The movement of men and equipment occurred quickly. Assuras and the Colonel reported to the Admiral and captain Reeves assumed temporary command of what was now being called Toaster one. In the meantime, the doctor took charge of lieutenant Lapointe. His condition was kept quiet. Another drugged officer, especially one that was stoned during a vital mission would frak with crew mentalities and moral.
Hallis noted the disturbing trend of a drug problem aboard his ship and he found it no coincidence that there was a known dealer within his crew. In the case of Ford, the Alchemist had managed to argue his way out of trouble by noting that the former Major had a herbal substance and he had nothing natural available to him. He had been strip searched multiple times before being put in the Poseidon brig and again after the rescue by the Argus. Given the fact that a large part of their survival depended on the man, the Admiral accepted the explanation.
However the private was becoming less of a vital role as resources were replenished, and he could hardly argue that this chemical concoction was not of his design. And knowing the officer that served under his command, Hallis felt reasonably certain that unlike the former Major, this Lieutenant would have no problems telling him everything. He made a mental note that after the customary morning meeting; he was going to finish what started with Cain’s death, by hauling the dope pusher in for questioning. Strangely, the old warrior found himself looking forward to tackling this problem. He hated scumbags and as far as he was concerned tomorrow would be a good day to start garbage collection.
Tonight his plans included visiting his inebriated crewmen for confirmation of what he already knew and launching a triple raptor recon mission that he like to call, “Operation Breakfast.” Since there was now a surplus of aviation fuel available and they were near a planet called Gomorrah, they could start to gather the what they really needed, food. Gomorrah was once a colony lost to the cylons, who made it a base. Later, during the last war, 2 battlestars, one of them being the Galactica, destroyed the facility.
Although the star charts needed to be updated with actual readings, the admiral estimated that it would have taken the Poseidon 3 jumps to cover the distance from the last location.
When Reeves said they had to circumnavigate many systems to get the ship quickly into the fight, they must have accidentally created instability in the FTL engines. Luckily the first jump got them where they needed to be and more again that they didn’t disintegrate in the second. Because an unstable drive rarely results in an extended range. Instead what happens is the entire ship has its molecules scattered across the solar system.
Smirking to himself, he ended up agreeing with the doctor. The Argus is a lucky ship. After having wished the participants of the breakfast mission good hunting, the old man rounded the corner and walked into sickbay. Dr. Lewellyn greeted him at the door and informed him that lieutenant Lapointe was now conscious and lucid. Hallis scrunched up his face and walked toward his officer. He wasn’t quite certain what he was going to say to the man because his career record had been exemplary until now. Looking down at the man, he paused before he finally spoke. “You want to tell me about how it happened?”
The Lieutenant stuttered for a moment, took a deep breath and finally spoke. “It started back when I was in university. I used to use various stimulants and drugs to help me get through exams and other difficult periods. Sometimes a little nose candy can really help a person calm their nerves and focus. I guess I did a little too much this time.” The Admiral was expecting to hear that it was the lack of food and hunger pains that drove him to it. Not that he was a closet junkie. He said nothing for the moment permitted the man to continue. “I didn’t know it, but the basestar’s computer was an AI. Each time I reset the security systems it learned from me until it became like a game of chess. Finally at one point, when I had to go to the bathroom, I left the room because I didn’t want to do it in the same room I was in. My guess is I was still in within its range because one of the centurions walked up behind me when I was in the middle of reliving myself and told me it was by my command. I froze, waited for half an hour, just standing there, before it simply shut down. By then it was time to reset the system and I did a little bit to steady myself. And I guess you can figure out the rest sir.”
Admiral Hallis shook his head in understanding but only said one word. “Where?” Lapointe responded, “The alchemist.”
-----
It was always the same people for the morning command meeting, Bridgeford, Assuras, Lewellyn and Reeves. But today, he intercepted them, one at a time as they passed through C.I.C and instructed each to wait a few moments. It was close to duty shift change and he wanted to make certain when that occurred that they were all present.
As Cupcake entered the area, he once again asked to be put through on ship’s address. “Attention all personnel, this is admiral Hallis. Some of you are waking up and some of you are going to sleep. Everyone is ordered to immediately proceed to the ship’s galley. Because depending on your perspective breakfast or dinner is now being served. Now…” Hallis suddenly found himself being drowned out by the chaos of the noise.
The commotion as it grew was reflected on the individual scale in the face of Assuras. The Major’s eyes suddenly flared wide, she started to turn round to leave and then back again towards her commander, uncertain if she should wait a moment or run down to the kitchen and get in line. The old man found himself yelling as people in the command centre were suddenly abandoning their posts. “Wait! Not you guys!” He walked over to his office and opened the door and 3 men with several trays of fruits walked out. “You people still have to fly the ship. But enjoy your meal.” He then returned to the loudspeaker. “Ok, don’t make yourselves sick and don’t kill each other, there is enough for everyone. Hallis out.”
Assuring his senior officers there was more fruit in his office. The Admiral ushered them in. As she stuffed what looked like a white apple in her mouth, the Major began with the first sentiments about believing that any kind of food was at best another 72 hours away. Hallis grinned, “All of you have gone hungry long enough and we are now have a surplus of aviation fuel. I wasn’t going to make anyone wait longer without a good reason. My apologies because it’s not much more than some fruit for now.” Cramming their mouths full, Reeves and Bridgeford opted for hand gestures of appreciation. Whereas the doctor took a moment between bites to say how their systems have been without real food for some time. Everyone would have to ease into eating again. Then quickly added that the damn weird apple tasted like the nectar of the gods. Admiral Hallis grabbed another one for himself and asked if they could start the morning meeting now.
“Toaster one is old, but I still took no chances with the AI mainframe. Anything that even remotely looked like an interface to the ship systems I cut. As a further safety precaution, I had the computer physically removed from the basestar and it currently is in pieces on the floor of a storage room.”
Figuring the captain was being a bit over cautious Lewellyn shook his head. “The last cylon we thought was deactivated still managed to kill.” Reeves’ facial expression was cold and icy when he made the comment but he dropped the issue quickly and continued his report. “The basestar is old but still newer and slightly larger than this ship. Its tanks will fill both of ours and still leave hers about a 1/5 full. We have to build a transfer pump and pipe. It won’t be pretty or efficient but it will get the job done. Best guess is 96 hours to completion.”
The Admiral appeared pleased but wondered about why they were keeping the computer parts. “I intend to construct a stand alone computer for medical.” The doctor looked up and said that was a very thoughtful thing to do. The Colonel stood up with apologies that he wasn’t a battlestar expert but for lack of anyone better suited for the job; he had assumed responsibility for re-arming of the ship.
“Well the enemy vessel was packing some serious heat. Those fraking tin cans certainly like their explosives.” He paused for a moment as a thought entered his mind and then commented that the Argus didn’t have any dishes and cylon heads might make good bowls. Assuras rolled her eyes and looked at him strangely but he continued. “Hey, it was just a thought.” He shrugged. “Ok, when the Captain rescued us it was with an element of surprise. And after talking with those involved, I found out they basically pointed their guns in the general direction and pulled the triggers.
There are auto feeders but the gunnery crews are more hands on than most are used to. So a few of my men are on the job learning and developing a training procedure.” As Bridgeford sat back down, Hallis looked at him and said he agreed that they are going to need some more dinnerware. “A few old MRE trays won’t cut it. Find a couple of men that aren’t busy and have them hollow out the heads, perhaps even stamp out some cutlery and cups. And scavenge the cylon body parts for materials because that’ll be good for moral too.”
The Admiral then looked at his last two command officers and said that he didn’t believe they have too much to add at this particular meeting. But he still asked if they had anything to say. Cupcake was the first to speak and saying that even though the Argus was heavy with planes. There are a lot of cylon raiders in perfectly good shape and she was investigating options with them.
The doctor grunted that there might be some diarrhea and vomiting among various members of the crew as solid food returns to their diets. Hallis then leaned forward at his desk. “Reeves you’re free to return to Toaster one. Keep me updated on the fueling progress because as soon as possible I want to be in orbit of Gomorrah. Next, Bridgeford and I have some work to do. So Major I want you to take CIC this morning. And Colonel, go get the Alchemist and bring him back here. There are a few matters we need to discuss with our private.” Admiral Hallis then grabbed another apple and simply dismissed everyone.