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crossoverficCross-posted to 100stories, crossoverfic, allfandomfics, bsg2003fics, fan_fiction, and my own LJ.
Thirteen
Chapter Eighty-Three
Apollos Journey
Apollo slipped the hood over his head as the rain started coming down and glared over at Staff Sergeant Angle, who smiled and shrugged at his commander. Never said I was a meteorologist! Angle said with a chuckle. Apollo shook his head and was about to call for a halt to give his troops a ten-minute break when bullets started flying through the air. The experienced troops hit the dirt and dug in, searching around to find who was shooting at them.
A GROPOS, short for ground pounder, shouted out in pain, and Angle called out, Drinkwater, you hit?
Nah, Sarge! Just hit my fragging nuts on a rock when I hit the dirt! the Native American called back as he grimaced in pain. He managed to right himself and ready his rifle for the oncoming forces.
Ouch! Angle said as he lay beside Apollo. Ive done that a time or two! Anybody know where theyre coming from?
From that terrace on the side of the hill, sir! called out Bambi Bubblegum Holden. She had the looks of a supermodel but the grit and guts of a hardened veteran, and was a hell of a demolitions expert as well. She got her name from being able to put an entire bulk package of bubblegum in her mouth, which led the grunts to secretly wonder what else could go in there. You want me to fry those bastards with some thermal grenades?
Go ahead, Bubblegum! Let those tin cans have it! replied Angle. Bubblegum took out her grenade launcher and loaded it with high-explosive thermal grenades. She dug out a little rut to lay her launcher on the edge of the foxhole she had made and scoped out three Centurions heading off the terrace and down the hill towards them. She locked on the middle one and fired, catching the Cylon right in the chest and blowing him up along with the other two, who were caught up in the explosion as well as the flying debris from the middle Cylon
The Centurions still on the ridge swung their fire Bubblegums way, and she called out, Sarge, I need some cover fire!
Hang in there, honey! Sakimoto, get your guys to draw their fire! Angle cried out.
The Japanese corporal ordered his troops to fire at the Cylons, which provoked the Cylons to swing their fire his way. Angle waited for Bubblegum to open up on them again, but her pit stayed silent. Bambi? he called out to no answer. He turned to Apollo and said, Cover me! Im going over there! Apollo swung his rifle at the Cylons and opened up on them, distracting them from Angle as he left the foxhole to go over to Bubblegums position. Apollo kept it up, hoping the plucky young woman was okay, but fearing the worst. When he heard Angle scream out, his worst fears were confirmed. Angle pushed the body out of the way and took up the launcher and shot grenade after grenade at the terrace, causing a series of explosions that took out the remaining ambushers.
When the firing ceased, Apollo hopped out of his foxhole and sprinted over to Bubblegums position. Angle held her as her eyes looked up to the heavens, with a perfect bullet hole right between them. Bullet must have gone right through the dirt. Hope she never knew what hit her. Angle said sorrowfully.
Gods go with her! Apollo said softly. Angle nodded and ordered some medics to take her back to base camp, where her body would be shipped back home. Thats the damned thing about this job! Losing good people like herApollo shook his head.
Yeah. Angle said absently. Hell, I hate losing the jackasses and morons, now when I think about it! He looked over to the troops and yelled out, Form up and move out! Wed better wait a little while before taking a break until were clear of this position. No one argued or even grumbled, as they were still a little rattled by the attack.
The rain subsided as the sun began to set in the west, and Apollo called for a halt for the night. Angle supervised setting up a defensive perimeter and a watch detail, then sat down beside Apollo and broke out his mess kit. Ive had beef stew so much in these rations that I cant even stand my moms stuff anymore, and she makes some damned fine beef stew! Angle said.
I never had the chance to ask you where you were from. Apollo replied.
San Antonio, Texas. Its a big city out in the western part of North America, and a damn fine one if I do say so myself. My dads familys originally from Mexico centuries ago, and have been living there since before Texas seceded from the Mexicans. My moms originally from Alabama, and her family has been there since they were shipped over from Africa back in the 1800s. Hell, Ive got so many different ethnicities throughout my familys history that its amazing! Angle shook his head and continued. My wifes familys been there forever too, but shes got a motley mix of Swedish, Russian, Japanese, Thai, Egyptian, Greek, and so much else. They used to call the old United States the melting pot and were living proof of it.
Got any kids? Apollo asked.
Ive got eight of them, man! I made damn good time of my extended leaves, thats for sure! Angle laughed as he said it. Four sons and four daughters, from seventeen to nine. My mom and dad are both retired, so they baby-sit and my wife works as an accountant, so theyll be okay financially should I meet a bullet in the wrong way. You got a wife?
Nah, but I am engaged. I made her a promise to marry her once this is all over with. Apollo said, thinking of Dee.
You best keep that promise, you hear? Ive seen too many guys and gals who made promises like that and not be able to keep them, and Id rather not see another, if its all the same to you. Angle replied solemnly. Apollo nodded, getting the meaning of what was said and taking it to heart.
Angle continued by saying, Ive seen too much in my years, man. I started out just before Santiago got killed. I had to put up with all the crap that Clark put out and managed to get through the whole civil war back home. It was bad, man. When things finally went down, we had to storm Washington, DC with Hollifield and his forces to get rid of Clarks protin the White House. Not exactly spirit lifting to have to storm the place where presidents have lived for almost half a millennium.
I kind of guessed youve seen a lot. I could tell it from your eyes. Apollo said.
Angle looked at him as he chewed more of the unappetizing beef stew and said after he swallowed, Youve got a similar look. Not quite the same, but youll probably have it by the time this is all over with.
How do you deal with all of this? Apollo asked.
Angle shrugged and said, You just do, man. You just do. Ive seen men and women die a lot in my career, and it always hurts. He shook his head as he remembered Bubblegum. She had such a great future, too. She was going to go back to college and go into teaching when her tour of duty was over. Now shes dead, and her husband and two daughters back in Florida are probably just getting the news.
I cant imagine what itd be like to almost lose it all, though. What you folks have been through, man! I cant imagine what it would be like if we ever lost Earth! Weve come close a couple of times during my time in the Corps. The plague years were especially difficult, because I was on Earth and didnt expect to make it. But we did, thanks to Hollifield.
You must look up to him, I take it?
Angle nodded and went on, Hes been the best thing that could have happened to Earth after the civil war. I served with him during the telepath war. When have you ever seen a vice-president fighting side by side with you? Thats what Hollifield did. Hes not one of those who stayed behind the lines and led, but went right at the enemy. Hes just like Sheridan, in a way. Weve been blessed with some damn fine leaders, thats for sure!
As they marched on the next day, getting ever closer to Leopylae, Apollo and the troops grew ever more cautious, anticipating ambushes as they neared the capital. Despite their caution, they were attacked twice in skirmishes that cost them three dead and five wounded. However, they managed to sneak up on a Centurion position where a couple of score of the mechanical robots were based and wiped them out with hardly any return fire. They used the positions own defensive systems to beat back a counteroffensive that night.
Apollo and Angle managed to get a little bit of sack time before the dawn broke on the next morning, and they prepared the troops for the final march onto the capital. They checked in with the other forces converging on the city, and were happy to learn that they hadnt taken any heavy losses at all. They had been diminished because of the attacks, but not nearly enough to force them to retreat. They would march to the outskirts that night, then rest before making the final push into the city the next day.
Chapter Eighty-Three
Apollos Journey
Apollo slipped the hood over his head as the rain started coming down and glared over at Staff Sergeant Angle, who smiled and shrugged at his commander. Never said I was a meteorologist! Angle said with a chuckle. Apollo shook his head and was about to call for a halt to give his troops a ten-minute break when bullets started flying through the air. The experienced troops hit the dirt and dug in, searching around to find who was shooting at them.
A GROPOS, short for ground pounder, shouted out in pain, and Angle called out, Drinkwater, you hit?
Nah, Sarge! Just hit my fragging nuts on a rock when I hit the dirt! the Native American called back as he grimaced in pain. He managed to right himself and ready his rifle for the oncoming forces.
Ouch! Angle said as he lay beside Apollo. Ive done that a time or two! Anybody know where theyre coming from?
From that terrace on the side of the hill, sir! called out Bambi Bubblegum Holden. She had the looks of a supermodel but the grit and guts of a hardened veteran, and was a hell of a demolitions expert as well. She got her name from being able to put an entire bulk package of bubblegum in her mouth, which led the grunts to secretly wonder what else could go in there. You want me to fry those bastards with some thermal grenades?
Go ahead, Bubblegum! Let those tin cans have it! replied Angle. Bubblegum took out her grenade launcher and loaded it with high-explosive thermal grenades. She dug out a little rut to lay her launcher on the edge of the foxhole she had made and scoped out three Centurions heading off the terrace and down the hill towards them. She locked on the middle one and fired, catching the Cylon right in the chest and blowing him up along with the other two, who were caught up in the explosion as well as the flying debris from the middle Cylon
The Centurions still on the ridge swung their fire Bubblegums way, and she called out, Sarge, I need some cover fire!
Hang in there, honey! Sakimoto, get your guys to draw their fire! Angle cried out.
The Japanese corporal ordered his troops to fire at the Cylons, which provoked the Cylons to swing their fire his way. Angle waited for Bubblegum to open up on them again, but her pit stayed silent. Bambi? he called out to no answer. He turned to Apollo and said, Cover me! Im going over there! Apollo swung his rifle at the Cylons and opened up on them, distracting them from Angle as he left the foxhole to go over to Bubblegums position. Apollo kept it up, hoping the plucky young woman was okay, but fearing the worst. When he heard Angle scream out, his worst fears were confirmed. Angle pushed the body out of the way and took up the launcher and shot grenade after grenade at the terrace, causing a series of explosions that took out the remaining ambushers.
When the firing ceased, Apollo hopped out of his foxhole and sprinted over to Bubblegums position. Angle held her as her eyes looked up to the heavens, with a perfect bullet hole right between them. Bullet must have gone right through the dirt. Hope she never knew what hit her. Angle said sorrowfully.
Gods go with her! Apollo said softly. Angle nodded and ordered some medics to take her back to base camp, where her body would be shipped back home. Thats the damned thing about this job! Losing good people like herApollo shook his head.
Yeah. Angle said absently. Hell, I hate losing the jackasses and morons, now when I think about it! He looked over to the troops and yelled out, Form up and move out! Wed better wait a little while before taking a break until were clear of this position. No one argued or even grumbled, as they were still a little rattled by the attack.
The rain subsided as the sun began to set in the west, and Apollo called for a halt for the night. Angle supervised setting up a defensive perimeter and a watch detail, then sat down beside Apollo and broke out his mess kit. Ive had beef stew so much in these rations that I cant even stand my moms stuff anymore, and she makes some damned fine beef stew! Angle said.
I never had the chance to ask you where you were from. Apollo replied.
San Antonio, Texas. Its a big city out in the western part of North America, and a damn fine one if I do say so myself. My dads familys originally from Mexico centuries ago, and have been living there since before Texas seceded from the Mexicans. My moms originally from Alabama, and her family has been there since they were shipped over from Africa back in the 1800s. Hell, Ive got so many different ethnicities throughout my familys history that its amazing! Angle shook his head and continued. My wifes familys been there forever too, but shes got a motley mix of Swedish, Russian, Japanese, Thai, Egyptian, Greek, and so much else. They used to call the old United States the melting pot and were living proof of it.
Got any kids? Apollo asked.
Ive got eight of them, man! I made damn good time of my extended leaves, thats for sure! Angle laughed as he said it. Four sons and four daughters, from seventeen to nine. My mom and dad are both retired, so they baby-sit and my wife works as an accountant, so theyll be okay financially should I meet a bullet in the wrong way. You got a wife?
Nah, but I am engaged. I made her a promise to marry her once this is all over with. Apollo said, thinking of Dee.
You best keep that promise, you hear? Ive seen too many guys and gals who made promises like that and not be able to keep them, and Id rather not see another, if its all the same to you. Angle replied solemnly. Apollo nodded, getting the meaning of what was said and taking it to heart.
Angle continued by saying, Ive seen too much in my years, man. I started out just before Santiago got killed. I had to put up with all the crap that Clark put out and managed to get through the whole civil war back home. It was bad, man. When things finally went down, we had to storm Washington, DC with Hollifield and his forces to get rid of Clarks protin the White House. Not exactly spirit lifting to have to storm the place where presidents have lived for almost half a millennium.
I kind of guessed youve seen a lot. I could tell it from your eyes. Apollo said.
Angle looked at him as he chewed more of the unappetizing beef stew and said after he swallowed, Youve got a similar look. Not quite the same, but youll probably have it by the time this is all over with.
How do you deal with all of this? Apollo asked.
Angle shrugged and said, You just do, man. You just do. Ive seen men and women die a lot in my career, and it always hurts. He shook his head as he remembered Bubblegum. She had such a great future, too. She was going to go back to college and go into teaching when her tour of duty was over. Now shes dead, and her husband and two daughters back in Florida are probably just getting the news.
I cant imagine what itd be like to almost lose it all, though. What you folks have been through, man! I cant imagine what it would be like if we ever lost Earth! Weve come close a couple of times during my time in the Corps. The plague years were especially difficult, because I was on Earth and didnt expect to make it. But we did, thanks to Hollifield.
You must look up to him, I take it?
Angle nodded and went on, Hes been the best thing that could have happened to Earth after the civil war. I served with him during the telepath war. When have you ever seen a vice-president fighting side by side with you? Thats what Hollifield did. Hes not one of those who stayed behind the lines and led, but went right at the enemy. Hes just like Sheridan, in a way. Weve been blessed with some damn fine leaders, thats for sure!
As they marched on the next day, getting ever closer to Leopylae, Apollo and the troops grew ever more cautious, anticipating ambushes as they neared the capital. Despite their caution, they were attacked twice in skirmishes that cost them three dead and five wounded. However, they managed to sneak up on a Centurion position where a couple of score of the mechanical robots were based and wiped them out with hardly any return fire. They used the positions own defensive systems to beat back a counteroffensive that night.
Apollo and Angle managed to get a little bit of sack time before the dawn broke on the next morning, and they prepared the troops for the final march onto the capital. They checked in with the other forces converging on the city, and were happy to learn that they hadnt taken any heavy losses at all. They had been diminished because of the attacks, but not nearly enough to force them to retreat. They would march to the outskirts that night, then rest before making the final push into the city the next day.
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