{"id":1376,"date":"2016-03-30T07:20:49","date_gmt":"2016-03-30T12:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1376"},"modified":"2016-04-02T07:31:09","modified_gmt":"2016-04-02T12:31:09","slug":"black-alpha-one-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1376","title":{"rendered":"Black Alpha One – Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Black Alpha One<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

President Angelia Series waited patiently, listening to the senators from the Middle East providence complain again. They always complained and today proved no different than any other day.\u00a0 They currently complained about the military expenditures, a favorite target of theirs, aside from snide remarks about her being a woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts not right, the military takes up too much of the budget and must be decreased, even you, a woman, must see that. After all you said it in your election speeches,\u201d Aymil said, the biggest opponent to military spending.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know I normally don\u2019t agree with him, but I do on this issue. That\u2019s why we\u2019re making this joint protest to you directly,\u201d Jarah said to her.\u00a0 \u201cThe military is weakening our economy and stunting any growth we might have gotten due to technology over the event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angie sighed, taking a deep breath and praying to God to give her patience to deal with them. \u201cGentlemen, what if another asteroid is spotted heading towards Earth?\u00a0 The last one almost completely devastated the planet.\u00a0 We cannot afford another such problem wiping us out.\u00a0 Compared to that the economy is a trivial thing,\u201d she said to them using the standard argument which she knew as wearing thin over the years.\u00a0 Talking points only got one so far, she knew it very well and had used many in her political career.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we have more than enough ships in case that happened,\u201d Aymil replied.<\/p>\n

Angie brushed back a lock of her auburn hair wondering what she might be able to say which might placate these two. Even as she pondered her situation Admiral Jack Cave walked into the room causing her to pause and feel some relief he finally showed up.\u00a0 Of course his appearance would mean either an increase in hostility or decrease, she would have to wait to see.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry I\u2019m late Madam President,\u201d Jack said respectfully, something he always was to her as he made his way over pulling out his tablet and looking at the others. \u201cI was going over the latest intel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what intel is that admiral? More information on boring planets with no life on them.\u00a0 We are alone in the universe, any intelligent person knows that,\u201d Jarah stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have no proof, and we have picked up strange signals in the direction of the black zone,\u201d Jack replied back to them.<\/p>\n

Angie knew differently but waited to see how this battle would go down.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd while you\u2019re out chasing ghost signals our economy is suffering, badly. The military spending is outrageous and we request that we decrease the size of the military to three battleships orbiting Earth.\u00a0 That should be more than sufficient to deflect any asteroid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what you\u2019re proposing?\u201d Angie asked hoping to get down to the heart of the subject.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmong other things, yes. The rest of the fleet will be mothballed, or broken up on the docks,\u201d Aymil stated.<\/p>\n

Angie gave the statement some thought before looking over at Jack who wore a closed expression. She knew at this moment the truth might actually help in this discussion but also understood the psychologists stated the population wasn\u2019t ready for the truth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take it under advisement,\u201d Angie finally said hoping it would appease them for now. \u201cYou\u2019ll have the budget numbers by the end of the week.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two senators stood and walked out, barely glancing at Jack and not even looking at her. She brushed back another lock of hair out of her face before focusing her attention back on the admiral waiting for his report.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Kiev and Seydlitz left to patrol the Black Zone, they\u2019ll be there for the next month,\u201d Jack said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take it still nothing?\u201d Angie asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, we continue to push further away from Earth,\u201d Jack said back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill no idea how long that ship was floating in space before crashing on Earth?\u201d Angie asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps its time we told the public the truth, there are already too many conspiracies out there, I get bombarded by a hundred requests a day to release information about it,\u201d Angie stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how did you react when you found out?\u201d Jack asked her. Angie frowned knowing how she reacted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought you were kidding, a way to get me to back off my election promises,\u201d Angie stated. It had taken a while before she had finally understood the real truth and he wasn\u2019t kidding her.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly, and don\u2019t forget there is an enemy of humanity out there who we don\u2019t know how far away they are,\u201d Jack said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdd in the fact conspiracy groups would have a field say with this, along with the entire thing of another group of humans out there, a mess,\u201d Angie said unsure how people would react to that.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one would believe that, except the crazy nut jobs,\u201d Jack said, even though they both knew the real truth.<\/p>\n

I just get the feeling the longer this goes on, the less people will believe it when the truth comes,\u201d Angie said, thinking back to when she ran for office.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll keep you informed if anything else happens,\u201d Jack said standing up.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing\u2019s happened before, what makes you think something will happen this time? Some divine insight you wish to share?\u201d Angie asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always prepared, boy scout motto,\u201d Jack replied to her. \u201cIts better to be ready than caught with your pants down, seen too many times in history where that happened.\u00a0 Besides, we might never know in our lifetime, or we might know in the next hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll give you that,\u201d Angie said standing up as well. \u201cHow about something to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour husband won\u2019t mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, and it\u2019ll give the press something to talk about instead of what I\u2019m wearing,\u201d Angie replied back to him. \u201cThey\u2019ve already got me cheating on him with every senator in Congress already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, let\u2019s go,\u201d Jack replied to her.<\/p>\n

They walked out of the room leaving the worries about Cylons and other pockets of humanity behind for another day.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Two centurions stood in front of the basestar commander awaiting orders.<\/p>\n

\u201cReport centurion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your command,\u201d one of the two replied. \u201cOur patrols have discovered a large fleet of humans close by.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Battlestar Galactica and the lost human fleet, we\u2019ve found them at last,\u201d the basestar commander replied, almost sounding excited about the situation. \u201cAlert the other commanders nearby, we\u2019ll coordinate an attack and eliminate the Galactica and this human threat once and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your command,\u201d the centurions said turning to carry out the orders.<\/p>\n

The commander watched the centurions walk out feeling a sense of completion to a mission on a long journey. Once the humans were finally destroyed they would no longer have to worry about them.\u00a0 They had proved to be a cunning adversary, more so than the Imperious Leader liked to saw.\u00a0 It had taken a final bluff to defeat them, but the resources proved exhausting.\u00a0 Even now the Empire spent a lot trying to find the Galactica and destroy it.<\/p>\n

The fact the single battlestar was still considered a threat signified the importance of how dangerous humans were. One single battlestar was impressive, but the commander knew it would be no match for three basestars.\u00a0 Once it was destroyed, he would be considered a hero of the Empire.<\/p>\n

He knew that there were another two basestars nearby, with such firepower he could easily overwhelm the Galactica and its defenses. Victory was all but assured.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Starbuck sat down next to Apollo, looking over at Sheba as they sat in the pilot\u2019s rec room. Everything had been quiet lately despite the persistent rumors going around in the fleet about how things were breaking down.\u00a0 Things were not that good.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill nothing I take it,\u201d Starbuck stated looking at the other two.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, last patrol came back with nothing interesting,\u201d Apollo said to him and they all knew what that meant, a combination of good and bad news.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good to me,\u2019 Starbuck said finally seeing two sets of eyes look back at him in disbelief and he quickly continued his train of thought. \u201cI mean as long as I hear nothing of the Cylons, that\u2019s good news to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCylons, yes,\u201d Sheba said quietly. \u201cMaybe we\u2019ve finally shaken them at last.\u00a0 Wish we could find my father though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf anyone could have survived that battle, it would be Commander Cain,\u201d Apollo stated after several seconds of silence. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if he showed up one day when we least expect it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d be nice, but the longer times goes on the less hope I have,\u201d Sheba replied back to him obviously thinking logically. \u201cI had some hope after meeting Count iblis, he said I\u2019d see him again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he was toying with your emotions,\u201d Starbuck said watching Sheba look back at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, you\u2019re probably right about that,\u201d she replied back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt Ilbis and Cain would have gotten along,\u201d Starbuck said thinking about the two of and what a clash of personalities it might have been. Adama and Ilbis didn\u2019t get along either but Adama was more subtle in the political game the two played.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so either,\u201d Sheba said giving a half chuckle at the thought before turning serious. \u201cDon\u2019t you two have a patrol coming up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, getting close to time to leave,\u201d Apollo stated looking over at Starbuck.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecon, want to take my spot?\u201d Starbuck asked looking back at Sheba.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlready been on patrol this week, you can handle one day,\u201d Sheba replied back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust asking, seeing if you and Apollo wanted to spend some alone time together,\u201d Starbuck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cA patrol, how romantic,\u201d Sheba replied back to him. \u201cAnd he\u2019s so talkative during a patrol.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re under orders to limit communications,\u201d Apollo said looking at the two of them. \u201cWhere\u2019s Cassie?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHad a medical case come in before she got off, and the doctor needed her for the operation,\u201d Starbuck replied as they knew such things were almost common on board now.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should probably go over the pre-flight list,\u201d Apollo said, standing up and stretching.<\/p>\n

They said bye to Sheba and headed out of the pilots room and towards the flight deck and their vipers. Starbuck hoped for another boring patrol with no sign of the Cylons.\u00a0 The commander hoped they might find some supplies, a top priority of the patrol, even more than the Cylons now.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Nick Pappas made his way over to the fighter, the Tomcat II, its name taken from the old F-14 fighters of the US Navy. Inspecting the fighter everything looked good to him as he patted the wing, which had the skill and crossbones on it, part of the squadron FX-101S, or Skull squadron as everyone else called it.\u00a0 It was what everyone used, sounded better and easier to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything look good?\u201d the crew chief, Ben, asked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, your usual high standards,\u201d Nick replied climbing up and into the tomcat as Ben handed him the helmet which helped him interface with the ships computer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey slim,\u201d a voice said, causing him to turn slightly to see James \u2018Twitch\u2019 Vanderis standing there looking up at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou my wingmate this time Twitch?\u201d Nick called out.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, you expecting someone else?\u201d Twitch asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, didn\u2019t tell me when I came down,\u201d Nick replied back to him. \u201cCome on. I\u2019ll buy you a beer when we\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re on Slim,\u201d James replied heading to his tomcat.<\/p>\n

The engines powered up as everything disconnected from the fighter. Beside him James had climbed into his fighter and it was powering up as well.\u00a0 Seconds later the flight plan was downloaded from control and after acknowledging it he had clearance for launch.<\/p>\n

Pressing down on the thruster button he felt the familiar g-forces as the fighter accelerated out of the hanger and he found himself in space. Seconds later James followed him out and lined up with him.\u00a0 Turning their vipers they headed out on their patrol, another day and another paycheck in his mind.<\/p>\n

End part 2<\/p>\n

Continued in part 3<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Black Alpha One by AJ Marks Part 2 President Angelia Series waited patiently, listening to the senators from the Middle East providence complain again. They always complained and today proved no different than any other day.\u00a0 They currently complained about the military expenditures, a favorite target of theirs, aside from snide remarks about her being […]
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