Battlestar Argo
by AJ Marks
Part 68: Visions
Troy walked into the small quarters they shared with Rebecca and Nall. Mary currently was over at his parent’s quarters, probably having a good time with her adopted grand-parents. His parents had taken in Nall and Rebecca like their own, and Mary like a grand-daughter. They understood when he explained about Bri, and her inability to have children. They didn’t even flinch.
“Wondered when you get here,” Bri stated. She was lying on the second bed in the room. They had brought a second on in, and while cramped, they rarely saw the Rebecca and Nall in the room.
“It was a long day,” Troy said. “We’re set for the meeting in five hours,” Troy said.
“Let’s get some rest then,” Bri suggested. “I know you haven’t been getting enough.”
Troy wanted to argue, but found he couldn’t. She was right.
“Come on, there’s plenty of room, I’m not that big,” Bri said, patting the empty part of the bed next to her.
“All right, but only if you sleep with me as well,” Troy said. Bri had only gotten slightly more sleep than he had in the past couple of days.
Quickly changing they slipped into the small, yet comfortable bed, as Troy made sure the alarm had been set before quickly falling asleep.
*****
Troy blinked his eyes at the scene in front of him. He couldn’t make out much in the confusion. He thought he was standing on the bridge of the Argo, but the ship had taken a lot of damage. Beams were lying on the ground, crew members were lying on the ground, injured or dead, he didn’t know.
“All hands, abandon ship,” he heard Commander Ares’ voice say, quite calmly.
The scene suddenly changed to the bedroom. He sat up not sure what to think about that quick vision; at least he thought it might be a vision. It could have been a nightmare as well.
“Hey, you okay,” Bri’s sleepy voice said next to him.
“Yeah, just a dream, I think,” Troy said.
“Let’s talk about it in the morning,” Bri said.
Troy went back over what he had seen. The more he thought about it, the more he realized it had to be a vision. Everything had been too vivid for a dream. Now he wondered what would happen that would require Commander Ares to give the order to abandon ship. He had the feeling that he was there, but he wasn’t sure.
He decided to go back to sleep, and think about it when he had more sleep. Things might make more sense to him in the morning.
*****
Troy walked into the meeting room still thinking about the vision he’d had recently. Something about it disturbed him. If the Argo was destroyed, then what happens to the rest of the fleet? What about the people on board the ship, the civilians? Those questions bothered him even as he watched Colonel Tigh walk in along with Starbuck and Apollo.
Jax and Boomer walked in as well, along with Commander Gunther, and the squadron leaders of the Enterprise. Bri sat off to the side with Nall talking about something, probably something he really didn’t want to know.
Another person walked in, Troy recognized him almost right away. A council member attending a military meeting, he hoped this didn’t mean what he thought it meant.
“All right, now that everyone’s here, let’s begin,” Ares said. Everyone waited for him to continue. “The Cylons used a different strategy, suicide tactics, or as the Earthers are saying, Kamikaze attacks. The results were the destruction of the main manufacturing ships of the fleet.”
“We also lost a thousand good men and woman in that attack commander,” the council man said.
“Yes we did, but with the loss of the manufacturing ship, we’ve lost some ability to fix problems of the fleet. Supplies from Earth will take months to arrive senator,” Ares replied. “A thousand is a lot, but we might lose more if we cannot come up with additional plans for the ships, and how to avoid another such attack.”
Troy watched the bickering between the two groups. He could see where both sides were coming from, yet at the same time, both sides needed to listen to each other. He could tell by Ares’ face that the thousand people weighed heavily on him, probably as much as it would on Commander Adama. He also had the feeling that Adama would recognize the seriousness of the situation militarily and in terms of the infrastructure of the fleet.
The scene slowly changed in front of him. Voices dimmed slowly fading out till he no longer heard anyone. A new scene faded into view. He recognized a landing bay, somewhere, sometime in the future. A large group of people gathered around with everyone dressed in their dress uniforms.
He recognized Commander Adama, standing in front of the group, addressing everyone. He couldn’t make out any word though but he could tell from the sorrow filling the room something had happened. Scanning the crowd he noticed a few familiar faces, Bri, Jax, even Nall and Rebecca.
As quickly as the scene faded in it faded out. The conversation between the council members and Commander Ares returned.
“I will agree with you for now Commander Ares. We’ll begin construction on a new ship, but we’ll need your help as many of our skilled workers were killed on board the ship,” the council man said.
Troy blinked a bit. He’d missed almost the entire discussion on what they were going to do. The vision didn’t last much longer than a few minutes. The discussion had to have taken longer than that, right? He glanced over at the rest of the group. Everyone appeared in agreement with the two men. He’d wait until later to talk to Ares about what happened.
“Commander Ares to the bridge,” the communicator said.
“I can take this if you want,” Troy said.
“No, we’re done here, right?” Ares said, looking at the council men.
“Yes, I think we’ve got everything ironed out,” the council man said.
Troy watched Commander Ares walk out of the meeting room. Troy decided the best bet would be to talk with his father. He might have some insight to the vision, or even if he should say anything. His father understood the destruction of the colonies would come, but hadn’t said anything. Then he could talk to Ares, maybe?
“Gentlemen, I’ll talk to you all later than,” Troy said, getting up himself.
“Of course,” one man said.
Leaving the meeting room he headed straight towards his old quarters. He was sure that his parents would be there.
*****
He knocked on the door instead of ringing the bell. Mary would probably be sleeping and didn’t want to disturb her. He only had to wait a few seconds until the door opened.
“Troy, what are you doing here?” his mother said.
“Um, looking for dad, is he here?” Troy asked.
“Right here,” his father said walking up to the door.
“I think I need to talk with you,” Troy said.
“All right, let’s head to the rec room, we can talk better in there than here,” his father said.
Troy thought about that, sure there’d be people there, but finding a quiet place would be hard on board a battlestar that already had been filled to capacity.
They walked into the rec room with Troy glancing around to see who was in there. He actually felt a bit relieved when he didn’t see any friends. Walking to an empty table away from the others Troy looked over at his dad.
“Well, it’s obvious something’s bothering you. Did you have a vision?” his father asked.
“You had visions of the destruction of the Colonies?” Troy asked. He noticed the question took his father back a bit, even a bit of remorse in his eyes showed through.
“Yes, I did,” his father replied. “I thought about telling someone, but I had no idea the amount of destruction, only that our home-world would be destroyed, but I wasn’t even sure by what. I had nothing about the other eleven, or the fleet.”
“I see,” Troy said.
“I take it you’ve had a vision, a powerful one,” his father said.
“Yeah,” Troy said. “The Argo, at least I think it’s the Argo, it’s going to be destroyed.”
“What happened?”
“Well, I saw the bridge, it was a mess. Beams down all over, power outages, sparks, even a fire, I think. Then Commander Ares orders all hands to abandon ship. Since leaving the colonies the only ship Ares had commanded has been the Argo,” Troy said.
“Hmm, I can see why the vision would be powerful, you’ve spent a lot of time on board this ship,” his father said. “There’s a relationship between where you spend your time, and your visions. What you see, is the Argo, unless you’re being transferred soon?”
“No, just got promoted to Colonel of the Argo,” Troy replied.
“Well, what, that’s great news, and you didn’t tell us?” his father said.
“It happened recently, and with everything going on, I guess it slipped my mind,” Troy said.
“Well, I will say this, my vision of the Colonies happened almost six yahrens ago. Some visions take a long time to happen, others will occur in days. They are fluid, like water, hard to hold yet in mass can overwhelm everything,” his father explained. “If you allow yourself to become bogged down in this vision, it will consume you. Instead go with the flow, look for the small signs, when that happens, a small decision can change everything.”
Troy thought about that as his father got up and left. He could change the vision, maybe a bit, not a lot but a little bit.
*****
Bri watched the latest fighter pilots training. They had received the group from the refugee ships. According to Apollo they never had a shortage of people wanting to join, but space and fighters. With shipments of extra vipers from Earth they’d need pilots to man them.
So far working with these new recruits had been vastly different than recruits from Earth. The Colonials already understood what the stakes were. They had lived though it already, seen the destruction the Cylons caused first hand. The biggest problem, they wanted revenge.
“So, these new vipers, are they really that much better? I thought we got away from missiles a long time ago,” one said. Bri noticed the man had to be from Gemini.
“We did, but the Earthers have improved the technology beyond what we ever did,” Bri said. “Though remember many battlestars are equipped with Solimite missiles to combat basestars.”
She watched the group absorb that bit of information before continuing on.
“The eights are more than just adding missiles to the hulls. They have improved computers, targeting systems, and more advanced thruster controls than the mark twos,” Bri said.
“As you can imagine, this gives increased maneuverability over the Cylons. The eights also have the added advantage of stealth metal, or S-Metal. For now, this gives us an advantage over the Cylons previously never before enjoyed,” Nall said.
“At the moment, they are the peak fighter of the fleet, however the fleet cannot manufacture the eights, so you will be equipped with twos. There will be slight modifications, missiles will be equipped with the mark IIb,” Bri said.
She noticed a slight mummer at that piece of information. A new weapon to use against the Cylons. She understood that, she felt the same way the first time engaging the Cylons with the fleet from Earth. A tactical advantage the Colonials never had before.
With new recruits, and fighters they’d be able to protect the fleet and keep a better eye on the Cylons.
*****
Ares glanced around the bridge of the Argo. Somehow over the years the ship had become his home. Other ships were more powerful, spacious, and better armed, but this was his home.
Family and friends on board sometimes made the warship more than a warship, but a city, a community where families settled. He knew the dangers of having families on the ship. However, since the first birth on board when the ship was on the first mission to find Earth, there seemed to be the atmosphere of family on the ship.
In that sense, he’d gone against everything the Earthling’s military stood for. Allowing children on board a warship caused a stir, but he had final say on the Argo, no one else. And when it came to his ship, he wasn’t afraid to throw his weight around.
He noticed Troy standing on the bridge looking a bit odd, as if something was wrong. Walking over he waited a few seconds.
“Everything all right?” he asked.
“Huh, oh, thinking, that’s all,” Troy replied.
“Must be some heavy thoughts for a face like that,” Ares replied.
“Nothing too much right now. I’m still trying to work it though myself,” Troy said. “Some visions but nothing makes much sense other than I get the sense that it’s sad, and happy at the same time.”
“So, you’ve had more than one,” Ares asked. He really knew Troy long enough that his visions, especially the more powerful ones should be heeded.
“Yeah, lately I’ve had them in multiple places, and, well, it’s the Argo,” Troy said.
“The Argo,” Ares asked. Now Troy had piqued his curiosity. “What’s happened?”
“It’s going to be in a fight, and you’ll call for the ship to be abandoned,” Troy said.
Ares felt a bit sadden upon hearing that. The Argo meant a lot to him. To hear it might be destroyed, he wanted to do anything to prevent that.
“Any clues, we might be able to prevent it,” Ares said.
“Nothing solid yet, I talked with my father, he says we can change the future, if we know enough. I’ve never known enough before to understand, but this one, I’m trying to figure out. When I do, I’ll let you know,” Troy said.
Before Ares could reply cries of ‘Uncle Ares’ rang across the room. Ares turned to see Mary running towards him. He quickly reached down as she arrived picking her up.
“What are you doing Marie?” Ares asked.
“I’m not Marie,” Mary said, with a slight giggle. “I’m Mary.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Ares said, grinning at the girl. “Are you being good?”
“Uh-huh,” Mary replied, nodding her head turning and seeing Troy standing there. “Uncle Twoy.”
Ares chuckled slightly. Mary still had a hard time pronouncing Troy’s name. He knew the conversation he and Troy had would have to continue, but now rally wasn’t the time. He looked over watching Rebecca walk onto the bridge. He noticed that Mary suddenly grew slightly still.
“Mary,” Rebecca said, in the tone all mother’s use to indicate someone would soon be in trouble. “What did I tell you?”
Ares felt Mary shrug, still not saying anything.
“Didn’t I say to wait for me?”
“Uh-huh,” Mary replied quietly.
Ares opened his mouth only to shut it again from the look Rebecca gave him.
“I asked you to wait for me before heading to the bridge. Uncle Ares could be in important discussions,” Rebecca told her.
Ares watched Mary give her mother the puppy-dog eyes. He had a thought of how similar she looked to Nall. Thoughts of Nall on the long trip from the Colonies to Earth came to mind and how he used that look to persuade many of the women on board. It seemed all succumbed to his charm except Bri. That voyage now seemed so long ago.
“All right,” Rebecca said, taking Mary from him. “She didn’t interrupt anything?”
“No, nothing important at the moment,” Troy said before Ares could. “Nothing that can’t wait.”
“Everything all right,” Rebecca asked. Ares noticed she looked between he and Troy with a curious expression on her face.
“Everything’s fine,” Ares said. “Relax.”
“All right, say good-night Mary, it’s your bedtime,” Rebecca said.
Ares waited while Mary said goodnight. He knew that a lot of people had different schedules, which seemed strange at first. To be on twenty-four hour alert though the staggered schedules had started. Amazingly people adapted rather quickly when they didn’t have a normal ‘day’ like they did on a planet.
“Sleep tight,” Ares told Mary who said good-night to Troy before Rebecca left the bridge.
Ares turned back to Troy, something bothered him, and that bothered Ares. He figured he defiantly would need to talk more about what Troy had seen.
“Maybe we should go to my office and talk about this,” Ares finally suggested. He watched Troy think about that for a few seconds before finally replying that he would. Ares told the crew to report anything unusual to him, and that he would be in his office.
*****
Troy watched Ares sit down behind his desk. The same desk that had left the colonies, made of a similar wood as oak on Earth. He knew Ares would want to know as much as possible, yet he really didn’t have much to tell.
“So, what do you see, anything that might be useful,” Ares asked.
“Nothing much, the Argo’s been damaged, the bridge is wrecked,” Troy said, thinking about the scene. “I’m also assuming that we’re fighting the Cylons, but where or when I have no idea.”
“What about the fleet,” Ares asked.
Troy had thought about that, if the Argo was destroyed what would happened to the fleet? “I don’t know. Thinking about it though, I don’t remember hearing anything about the fleet, or any other ships.”
“It might have been destroyed in the battle,” Ares said.
“Yeah, could be, you do order the ship evacuated though,” Troy said.
“Doesn’t make any sense,” Ares said. Troy watched him think for a few seconds before saying anything else. “Normal procedure of evacuation is only if the escape pods can be picked up by human ships.”
“To avoid being used as shields,” Troy replied, shaking his head. He forgot that part of the procedure. “So there might be other ships, or warships nearby.”
“And we might not be losing, but winning the battle,” Ares said.
Troy had yet to think of the battle that way. He sat back to think about that for a few more seconds. If they were winning then why would the Argo be in such bad shape?
“It’s possible, but the damage sounds like there’s something else going on.
“Hmm, well, we really can’t play this game softly if want to win,” Ares said. “If we jump at each battle thinking this is the battle the Argo’s destroyed in then we’ll have lost the edge we currently have.”
“There is another vision, I think it’s a funeral,” Troy said. “Commander Adama’s there proceeding over it,” Troy said. “I know I’m there, as is Bri, but aside from that, I don’t’ know.”
“Hmm, anything else about it,” Ares asked.
“Only that there’s a sadness yet a joy at the same time, it’s confusing,” Troy replied.
“Interesting,” Ares said.
Troy watched as Ares leaned back in his chair to think about it. He didn’t quite know what to think about it either.
“I hope I get more info on this, I know I’d appreciate it,” Troy said finally.
“Well, you’re learned to control this a bit against Count Ilbis,” Ares said.
“Yes, but that was against a person already trained in such abilities, I think,” Troy said. That battle still haunted him slightly. During that moment his abilities had increased beyond anything he’d ever known. “I’m still not sure if I was in control.”
“What do you mean?”Ares asked.
“I’ve read and heard from the Galactica that there is another faction, the Ships of Light. They appear to have similar abilities. It’s possible they, briefly, enhanced my abilities to fight Ilbis on a level playing field,” Troy said. “Since that moment I’ve never been able to summon that power again.”
“Well, perhaps we shouldn’t dwell on this,” Ares said.
“I’m trying on to, but it does bug me a bit,” Troy replied. “It’s the power of this vision, and that something has happened, something very important.”
“Well, have your visions ever been totally exact?” Ares asked.
“Well, no, they vary, the slight changes of time and decisions can occur,” Troy said.
“Well, then maybe it’s not exactly what you see then,” Ares said.
“Maybe, we’ll see,” Troy said.
“Keep me informed if anything else happens, or you see something that might help us identify what’s going on,” Ares said. “I’d hate to lose the Argo.”
“I know sir, its home to many of us,” Troy replied. He had the feeling though that the destruction of the Argo was, well, enivatible.
“So, how do you like being a Colonel?” Ares asked finally.
“It’s a bit different, guess I’ll have to get used to it,” Troy said. He’d been a fighter pilot though out his career that to no longer be in one seemed a bit different.
“I know what you mean,” Ares said. “I can still remember my first time.”
*****
Ares stepped onto the bridge of the battlestar Pacifica feeling a bit nervous. Sure he’d been a squadron commander, and flight commander, but this time, he stepped onto the bridge as a colonel. Already Commander Backus stood waiting for him.
“Ares, come on over here,” Backus said.
Ares walked over to where the commander stood.
“Now, I want to relax, you’re a natural leader, even Cain sees that. Allow yourself time and I think you’ll rival Cain as well in military prowess,” Backus said. “Imagine that, Cain and Ares, a one two punch. Maybe then we’ll finally be able to make the council see the truth of the war.”
“And what truth is that commander?” Ares asked, unsure of what type of reply he’d get.
“That the Cylons are beatable, but to beat them, we cannot simply conquer them,” Backus said.
“You mean we have to completely destroy them,” Ares said.
“Exactly,” Backus said. “Cain told me that yahrens ago, and it’s the one thing I still remember to this day.”
“I’ll try not to disappoint you sir,” Ares said.
“I have a feeling you won’t,” Backus said. “Cain said the same thing when he became a colonel, and we know how he’s doing.”
Ares nodded. Cain already had the status of legend even at the young age.
“Well, I’ll let you take us out then, and head for the fleet.” Backus said.
“Yes sir,” Ares said, turning to the bridge and giving out the orders to bring the engines up to power and set the course.
*****
Troy looked over at Ares after he’d finished talking. Commander Cain had thought highly of Ares. That had to be why he’d been chosen for the mission to Earth.
“Sounds like you know Commander Cain quite well?” Troy said.
“My first squadron leader,” Ares replied. “I had often wondered why he took me in, but after talking with Commander Backus I understood. He saw himself in me. Of course now that I know better, I found out he’d take recruits from training that best matched him personality wise.”
“Is that a good thing, too many egos could destroy a squad,” Troy said.
“Death tempers that ego a bit,” Ares said. “But yeah, we were cocky, and arrogant, and the best squadron in the fleet.”
Troy recalled what he knew of Commander Cain’s squadron. It had redefined many tactics.
“I think, no, I know Bri would have made into that squadron for sure,” Ares said.
“She only came here because of Nall,” Troy said recalling a conversation so long ago.
“Good thing too, I know of few who could have trained our viper pilots so well,” Ares said.
“Her skills are unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Troy said, not wanting to say too much.
“Unlike anything, Hades, she’s probably the best viper pilot in recent history,” Ares said. “And remember, I flew with some of the best. She’d have done well in our squadron.”
“Don’t let her hear that though,” Troy said. “It might go to her head.”
“I think she already knows that, but she also knows one slip, a lucky shot can overcome skill,” Ares said. “That was something many others didn’t have and I think that’s what will keep her alive for a long time to come.”
“Well, I hope so,” Troy said. “I have retirement plans that involve her.”
They shared a laugh.
“I think you’ll do fine Troy, and we’ll keep a close watch on your visions,” Ares said.
Troy nodded, hoping he misread the vision.
End part 68