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crossoverficCross-posted to 100stories, crossoverfic, allfandomfics, bsg2003fics, fan_fiction, and my own LJ.
Thirteen
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Behind Enemy Lines
While the fleet was preparing to launch, three small black triangular ships were flying around the Cyrannus system, home to the Twelve Colonies that were now occupied by the Cylons. One ship contained Galen, Dureena Nafeel, and the Gideons. The second contained Alwyn, GLeel, Entilzha Ivanova, General Cain, and Ranger NaToth. The third was piloted by Andromeda, and contained the Hollifields, Dr. Gaius Baltar (along with Six, although only Baltar, Garrison, and Andromeda could see her) and Gina, who had taken the last name of the woman who had been the model for her clone, Godfrey. Each ship also had a selection of specially trained special operations personnel, some of which were human Cylons.
From the time of their revolt during the battle in Earths orbit to now, the human Cylons had been sequestered at the secret base on Marcab. Baltar, along with Six and the others, had worked to help the human Cylons become fully independent of the programming instilled inside of them, and had succeeded beyond anyones reasonable expectations.
The second-generation clones were now fully operational, as were the third generation clones. Through the eight years of working with them, the human Cylons had developed their own identity, independent of their masters. They felt shame for what had happened, and, once freed of their programming, had decided to rebel against their creators by helping the Colonials regain their Colonies.
Andromedas ship landed on Tauron, roughly fifty kilometers away from the main settlement on the planet, Tauronopolis. There were smaller settlements around the planet, but life was hard on this world because of its distance from the star at the center of the system. They landed in a small valley around a group of hills to the south of the capital and began to make their plans to stake out the city.
Andromeda asked of Garrison, You sure you want to travel down this road in this weather? The clouds in the morning sky were thick, and a rumble of thunder was heard overhead. The chill in the air made it possible for a mix of precipitation on this day.
Sure as I can see the nose on my face. These people have been trained well, and theyve been through stuff like this before.
That may be true, Garrison, but youre not exactly a young man these days! Seventy three is not an age in which to be making long marches, especially one in which youre facing an enemy thats as well armed as the Cylons are! Andromeda replied.
Twanissa came over after hearing Andromedas concerns and said, I understand your worries, old friend, but we need him to pull this off. Believe me, if I didnt think he could handle this, I wouldnt have come along with him to help him out.
And why are you here? Youre not exactly young yourself, and your area of expertise is in commanding starships, not ground forces! Andromeda said.
If my husband is going to die on this world, I want to be with him and fall alongside him. Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on him! Twanissa replied.
Garrison sighed and said testily, Look, are we going to get going or not? The others are getting a little restless, and we are sort of out in the open, after all!
The two women looked at each other and Andromeda said, Hed better come back alive, or Ill never forgive you!
Twanissa nodded and said, Hell come back. Hes too stubborn to die! Both women laughed at the remark, which didnt elicit amusement from the former Earth Alliance president. Andromeda headed back into the skies to spread more microscopic probes all along the path, to which the forces would use the data from them to analyze what the mechanical Cylons were up to. Once that was done, she would sneak more special operations personnel into the valley so that they could set up this landing site for the full commencement of the operation.
I wonder why the Drakh havent been able to detect those ships. They use the same types of Shadow technology, do they not? Baltar asked as they ate dinner that night in their shelter.
They use the tech, but not all tech is created equal. The Drakh may have helped the Shadows with their wars, but as we found in the plague crisis, they arent adept at using the technology as the technomages are. It also doesnt help that they are arrogant pricks who assume that all the technomages are safely tucked away in their hideout. Hollifield replied.
Im grateful that you kept Gina on the ship with Andromeda. I wanted you to know that. Baltar said, changing the subject.
Ginas never fully recovered from the abuse she suffered on the Pegasus. Why expose her to the rigors of combat? Besides, shes safe as long as shes with Andromeda. Andromeda may play the part of an old witch, but shes still got many years left in her.
Baltar nodded and asked both Hollifields, Do you think well get out of this alive?
Twanissa shrugged and said, If we do, we do. If we dont, we dont, but the operation goes on. Besides, if my husband falls, Ivanovall be pissed and really make those machines pay! If you knew her like I did, youd know how true that is!
Garrison chuckled and added, Almost makes me want to die here, because shed be damn sure to win this war then! But if its all the same to you, Id like to keep breathing for a while longer.
After they finished dinner, Baltar retreated to his tent and got into his sleeping bag to rest. He could barely sleep though, scared at what the next day might bring. Six came to him and asked, Are you scared?
No, of course not! What made you ever think that? Baltar said sarcastically, but his words were shaky as he said it.
You need not fear, Gaius! Im with you! Ill always be with you! Youve done so much to help my people! Six said, trying to reassure him.
But what can that do to make up for what Ive done? What can any of it do? I killed over twelve billion people! he said.
You didnt kill them Gaius, and neither did I. It was those machines that did it, manipulating me to manipulate you. It cant bring them back, but we can build a new future for them.
You know that the Colonials arent coming back here, dont you? Even with all thats been done, how can you repopulate a dozen worlds with less than fifty thousand people? It cant be done! Baltar exclaimed.
All things are possible, Gaius! You just have to have faith.
I thought that you didnt believe in God anymore! Baltar said.
Not the Cylon god, but there is a God. I dont know how to put it in terms you can understand, so all Ill say is that I believe that there is a higher power watching over us. You may or may not believe in God, but I know that He believes in you! Six said.
Well, hed better, because I have no idea why Im here and what Im doing! I should have stayed on Earth! Baltar said as he broke down into tears. Whereas before she would have scolded him for weakness, she simply held him and spoke to him softly as he fell asleep.
The next morning they began their march to the capital. This group wouldnt attack the city itself, but would gather intelligence and set up traps that would hinder the enemys response to their eventual assault, which would be less than a week from beginning. They walked down a trail through the woods, about five clicks from where they had landed.
Suddenly, gunshots rang out, and they all hit the dirt. Centurions! Theyve set up an ambush! Hit the deck! yelled out one of the special ops assigned to their group. Baltar grabbed his gun and settled in beside the first lady, who had been separated from her husband when they ducked for cover in a ditch beside the trail.
They managed to take out the three Centurions who had attacked them from a couple of small caves on the side of the hill. All clear! someone yelled, and Baltar got up with Twanissa and began to walk over to the others when Six yelled and pointed, Gaius! There!
From below, a Centurion sneaked out and walked up the hill, training his gun on the first lady. NO! Baltar yelled and pushed Twanissa down, standing over her and pointing his PPG rifle at the oncoming Centurion. Before he could aim, the Centurion opened up on him and shot him half a dozen times before Twanissa was able to take the attacker out with her rifle from her prone position.
Medic! We need a medic! Twanissa said as she tried to stem the bleeding, but she knew it was too late. Garrison, belying his age, raced over and squatted down over him. Its too late. He wont make it. Garrison said resignedly.
Mr. President! Six called out. Garrison looked over to her as she squatted down over the body. Thank you for everything! She faded away as Baltars life ran out.
On board Andromedas ship, Gina was awakened by the downloading program from Six, and she rushed out of her room and over to where the technomage was resting. Andromeda answered the door and said, What is it, Gina?
Ginas eyes were filled with tears as she said, Hes gone! Shes gone! Gaius is dead! She threw herself into the arms of Andromeda, who embraced her and soothed her as best she could.
I know, my dear. Theyre both at peace now! she said to Gina, patting her on the back and taking her over to her bed so that they could talk.
Back on Tauron, they hastily dug a grave for Baltar. He saved my life! Twanissa said shakily. He pushed me out of the way as that Centurion was taking aim at me!
Garrison nodded and said, Hopefully hell have some brivari with Londo in the afterlife, because those two were made for each other. As for those of us who are still breathing, wed better keep moving. My telepathy didnt pick them up until it was too late, but I know what to look for now, so hopefully well be able to sniff out future ambushes before they take place.
I hope so. Its too late for Baltar though. Damned shame. Twanissa said to her husband, then called out to everyone else, Cmon people, weve got some walking to do! This areas prime ambush area, so the sooner were out of here, the safer well be. Lets move! They gathered their gear and headed off towards Tauronopolis.
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Behind Enemy Lines
While the fleet was preparing to launch, three small black triangular ships were flying around the Cyrannus system, home to the Twelve Colonies that were now occupied by the Cylons. One ship contained Galen, Dureena Nafeel, and the Gideons. The second contained Alwyn, GLeel, Entilzha Ivanova, General Cain, and Ranger NaToth. The third was piloted by Andromeda, and contained the Hollifields, Dr. Gaius Baltar (along with Six, although only Baltar, Garrison, and Andromeda could see her) and Gina, who had taken the last name of the woman who had been the model for her clone, Godfrey. Each ship also had a selection of specially trained special operations personnel, some of which were human Cylons.
From the time of their revolt during the battle in Earths orbit to now, the human Cylons had been sequestered at the secret base on Marcab. Baltar, along with Six and the others, had worked to help the human Cylons become fully independent of the programming instilled inside of them, and had succeeded beyond anyones reasonable expectations.
The second-generation clones were now fully operational, as were the third generation clones. Through the eight years of working with them, the human Cylons had developed their own identity, independent of their masters. They felt shame for what had happened, and, once freed of their programming, had decided to rebel against their creators by helping the Colonials regain their Colonies.
Andromedas ship landed on Tauron, roughly fifty kilometers away from the main settlement on the planet, Tauronopolis. There were smaller settlements around the planet, but life was hard on this world because of its distance from the star at the center of the system. They landed in a small valley around a group of hills to the south of the capital and began to make their plans to stake out the city.
Andromeda asked of Garrison, You sure you want to travel down this road in this weather? The clouds in the morning sky were thick, and a rumble of thunder was heard overhead. The chill in the air made it possible for a mix of precipitation on this day.
Sure as I can see the nose on my face. These people have been trained well, and theyve been through stuff like this before.
That may be true, Garrison, but youre not exactly a young man these days! Seventy three is not an age in which to be making long marches, especially one in which youre facing an enemy thats as well armed as the Cylons are! Andromeda replied.
Twanissa came over after hearing Andromedas concerns and said, I understand your worries, old friend, but we need him to pull this off. Believe me, if I didnt think he could handle this, I wouldnt have come along with him to help him out.
And why are you here? Youre not exactly young yourself, and your area of expertise is in commanding starships, not ground forces! Andromeda said.
If my husband is going to die on this world, I want to be with him and fall alongside him. Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on him! Twanissa replied.
Garrison sighed and said testily, Look, are we going to get going or not? The others are getting a little restless, and we are sort of out in the open, after all!
The two women looked at each other and Andromeda said, Hed better come back alive, or Ill never forgive you!
Twanissa nodded and said, Hell come back. Hes too stubborn to die! Both women laughed at the remark, which didnt elicit amusement from the former Earth Alliance president. Andromeda headed back into the skies to spread more microscopic probes all along the path, to which the forces would use the data from them to analyze what the mechanical Cylons were up to. Once that was done, she would sneak more special operations personnel into the valley so that they could set up this landing site for the full commencement of the operation.
I wonder why the Drakh havent been able to detect those ships. They use the same types of Shadow technology, do they not? Baltar asked as they ate dinner that night in their shelter.
They use the tech, but not all tech is created equal. The Drakh may have helped the Shadows with their wars, but as we found in the plague crisis, they arent adept at using the technology as the technomages are. It also doesnt help that they are arrogant pricks who assume that all the technomages are safely tucked away in their hideout. Hollifield replied.
Im grateful that you kept Gina on the ship with Andromeda. I wanted you to know that. Baltar said, changing the subject.
Ginas never fully recovered from the abuse she suffered on the Pegasus. Why expose her to the rigors of combat? Besides, shes safe as long as shes with Andromeda. Andromeda may play the part of an old witch, but shes still got many years left in her.
Baltar nodded and asked both Hollifields, Do you think well get out of this alive?
Twanissa shrugged and said, If we do, we do. If we dont, we dont, but the operation goes on. Besides, if my husband falls, Ivanovall be pissed and really make those machines pay! If you knew her like I did, youd know how true that is!
Garrison chuckled and added, Almost makes me want to die here, because shed be damn sure to win this war then! But if its all the same to you, Id like to keep breathing for a while longer.
After they finished dinner, Baltar retreated to his tent and got into his sleeping bag to rest. He could barely sleep though, scared at what the next day might bring. Six came to him and asked, Are you scared?
No, of course not! What made you ever think that? Baltar said sarcastically, but his words were shaky as he said it.
You need not fear, Gaius! Im with you! Ill always be with you! Youve done so much to help my people! Six said, trying to reassure him.
But what can that do to make up for what Ive done? What can any of it do? I killed over twelve billion people! he said.
You didnt kill them Gaius, and neither did I. It was those machines that did it, manipulating me to manipulate you. It cant bring them back, but we can build a new future for them.
You know that the Colonials arent coming back here, dont you? Even with all thats been done, how can you repopulate a dozen worlds with less than fifty thousand people? It cant be done! Baltar exclaimed.
All things are possible, Gaius! You just have to have faith.
I thought that you didnt believe in God anymore! Baltar said.
Not the Cylon god, but there is a God. I dont know how to put it in terms you can understand, so all Ill say is that I believe that there is a higher power watching over us. You may or may not believe in God, but I know that He believes in you! Six said.
Well, hed better, because I have no idea why Im here and what Im doing! I should have stayed on Earth! Baltar said as he broke down into tears. Whereas before she would have scolded him for weakness, she simply held him and spoke to him softly as he fell asleep.
The next morning they began their march to the capital. This group wouldnt attack the city itself, but would gather intelligence and set up traps that would hinder the enemys response to their eventual assault, which would be less than a week from beginning. They walked down a trail through the woods, about five clicks from where they had landed.
Suddenly, gunshots rang out, and they all hit the dirt. Centurions! Theyve set up an ambush! Hit the deck! yelled out one of the special ops assigned to their group. Baltar grabbed his gun and settled in beside the first lady, who had been separated from her husband when they ducked for cover in a ditch beside the trail.
They managed to take out the three Centurions who had attacked them from a couple of small caves on the side of the hill. All clear! someone yelled, and Baltar got up with Twanissa and began to walk over to the others when Six yelled and pointed, Gaius! There!
From below, a Centurion sneaked out and walked up the hill, training his gun on the first lady. NO! Baltar yelled and pushed Twanissa down, standing over her and pointing his PPG rifle at the oncoming Centurion. Before he could aim, the Centurion opened up on him and shot him half a dozen times before Twanissa was able to take the attacker out with her rifle from her prone position.
Medic! We need a medic! Twanissa said as she tried to stem the bleeding, but she knew it was too late. Garrison, belying his age, raced over and squatted down over him. Its too late. He wont make it. Garrison said resignedly.
Mr. President! Six called out. Garrison looked over to her as she squatted down over the body. Thank you for everything! She faded away as Baltars life ran out.
On board Andromedas ship, Gina was awakened by the downloading program from Six, and she rushed out of her room and over to where the technomage was resting. Andromeda answered the door and said, What is it, Gina?
Ginas eyes were filled with tears as she said, Hes gone! Shes gone! Gaius is dead! She threw herself into the arms of Andromeda, who embraced her and soothed her as best she could.
I know, my dear. Theyre both at peace now! she said to Gina, patting her on the back and taking her over to her bed so that they could talk.
Back on Tauron, they hastily dug a grave for Baltar. He saved my life! Twanissa said shakily. He pushed me out of the way as that Centurion was taking aim at me!
Garrison nodded and said, Hopefully hell have some brivari with Londo in the afterlife, because those two were made for each other. As for those of us who are still breathing, wed better keep moving. My telepathy didnt pick them up until it was too late, but I know what to look for now, so hopefully well be able to sniff out future ambushes before they take place.
I hope so. Its too late for Baltar though. Damned shame. Twanissa said to her husband, then called out to everyone else, Cmon people, weve got some walking to do! This areas prime ambush area, so the sooner were out of here, the safer well be. Lets move! They gathered their gear and headed off towards Tauronopolis.
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