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New Caprica
26:00
Ιουνιος (Iounios) - month six of occupation
The explosion could be heard from Laura's tent on the far side of the settlement. A thunderous shaking of the earth partnered to a fiery plume of rock and white hot ash - it climbed up toward the sky, fire bursting fourth sporadically from beneath the blackness. People stepped out from their tents or stopped in the streets - all eyes focused on the ridge behind the settlement.
"What's going on?" said Adama still inside the tent. Laura didn't respond, only watched as the dark cloud clawed its way to the first layers of atmosphere, secondary explosions now coming thick and fast. "Gods - what the frak is that?" he emerged from the tent to stand next to her.
Everyone stood there - just watching, mouths agape at the growing wall of fire.
Somewhere far off men were shouting and screaming. The Chief, half buried, struggled free of the rubble to search for his workers. There was no air - only hot, choking fallout, the heat still radiating down from the fireball above. "Move!" he shouted, stumbling in the eerie red landscape under the cloud, "Move!"
Bill and Laura stood with everyone else, lost for action. It wasn't until the debris began to return to New Caprica's surface that people really panicked.
"Laura watch out!" Bill pulled her back - the two of them falling over each other, into the tent. The unique sound of rock smacking into mud filled their senses. The loudness was unbelievable.
Laura found her world to be completely black. She froze in confusion for a moment before she realised that the Admiral was lying on top of her - protecting her from the chaos. He rolled off gently - clearly needing a second to recover from the exertion.
"Admiral!" Laura sat up then crawled over to where Bill had let out a painful groan, his hands held to his chest.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." he lied as his old injury stung beyond his pain tolerance level. "Just - give me a minute."
She nodded, assessing that he was not badly hurt. Laura tried standing, her head colliding with heavy tent canvas. She ducked back down, tilting her gaze to find the front half of her tent collapsed.
"That was close." Adama shifted onto his side, then onto his knees.
"You're not wrong."
Together they managed to make it out of the tent, thank the gods it wasn't on fire - the heavy rain at noon a grace for once. Perhaps it was the steady fading light of dusk, or the three moons glittering overhead serving as a backlight - whatever it was, the blaze was spectacularly beautiful in a morbidly fascinating way. "Oh my gods - " Laura held the remains of the tent, "that's the mining camp."
"Come on." Adama grabbed hold of her hand and started to lead her through the ruined settlement, dust now raining down rendering everyone a monotonous grey.
"Where are we going Admiral?"
"To find out what's going on."
*~*
Laura and Adama made it easily to the Admiral's Raptor. It was undamaged, the crew standing outside watching the spectacular event unfold.
"Sir, Ma'am." said a young Lieutenant as they approached - two more men turned and came to attention. They had managed to escape the majority of the fallout, you could tell by their degree of 'grayness'.
"Report." Adama came to rest, Laura not far behind.
"I don't know sir."
"Anything over the transmission?"
The man shook his head. "Nothing sir."
"Must be too early." he said, turning to Roslin.
"Will you and the President be returning to Galactica?" Laura wasn't sure if it was a slip of tongue by the young man - or a purposely defiant comment against Baltar's government. Either way, she found herself surprised by the sudden and unexpected use of her title.
"Madame President?" The Admiral extended the invitation to join him, the Lieutenant seemed to have started a trend.
"I - " she watched the cloud, now past its peak intensity, drift lazily above the land - imposing even in its death. There were so many people - reasons she shouldn't leave - the young child for one, Maya had taken her for an afternoon walk during the Admiral's meeting - goodness knows what could have happened to them out in the open.
Standing there though, in front of the waiting Raptor - Laura felt what she thought she never would again. It was like something from a memory, something she had forgotten for too long. All of the men stood, eyes fixed on her with respect - hope. "I - if you would be so kind."
The Admiral stepped aside as the Lieutenant helped her up into the ship - and in that moment, though layers of New Caprica hid all visible evidence, she became the President all over again.
*~*
The mining site was devastated - the Chief stood in front of a group of tired and injured men. Most of them were not recognizable by sight, their features completely concealed under the black soot and shreds of fabric left behind from their uniforms. Some were bleeding, most were clutching some part of their body in pain - the very act of standing a stretch of their will.
The Chief stumbled down the group, counting. Forty-Eight. Twelve were missing.
He knew already that this disaster was likely a human error. His men were tired - hungry, sick and overworked. Baltar's regime had been criticized for the relentless stress it placed upon the union - now the union had been given a hand to win them all.
*~*
Laura sat opposite the Admiral in the Raptor, both of them looking as if they'd survived another apocalypse. The ride out was smooth and fast - the pilot clearly experienced though he did stumble a little on the landing. Laura suspected it was the result of the precious few hours these men now spent in the air.
Word traveled fast once people escaped the initial shock - someone even remembered to inform President Baltar who immediately ordered a line to Adama requesting an urgent meeting. The Admiral had agreed - he was not one to refuse Baltar just yet.
The Admiral and Laura departed the Raptor and headed straight for his quarters, both in need of some serious cleaning up. Thankfully Tigh had been informed of the situation and Ellen had offered to take Roslin in and clean her up. She did so, departing his quarters with the intent of meeting up in an hour - President Baltar in for more than he had bargained.
*~*
Author Notes:
"The curiosity of unaccounted time is little more than a deep, creeping silence awaiting inevitable disturbance..."
or basically; it's a really long wait until bsg comes back, so let us indulge in spoiler driven fanfic
It is recommened, (but not essential) that you read, Two Hours Until Tomorrow before proceeding.
or basically; it's a really long wait until bsg comes back, so let us indulge in spoiler driven fanfic
It is recommened, (but not essential) that you read, Two Hours Until Tomorrow before proceeding.