(2-91) Thirteen Chapter 91: Free At Last
Dec. 25th, 2005 12:01 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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crossoverficCross-posted to 100stories, allfandomfics, crossoverfic, bsg2003fics, fan_fiction, and my own LJ.
Thirteen
Chapter Ninety-One
Free At Last
One week later, they were in Caprica City and smashing their way deep into the city. The Centurions were more desperate than ever, because their ambushes came at them more often and the fighting was the fiercest than they had seen in this campaign. Their desperation, though, was their undoing, as their overly aggressive attacks allowed Starbucks forces to take them out on the defensive, which helped minimize their risks and maximize the Centurion losses.
The main headquarters of the Cylons in the city wasnt in the government complex anymore, but in the nearby University of Caprica campus. It was more spread out and much closer to the spaceport that they still held. The bell towers at each corner of the campus gave them a great spread of fire all around the campus area.
That was until the artillery showed up and took aim at the towers, which soon fell under the onslaught of the massive bursts of plasma from the big guns. Starbuck was sheltered in one of the dorms that they had taken away from the Cylons, along with Helo and Boomer. The Cylons, for some reason that she didnt understand, didnt use any kind of explosive rounds that the allies used. They may be able to outgun them with the pistols that morphed from their hands, but the Cylons were no match for the thermal grenades and PPG bazookas that Starbuck and her forces used.
That didnt mean that they didnt take losses. The Cylons took out troops with their ambushes, sneaking from windows and shooting up the troops as they made their way towards the college. Starbuck wanted to preserve as many buildings as she could, but she realized that if they were to get to the center of campus with most of their forces intact, she would have to sacrifice some of the dorm halls and classroom buildings in order to get her forces in position to take the scientific research center, which was where the main force of Cylons were held up.
Not all buildings were demolished, of course. They managed to get the drop on the machines with a diversion and stormed the main administrative building. After several floors of horrific close quarters battle, they had taken the building away from the Cylons and established a position upon which they could fire at the research center. The College of Arts and Sciences building was also taken, so they would have a way of firing at both sides of the center as they were making their final approach on it.
Night fell, and Starbuck ordered her troops to set up defensive positions and prepare to rest for the main assault in the morning. Starbuck, Boomer and Helo commandeered the office of the university president for their billet for the night. As luck would have it, the man who was in charge had seen fit to have three leather couches in his office, which would make for a comfortable sleep that night.
Before they could doze off, though, they had to eat. All three of them were getting sick of the rations, but ate them without complaint, as theyd need the energy for tomorrow. If I see another ration pouch with spaghetti, I think Ill scream! Helo said.
You think thats bad, I almost lost my lunch on the beef stroganoff! Boomer said.
Starbuck was chowing down on some seafood gumbo and barely able to get it down because of the intense spices. She finally gave up and offered the pouch to the others, saying, Anyone want this? If I eat any more of this crap, Ill burn a hole in my stomach!
Ah! Prudomme gumbo! This stuff is very tasty! Helo replied as he gladly took the pouch from Starbuck. I love this stuff!
Shows what kind of taste you have! I could barely gobble down my first pouch when I got it! Good thing you werent eating those before getting me pregnant! Boomer joked.
They had to duck down fast when bullets came flying in from outside, shattering the windows in the office. Frak! Boomer said as she hit the floor.
Starbuck got on the communications link to find out what the enemy was up to. Shortly thereafter, the attacking Cylons were smashed as their attempt at a nighttime ambush was thwarted in the university commons area. The Cylons tried a couple of other times to break through the allies defenses and throw them back, but each time they failed before their attacks could materialize.
The next day dawned bright and hot, and the sounds of battle greeted the rising sun. A third force had made its way into some dorm halls on the other side of the research center, so Starbuck was able to have the triangular offensive that she had wanted to launch after all. The late-arriving force distracted the enemy by throwing all its fire on that side of the building, which allowed the other two prongs of the offensive to rush the building.
Grenades and PPG blasts got them deeper into the building. Fighting was bloody and brutal as they moved from room to room and floor by floor. Starbuck, Boomer, and Helo stayed back and helped keep reinforcements from heading into the building. The enemy tried to pull Centurions from other buildings to fight back in a last ditch attempt to free the others, but, like the rest, they failed to break into the defensive perimeter.
The last dying gasp of the Cylon presence on Caprica came when the enemy somehow managed to activate a generator and use elevators to head to a previously unknown tunnel underneath the research facility. The tunnel led to a military spaceport terminal at the end of the facility. Some of them did board a couple of heavy raiders in an attempt to flee, but both were shot down before they barely broke the Caprica City skyline.
The offensive lasted through the night and into the next day before the last of the Centurions were wiped out. It ended in the mid-afternoon when the last Centurion was taken down rushing towards a Cylon heavy raider. A strange silence descended upon the city as the winds from a forthcoming thunderstorm began to whip through the city.
Its over. At least here, its over. One more planet, and weve won. Boomer said soberly as she dropped her rifle to her side and plopped down on the ground exhausted. Helo only had energy to nod and sit down beside her, leaning back beside her against the wall. Starbuck sat down cross-legged in front of them and stared at them for the longest time.
You know, when we were there in the museum, after I managed to kill off that damn Gina model that was attacking me, I never imagined that this day would happen. I figured we were done, that we were just passing time until the Cylons captured us and killed us all. Goes to show how much I know! Starbuck said.
Never imagined that it would turn out this way, thats for sure! We still have to have to take Aerelon from them, but thats just a matter of time. Helo added.
Well have to go after the Cylon homeworld if we truly want to win this war. We have to remember that! Boomer cautioned.
Starbuck sighed and said, Thats in the plans, but well need to rest our forces and secure the Colonial worlds first. But it wont be long before were moving on them!
Days later, Admiral Adama came down to tour the freed city along with former president Laura Roslin. Starbucks forces heavily guarded them both, because she wanted to be careful in case that the enemy had some Centurions still lurking around.
Gods, I knew it was bad, but I never imagined this! Roslin said after some time.
Weve been gone eight years. Theyve had this long to dig in and defend this place, so prying them out took a toll on this place. Those nukes used in the initial attacks didnt help either. Now, though, weve freed them from the Cylons. Its a start. Adama replied.
How can we live here, though? The scientists say that the radiation levels wont be safe for centuries, and the anti-radiation patches will eventually build a resistance within our bodies! Even the efforts to reduce the effects thanks to the technomages arent enough! Roslin mused sadly.
Adama nodded, So what will the Quorum do then? What can the Earth Alliance and the Interstellar Alliance do for us?
I wish I knew, Bill! The Quorum has been wrestling with this for ages, but theyve not been able to come up with a decision on the matter. But there is someone who has an idea Roslin said.
Who? Adama said.
Dee Dualla. Shes been reluctant to advance the idea, but shes told me at least. The idea is to give the Colonies to the humanoid Cylons and to allow them to breed and repopulate the worlds with our blessing. Roslin said.
Adama grunted and thought for a while before saying, A while back, I heard an interesting phrase from the Japanese culture on Earth. Shikata ga nai means there is no other choice in that language. As much as I wish we could come back to these worlds, it would be difficult even without the radiation.
Think about it. Weve created a new home on Kobol. Our people are happy there. All the old animosities from the past are starting to fade away because of present circumstances. Sagittaron and Caprican are almost indistinguishable nowadays, with the way our society is.
I know, but this is a decision for the whole of our society to make, Bill. If we dont do this right, it would just lead to future animosities between us and the human Cylons.
We just have to lay the facts out before them and let them decide then. But thats for later. Now we have to liberate Aerelon, then prepare to move on to their homeworld and defeat them once and for all. Gods know it wont be easy, but we have to do it. Adama replied.
Laura nodded and then leaned back in the seat of the transport, looking out at the view of the battered skyline of Caprica City. Tears formed in her eyes as she remembered growing up in the city, going to university, and becoming politically active, rising in the government along with her mentor, President Adar. Twelve billion had died in the holocaust, and now, finally, they were close to being avenged once and for all. But once that was done, what would become of these worlds? That decision would have to be made soon, and Roslin dreaded the debate that was to come.
Chapter Ninety-One
Free At Last
One week later, they were in Caprica City and smashing their way deep into the city. The Centurions were more desperate than ever, because their ambushes came at them more often and the fighting was the fiercest than they had seen in this campaign. Their desperation, though, was their undoing, as their overly aggressive attacks allowed Starbucks forces to take them out on the defensive, which helped minimize their risks and maximize the Centurion losses.
The main headquarters of the Cylons in the city wasnt in the government complex anymore, but in the nearby University of Caprica campus. It was more spread out and much closer to the spaceport that they still held. The bell towers at each corner of the campus gave them a great spread of fire all around the campus area.
That was until the artillery showed up and took aim at the towers, which soon fell under the onslaught of the massive bursts of plasma from the big guns. Starbuck was sheltered in one of the dorms that they had taken away from the Cylons, along with Helo and Boomer. The Cylons, for some reason that she didnt understand, didnt use any kind of explosive rounds that the allies used. They may be able to outgun them with the pistols that morphed from their hands, but the Cylons were no match for the thermal grenades and PPG bazookas that Starbuck and her forces used.
That didnt mean that they didnt take losses. The Cylons took out troops with their ambushes, sneaking from windows and shooting up the troops as they made their way towards the college. Starbuck wanted to preserve as many buildings as she could, but she realized that if they were to get to the center of campus with most of their forces intact, she would have to sacrifice some of the dorm halls and classroom buildings in order to get her forces in position to take the scientific research center, which was where the main force of Cylons were held up.
Not all buildings were demolished, of course. They managed to get the drop on the machines with a diversion and stormed the main administrative building. After several floors of horrific close quarters battle, they had taken the building away from the Cylons and established a position upon which they could fire at the research center. The College of Arts and Sciences building was also taken, so they would have a way of firing at both sides of the center as they were making their final approach on it.
Night fell, and Starbuck ordered her troops to set up defensive positions and prepare to rest for the main assault in the morning. Starbuck, Boomer and Helo commandeered the office of the university president for their billet for the night. As luck would have it, the man who was in charge had seen fit to have three leather couches in his office, which would make for a comfortable sleep that night.
Before they could doze off, though, they had to eat. All three of them were getting sick of the rations, but ate them without complaint, as theyd need the energy for tomorrow. If I see another ration pouch with spaghetti, I think Ill scream! Helo said.
You think thats bad, I almost lost my lunch on the beef stroganoff! Boomer said.
Starbuck was chowing down on some seafood gumbo and barely able to get it down because of the intense spices. She finally gave up and offered the pouch to the others, saying, Anyone want this? If I eat any more of this crap, Ill burn a hole in my stomach!
Ah! Prudomme gumbo! This stuff is very tasty! Helo replied as he gladly took the pouch from Starbuck. I love this stuff!
Shows what kind of taste you have! I could barely gobble down my first pouch when I got it! Good thing you werent eating those before getting me pregnant! Boomer joked.
They had to duck down fast when bullets came flying in from outside, shattering the windows in the office. Frak! Boomer said as she hit the floor.
Starbuck got on the communications link to find out what the enemy was up to. Shortly thereafter, the attacking Cylons were smashed as their attempt at a nighttime ambush was thwarted in the university commons area. The Cylons tried a couple of other times to break through the allies defenses and throw them back, but each time they failed before their attacks could materialize.
The next day dawned bright and hot, and the sounds of battle greeted the rising sun. A third force had made its way into some dorm halls on the other side of the research center, so Starbuck was able to have the triangular offensive that she had wanted to launch after all. The late-arriving force distracted the enemy by throwing all its fire on that side of the building, which allowed the other two prongs of the offensive to rush the building.
Grenades and PPG blasts got them deeper into the building. Fighting was bloody and brutal as they moved from room to room and floor by floor. Starbuck, Boomer, and Helo stayed back and helped keep reinforcements from heading into the building. The enemy tried to pull Centurions from other buildings to fight back in a last ditch attempt to free the others, but, like the rest, they failed to break into the defensive perimeter.
The last dying gasp of the Cylon presence on Caprica came when the enemy somehow managed to activate a generator and use elevators to head to a previously unknown tunnel underneath the research facility. The tunnel led to a military spaceport terminal at the end of the facility. Some of them did board a couple of heavy raiders in an attempt to flee, but both were shot down before they barely broke the Caprica City skyline.
The offensive lasted through the night and into the next day before the last of the Centurions were wiped out. It ended in the mid-afternoon when the last Centurion was taken down rushing towards a Cylon heavy raider. A strange silence descended upon the city as the winds from a forthcoming thunderstorm began to whip through the city.
Its over. At least here, its over. One more planet, and weve won. Boomer said soberly as she dropped her rifle to her side and plopped down on the ground exhausted. Helo only had energy to nod and sit down beside her, leaning back beside her against the wall. Starbuck sat down cross-legged in front of them and stared at them for the longest time.
You know, when we were there in the museum, after I managed to kill off that damn Gina model that was attacking me, I never imagined that this day would happen. I figured we were done, that we were just passing time until the Cylons captured us and killed us all. Goes to show how much I know! Starbuck said.
Never imagined that it would turn out this way, thats for sure! We still have to have to take Aerelon from them, but thats just a matter of time. Helo added.
Well have to go after the Cylon homeworld if we truly want to win this war. We have to remember that! Boomer cautioned.
Starbuck sighed and said, Thats in the plans, but well need to rest our forces and secure the Colonial worlds first. But it wont be long before were moving on them!
Days later, Admiral Adama came down to tour the freed city along with former president Laura Roslin. Starbucks forces heavily guarded them both, because she wanted to be careful in case that the enemy had some Centurions still lurking around.
Gods, I knew it was bad, but I never imagined this! Roslin said after some time.
Weve been gone eight years. Theyve had this long to dig in and defend this place, so prying them out took a toll on this place. Those nukes used in the initial attacks didnt help either. Now, though, weve freed them from the Cylons. Its a start. Adama replied.
How can we live here, though? The scientists say that the radiation levels wont be safe for centuries, and the anti-radiation patches will eventually build a resistance within our bodies! Even the efforts to reduce the effects thanks to the technomages arent enough! Roslin mused sadly.
Adama nodded, So what will the Quorum do then? What can the Earth Alliance and the Interstellar Alliance do for us?
I wish I knew, Bill! The Quorum has been wrestling with this for ages, but theyve not been able to come up with a decision on the matter. But there is someone who has an idea Roslin said.
Who? Adama said.
Dee Dualla. Shes been reluctant to advance the idea, but shes told me at least. The idea is to give the Colonies to the humanoid Cylons and to allow them to breed and repopulate the worlds with our blessing. Roslin said.
Adama grunted and thought for a while before saying, A while back, I heard an interesting phrase from the Japanese culture on Earth. Shikata ga nai means there is no other choice in that language. As much as I wish we could come back to these worlds, it would be difficult even without the radiation.
Think about it. Weve created a new home on Kobol. Our people are happy there. All the old animosities from the past are starting to fade away because of present circumstances. Sagittaron and Caprican are almost indistinguishable nowadays, with the way our society is.
I know, but this is a decision for the whole of our society to make, Bill. If we dont do this right, it would just lead to future animosities between us and the human Cylons.
We just have to lay the facts out before them and let them decide then. But thats for later. Now we have to liberate Aerelon, then prepare to move on to their homeworld and defeat them once and for all. Gods know it wont be easy, but we have to do it. Adama replied.
Laura nodded and then leaned back in the seat of the transport, looking out at the view of the battered skyline of Caprica City. Tears formed in her eyes as she remembered growing up in the city, going to university, and becoming politically active, rising in the government along with her mentor, President Adar. Twelve billion had died in the holocaust, and now, finally, they were close to being avenged once and for all. But once that was done, what would become of these worlds? That decision would have to be made soon, and Roslin dreaded the debate that was to come.
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