out alright. She smiled inwardly, but kept her expression neutral to everyone in the room.
"So, Major, what's our next move?", she asked Skyler.
Skyler came back to himself and stood up a little straighter, the Warrior taking control once more. "Our next move is to uphold the integrity of Gold Squadron, do our jobs and protect this fleet as we've always done. Just the way 'Major' Brie has always done." He looked meaningfully at each Warrior in turn as he spoke and let his gaze linger on Logan as he said, "I don't want anyone in Gold Squadron to do anything stupid as a retaliation. Pierce is obviously the lowest slime in the universe, but he is dangerous. If he wasn't Brie would be standing here with us right now. Remember that." Logan met his gaze unflinchingly. He knew her too well. She didn't waver under his stare, but she also knew that Wraith was probably giving her that same look as he stood beside her.
Skyler went to his desk and sat down, absentmindedly shuffling through some reports that lay there. "Now, if you don't mind, I have some work to do. Dismissed. Go get some rest."
Brik and Ike left the room, Wraith and Logan moving to follow. Behind them Skyler cleared his throat and called out, "Logan?"
She turned to look at him as Wraith preceded her out into the corridor. "Yes?"
"Are we clear?", Skyler asked. He was putting up a good front, but she could tell how broken up he was over Brie's sentence. It surpised her that he had such strong emotions for his CO, but it probably shouldn't have. It was painful to watch him hurting so. She knew he would want to discuss this with her, to make sure she was ok, not that she could fault him for falling in love again. But right know he needed to be alone with his thoughts.
She gave him an innocent smile and said, "Crystal."
Wraith was waiting for her outside, leaning quite casually against the corridor wall, arms crossed and a warning in his eyes. "What are you planning?"
Logan almost laughed at how well he knew her. "Me? I'm planning on heading to the launch bay to check on my ship. And you?"
Wraith got that exasperated well-suffering look that she'd caused so many times as he replied,"Ok, ok. You will not do anything stupid, just like Skyler said. I just got you out of the medlab and I don't intend on having you put yourself back there, or in the next cell over from the Major either." His expression softened as he reached out to move her hair from her eyes and gently stroke her cheek with his fingers. He kissed her lightly on the lips and pulled back to look her in the eye. "Nothing stupid. Promise?"
Logan grasped his hands in hers and smiled widely at him. "Promise. I won't do anything...stupid."
She turned on her heel and headed in the direction of the launch bay, calling over her shoulder, "Are you coming with me to see how bad the techs have fouled up my ship or what?"
Wraith sighed, rolled his eyes towards the ceiling, and mumbled, "May the Lords of Kobol give me strength," as he followed Logan down the corridor.

[BRIK]

Brik looks around to Ike and says...

"What does it TAKE to get some da*n COOKIES? Frak!"
Then he takes a deep brath while extending his arms and closing his eyes. Then in a calm voice:
"Would anyone care to join me for some cookies?"
And turns to start walking down the corridor toward the original destination of his walk with Ike.

[Logan]

Logan walked with purpose into the launch bay, Wraith right behind her. She knew that he knew she was up to something and would be dogging her every step. He had a tendency to be overprotective, but that was one of the things she loved about him. It could be annoying at times, but she understood that he only did it because he cared about her.
She marched over to her ship, repaired since the last battle now, several techs still running diagnostics on the inflight systems. She called up to the tech in the cockpit. "How is she?"
The tech hardly looked up from the readout, seemingly irritated by the interruption, "She checks out, Lt. All ready for your next patrol."
"Good," Logan muttered, mostly to herself, as the tech had already returned to whatever he was doing up there. Logan recognized this particular tech, Neall. He had an attitude with officers and didn't work well with others. She had overheard him on several occassions talking felgercarb about almost every Warrior in Gold Squadron. From what she'd heard Neall had failed to qualify for Warrior training and been forced to join the ranks of the techs. He held a grudge. It might have seemed strange to her fellow Warriors that she knew so much about this one tech, but she had always made it a point to find out everything there was to know about any tech that was put in charge of repairing her ship. And Neall was that tech. It just so happened, that her thoroughness with her ship also served another purpose in this case.
Logan took a micron to run her hand over the wing of her Viper before she turned to Wraith.
He gave her a smile and said, "Satisfied?"
She nodded. "For now. Once I get her out on a test run, then I'll feel better." She glanced out of the corner of her eye to see what Neall was doing. He seemed engrossed in some readouts, but his body language suggested otherwise. He was listening closely tothem. She'd seen him do it before.
Logan took a deep breath before speaking again. 'This is it,' she thought."Wraith, what do you think about what just happened in Skyler's office? About Major Brie's conviction?"
Logan noticed the tech freeze. She had him. She knew whatever she said next would be all over the Fleet before she could get to her quarters from the launch bay. Perfect.
Wraith looked at her quizzically before answering."Well, Skyler was obviously furious. I haven't met Brie, but Skyler seems to be a good judge of character. Seems to me the verdict has many Warriors upset, not just Gold Squadron."
Logan stood up a little straighter and raised her voice more than was neccessary. "A Colonial Warrior should have better control of those under their command. Shouldn't Brie be held accountable for making poor decisions when it came to her team for the mission?"
The tech wasn't even pretending to work now. He sat stockstill in the ship.
Wraith's mouth was hanging open a bit, but he recovered quickly. "Um, Logan, what are you getting at?"
"I'm not getting at anything. I'm just saying that its always easier to blame other people for our mistakes than to accept the responsibility for our own actions when they are the wrong ones."
Wraith was searching her face as if he was missing something important. Before he could say anything else, Logan took his arm and pulled him away from the ship and towards the door, "Come on. I'll buy you a drink. I think we could both use one."

After the two Warriors had exited the launch bay, Neall sat watching the door for a while. When he thought a sufficient amount of time had passed, he crawled from the cockpit and headed towards a small office. The blackshirt on duty was known to him, a man named Seth. Neall took a pad from the desk and scribbled a few lines, then handed it to Seth, who sat watching the man suspiciously. Seth read the note, looked up at Neall and nodded as he got up from his chair and left the office. As Neall walked back to Logan's ship, he watched Seth cross the bay and exit into the corridor. He climbed back into the cockpit and returned to his scans.

He was sitting in the dark of his temporary quarters on the Callisto when the door chimed. He hadn't been expecting anyone, but wasn't surprised to see the blackshirt that entered. He had several people in key positions all over the ship that reported to him on a regular basis. Seth handed the note to the man and left without saying a word. The man sat back in his chair, unfolded the paper, and read:
May have found the Warrior you seek. Lt. Logan, Gold Squadron.
Neall

He refolded the paper, leaned forward and layed it in an ashtray on the desk. Then he set it on fire and watched it burn, the flames illuminating the smile on Pierce's face.

[Skyler]

A message alert flashed on Skyler's monitor/computer termial. It was from the Bridge....

Major Skyler:

With the guilty verdict in Major Brie's tribunal, your promotion to Squadron Leader and command of Gold Squadron is made permanent until the next election cycle unless the decision of the tribunal is overturned. I know that the current situation has probably taken you by surprise; however, as a Warrior, you know your duty and I have every confidence that you will fulfill that duty and maintain Gold Squadron at its usual high level of readiness as Major Brie would expect.

Considering the surprise that many of us experienced, including probably everyone in Gold Squadron, over the announcement of the verdict in Major Brie's tribunal, you may feel that it is best that you deal with the feelings and operations of Gold Squadron at this time; however, we are having a meeting on the Bridge shortly for new assignments for a new mission. Considering that action might be what some of your personnel need, I invite you to attend. Black and Bronze Squadrons can cover the assignments in their entirety if needed.

Best wishes with your new assignment.

Sincerely,

Commander Sheba,
Battlestar Callisto


Skyler locked down his computer, straped on his weapon and left for the bridge, stopping breifly by his quarters to grab a fresh jacket, one with rank insignia and a unit patch still in place. Once on the Bridge, he found Sheba in the War room, alone. He knocked and she motioned him in, closing the door behind him.

"Yes Major, what is it?"

"Commander, its the upcoming mission.... I would like to request Gold Squadron stand down, until I have time to judge the emotionial well being of the others following the outcome of the trial. I would hate to put one Warrior in harms way, let alone the safety of the Fleet before they come to terms with this felgercarb."

"Very well Skyler," She paused, hoping he noticed she had dropped the rank "How are you taking the verdict?"

Well, Commander, I am upset, but I am a Warrior, I can and will deal with it in a professional manner ma'am."

Sheba took a seat at the table and offered the one next to her to Skyler. "Skyler, sit, and drop the protocol.... How long have we known each other? What was it, 20 some odd yarhen ago you showed up at the Galactica Warriors Academy. Eager to learn, to be a Warrior. Tell me, as an old friend, how are you taking this?"

"Not worth a damn, Major Brie is a good friend and my CO. I feel I am letting her down by not doing something more. I can still do the job. I won't let you or her down on that end."

"Have you been down to see her yet?"

"Not yet.... Kinda had to come to terms with some anger.... over the verdict and had a little discusion about what I wanted to do to a certian Major. Was going to head down there first thing in the cycle."

"That will be good....." changing the subject "Do you still remember those codes I gave you...? Funny thing, I never had them changed or anything... I hope you forgot those access codes... I mean, they control all kinds of things, security systems, camera's, door locks.... you name it, anything a Battlestar Commander needed to override on her ship...., well, those codes do it." Sheba winked at Skyler a little....

"Yes ma'am, I think I understand" he started to stand and she put her hand on his arm

"Skyler, don't think you are the first it has happened to.... .I know how hard it is..... serving under Apollo all those yarhen ago......" she flashed back to when she first fell in love with the future leader of the entire Fleet. "We will find a way to get Brie back to her rightful place and you to yours, at her side. Please, in the meantime, don't go looking for trouble."

"Well, most of the time it comes looking for me....." he was cut off as a call came in for Sheba on the comm system..... he nodded his head and left the room heading to finish the updated roster, naming yet another SIC and TIC, hoping this time, they last a little longer than last time. Yep, going to see Brie in the morning, looking at his Chrono it was well into sleep period......