Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on Apr 20, 2013 19:20:39 GMT -6
Clayton sighed. No matter where you go, the games of deceit and death are really the same, just the players are different. All Clayton really knew about Carlie McPherson was that she had a real disdain for having her clothers rumpled. Hearing about her own activities didn't surprise him. James Drexl wasn't the only one who was playing both sides against the middle.
"Well, we're just going to have to either make time or use the time we have for me to hear what I need to." At that point, Judith went off on what Clayton thought was a tangent, but it turned out to be a poignant and tragic episode of her own life that was was very relevant to what was going on now. Since she had offered to be so forthcoming, Dualla felt that he should do the same.
"Have I? Yes, I have." He felt the memory of the pain as well as the memory of the joy and the overarching perfectness of it. ""I was detached from Galactica to Colonial One to help with the security of President Skulbaka. I was her Senior Technical Advisor, as you know. There, I became reaquainted with the Vice President. Anastasia Dualla - you know where I got the name. I know it's rare for the husband to take the wife's name, but we didn't get to go through the ceremony, though we were no less husband and wife. She was special - beyond special." He wasn't going to reveal the story of the Avatars, and how Anastasia was actually a female Avatar for the King of the Gods, Jupiter. "If you've known that you were meant to be with one person from the beginning of Time - really knew it as an empirical fact, not an an emotional feeling - it makes that relationship indescribable." The ship resumed the previous course. Clayton felt the FTL capacitors filling again as the coils packed the ergs into them. Judith sat down in the sofa. Clayton took the armchair across from her. "I don't think this style of furniture has seat belts," he quipped.
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Capt. Joseph Markus
Colonial Merchant Fleet
Captain-CMS Marauder
Civilian Captain, Colonial Citizen
Posts: 307
Registered: Apr 5, 2010 20:21:41 GMT -6
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Post by Capt. Joseph Markus on Apr 24, 2013 20:22:27 GMT -6
"Attention Marauder, we are entering the atmosphere of Terra and we're going to be coming in steep and fast. All hands brace for rough seas and secure yourselves, Marauder actual out."
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on Apr 26, 2013 18:12:23 GMT -6
Clayton looked up at the repeater in the ceiling.
"Here we go, kiddies, keep your hands inside of the ride at all times," he muttered semi-sarcastically. He gave Judith a sly grin. It was not going to be too secure in these overstuffed chairs. They were fine on Earth, but not in space. One bump had him sliding over the faux-leather surface.
"Inertial dampeners," Clayton said matter-of-factly. "They use artificial gravity technology to respond and offset lateral acceleration. My last XF-01 Hammerhead had an experimental unit. I could turn inside of any human-piloted ship. Not because of the plane, but because I wouldn't gray out or black out like unassisted pilots."
He'd just let slip some of his technology. Was he trusting the Judge now? Well, she did recruit him for his background. It was time to show that he was more than just a pretty bald man.
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on Apr 29, 2013 10:42:27 GMT -6
The ride had finally begun to smooth out. With the lack of safety belts in the chair and sofa, Clayton and Judith nearly ended up in compromising positions more than once. Clayton's worst fear was not for their safety, but their being caught by someone opening the door and seeing them knotted up in each other's arms. That was an irrational and illogical thought, Clayton knew, but it stuck. The two aboard that Clayton would have least liked to catch them were Captain Markus and Director Drexl. Markus was of course in command in the CIC, and Drexl was ensconced in his own cabin, next to Dualla's. Though the thought of being entangled with the Judge was not unpleasant in and of itself, Clayton had been celibate since Anastasia's disappearance so many years ago.
The buffeting had reduced almost to the point at which one could rise from their seat and walk around the deck. Clayton looked at Judith, gallantly withholding any comment about the disheveled appearance the turbulence had caused. He didn't look too much better, but with no hair on his scalp, there was nothing to bounce all around and ruin one's coiffure.
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NPC Lieutenant Kiera
Colonial Officer
Colonial Officer
Lieutenant
Posts: 67
Registered: Jul 5, 2010 10:16:52 GMT -6
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Post by NPC Lieutenant Kiera on May 1, 2013 0:25:29 GMT -6
*Lieutenant Rodriguez*
Rodriguez walked down the corridor leading from the CIC to where the crew quarters were located, with Lieutenant Colonel Martin right behind her. The younger woman came to a jolting halt, as the ship was still in it's descent towards Terra. She looked at Miss Martin briefly before lightly knocking three times on Dualla's door. *Colonel Dualla, there is someone here who has asked to see you.*
Rodriguez dropped her hands by her side and waited, glancing over at the woman from the corner of her eye, wondering why she would pop in out of nowhere at this time.
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on May 1, 2013 11:18:25 GMT -6
Clayton paused for a moment, wondering who might want him. If it was anybody aboard ship, they would have simply knocked, especially Markus, Savage, or Drexl. Judith, of course, had been with him in his quarters throughout the entire entry process. Maybe it has something to do with the Raptor that came aboard recently.
"Excuse me," he said to the Judge as he rose from the comfy chair and strode across to the hatch. Undogging it, he pushed it out. He looked the crewperson in they eye, then to the person behind her. He froze, and his heart leapt for joy.
"Thank you, Lieutenant, that will be all, please," he said politely to the Marauder crew member. He had no rank with which to order her, so he did not speak militarily. When she left, he and Samantha stood for a moment, then Dualla sprang forward and scooped his dear friend into his arms.
"Gods, I've missed you so," he said into her hair.
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Post by Rear Admiral Samantha Martin on May 1, 2013 16:26:39 GMT -6
A light squeal escaped the woman's lips when she finally caught sight of Clayton for the first time in ages. Sam had no time to act, as he had already jumped forward and taken her up into his arms in a warm embrace. "You don't call, you don't visit. How am I supposed to know you're okay!" she jokingly scolded with a hearty laugh.
Seeing possibly her dearest friend right before her now almost brought Sam to tears. She leaned forward and lightly kissed him on the forehead. "And I've missed you. You have no idea..." Her smile widened, and she realized it was the first time she'd smiled that much in a while now. Her eyes glanced off to the side, not realizing that Clayton already had company.
"Oh Gods, I am so sorry!" she stated quickly, mentally cursing herself. "I didn't know ... I do have the worst timing, I suppose." Sam felt her cheeks reddening, now even more embarrassed that she'd shown up uninvited.
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on May 1, 2013 19:54:33 GMT -6
Clayton chuckled at Samantha's scolding. It delighted him. He blushed at her kiss.
Her discomfort was immediately felt. Clayton knew that it looked awkward to say, the least. "No, it's not that," he whispered before releasing his friend from the embrase. He took Samantha's hand and led her out of the corridor, into the quarters.
"Judith, I'l like to introduce to you Samantha Martin, former President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. Sam, this is Judith Schwein, judge of the Court of Terra." Clayton would explain in more detail later if need be. First of all, he didn't want Sam to think that she had interrupted a tryst. She knew if his love for Anastasia, and how he had remained faithful to her memory over the years.
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Judge Judith Schwein
Civilian Official
Judge, 1st Terran Circuit Court
I'm a Judge, not a general. Okay, I'm a general too.
Posts: 123
Registered: Nov 30, 2010 23:40:44 GMT -6
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Post by Judge Judith Schwein on May 3, 2013 11:08:02 GMT -6
Judith stood up to greet them rather attractive woman standing before her. She smiled at the woman and she extended her hand.
"Another former President? Well, let's see, you would make the fourth or fifth former President of the Colonies of Kobol. What was the plan, elect everyone a one time or another?"
Judith was of course trying to make a small joke. She had been briefed on who was who within the Colonial Fleet and the rather small civilian government when the Colonials had returned to Terra after having left abruptly years ago. The name Samantha Martin was one of those names she had been briefed on, along with Sirolk, Duet, Skulbaka, Anastasia Dualla and of course, her favorite, one J Castorious. She was glad that the reports concernnig this woman had been completely false.
"Colonel Martin, it truly is a pleasure and honor to meet you. Once I have returned to my office, I plan on having some of my staff re-assigned to the worst location on this planet for providing me with false information concerning you. Seems you do not actually have horns extending from your head!"
Judith laughed a little, then got to being serious.
"I'm afraid I must depart to my quarters and prepare for leaving this ship. Besides, you know what they say-three's a crowd. I'm sure you two have plenty t catch up on and I want to assure you, Clayton's honor is still intact. The gentleman in him would permit nothing less but then again, you already know this. Perhaps we can spend more time conversing, soon?"
Looking at Clayton, Judith smiled and gave the man a wink.
"Until we meet again Clayton, which I have a feeling will be sooner as opposed to later."
With that, Judith turned and exited the hatch. Standing outside were two of her security detail. She looked at them both.
"Please tell me you haven't been out here the whole time? You two really need to get a life. C'mon, let's get ready to depart this ship and venture into the unknown, shall we?"
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Post by Rear Admiral Samantha Martin on May 3, 2013 22:33:52 GMT -6
Sam nodded and smiled politely to Judith, as she had no time to speak to the woman before the exited out into the hallway and was soon gone from sight. She stepped forward and pulled the hatch closed. And thinking over what the Judge had said, Sam couldn't stop herself from reaching a hand up to feel her forehead. "Horns," she nearly laughed out, a half grin painted across her features. "Gods, people must still think I'm some kind of she-devil!"
The Colonel brought her hands to rest on her hips, still trying not to laugh. She thought for a moment though, that Clayton had introduced her as a former President. It hadn't been by choice, she'd simply done as Alexandra had asked that day. She would've done anything the Eight had asked her to do, and likely still would if she were around. Standing in front of her friend now, her Diamond, made her remember what she missed the most ... friends of old, who were gone before their time.
Sighing, she pushed a smile onto her face. "Do not worry, Clayton. I know you and the Judge weren't... I just meant that I had bad timing, as this ship was going to land soon, and having issues of it's own." Sam took in a breath and folded her arms across her chest. "But I needed to see you. I'm in a free fall, and you've always kept me grounded."
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on May 5, 2013 8:56:30 GMT -6
Clayton could feel the worry in his best friend's voice. Any concern about being seen with Judith fled from his mind as Samantha was what was most important. He took her by the hand and led her over to the sofa. After sitting her down, he pushed the armchair until it touched the sofa, then sat down in it. He and Samantha were nearly knee-to-knee as he took her hands in his. He looked into her eyes for a moment, seeing the tension in the corners, the widening of the pupils. She could be free with her emotions in his presence, and he saw her loosen up. The first thing that came to his mind was Thrax, but he wasn't pre-judgemental.
"Talk to me," he said simply. He knew he didn't have to be any more eloquent. The Judge, the Marauder, the war on Terra, James Drexl, all were abandoned in his mind. His focus was his best friend, who'd left her ship and sought him out in a dangerous way. It had to be important if the ex Commandant of the Colonial Marines as well as former Vice President and President would take this risk. It was right that he give it the attention it deserved, it needed. It was right that he give the friend he loved so dearly the attention.
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Post by Rear Admiral Samantha Martin on May 5, 2013 20:13:13 GMT -6
Letting out a quiet sigh, Sam held onto Diamond's hands and lightly squeezed. Simply being in his company again was enough to soothe her a bit. The woman knew in her mind that she'd probably chosen one of the worst times possible to show up, but they were surrounded by war. They had been for years, and likely would for the foreseeable future. "I just," she began, her gaze dropping down to the floor. "I am not myself. I haven't been since ... Alex, and all of the others... and perhaps dying contributed to it?"
She knew that Clayton was aware of everything, and likely knew what troubled her as well. She had many things on her mind, particularly those on the Atlantia. But there was something else. Looking back up at her friend, Sam asked, "How did you feel when you left the Atlantia? Did it give you closure, and peace from everything that has happened?" She knew the reasons why he had retired. The thoughts of running from everything and everyone were buzzing around in her head at that moment, thinking that she might find that same peace.
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Clayton Dualla
Colonial Retired
Colonel
Terran Senior Technical Advisor
Posts: 5,380
Registered: Jul 3, 2011 19:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by Clayton Dualla on May 9, 2013 4:32:23 GMT -6
Before saying anything, Clayton slid over to the couch, beside Samantha, and held her. After several silent minutes. Clayton nodded gently. "I haven't been the same. What we were - our 'selves', changed then. We aren't the same Samantha Martin or the same Clayton Dualla. You are yourself, Samantha." He almost never used the nickname. "But what you are is different now from before it all." He didn't have to go farther, mention Alex again, or Ana, or Slade, or Frog, Play .... he could go on.
Clayton turned her gently to face him, so they could have the eye contact that was so important. "What I am is different. We both have a huge hole in our hearts that is likely to always be there. The bleeding will stop, byt the void will not go away. I'm not going to minimize our losses by saying something trite, like every survivor of the human race is the same as us. They are, and they have their own suffering. We're here together for ourselves and each other."
He took her hands again. "Yes, dying contributed to it. Yes, you know about my death on the gurney in Sickbay. Everybody on Galactica knew it, probably the whole Fleet. What few knew was that I watched what was going on, felt Commander Wagner win a tug-of-war with SciClops for my soul. Ana, after she passed, showed me our timelines, from the Beginning to our being together on the other side. One cannot see Creation and Eternity, and not be changed. Whatever you experienced, it changed you. As I said, you are yourself. You're a new self who has a lot to learn about that. Accept that. Don't lose sight of your past. I never have. Anastasia is here," he tapped his heart, "In her own shrine. We'll have everybody in their own special place.
"Did leaving give me closure? Some. Things had changed so much, I had changed so much, I was not the fit in Colonial life I had been. But peace hasn't come just from leaving. What we've both known transcends where we are. We can't escape. But we can rejoice in who we knew and loved, what we knew, and live as a tribute to them. That's what I try to do. Even without thinking it, you do the same. You may have your own fit, and whether it is with the Colonials or not, you'll know when it's right. I won't suggest running away. I didn't. I know that I was accused of that, but I walked away when I knew that it was my time. Only Samantha Martin can answer for Samantha Martin. I can't provide that answer, but I can provide you with a friend's love, from one who's been in the same place you are."
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Capt. Joseph Markus
Colonial Merchant Fleet
Captain-CMS Marauder
Civilian Captain, Colonial Citizen
Posts: 307
Registered: Apr 5, 2010 20:21:41 GMT -6
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Post by Capt. Joseph Markus on May 14, 2013 11:51:55 GMT -6
Joseph was too busy trying to get his ship safely to the surface to respond to either Commander Admiral or Admiral Yogi, although he would do so once the ship was secure. Looking at the Helmsman, Joseph asked for a status update.
"Helm, status report."
"Captain, we are inbound and fifty meters from surface, thirty, ten, CONTACT!"
The ship made a dull thud sound as it lightly touched the planets surface. Joseph looked around the Bridge. Grabbing the comm, he called out to every department on the ship.
"This is the Captain. We are on the surface now. Okay people, by the numbers, let's secure the ship. Engineering, keep the fires burning in case we have to depart in a hurry. Nav, FTL's are to be kept at the ready. Comm, keep your ears open for friendlies and not-so-friendlies. Security, prepare for disembarkation of passengers. Marines, stand by to form up combat teams."
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Post by Rear Admiral Samantha Martin on May 14, 2013 22:01:22 GMT -6
Feeling tears building in the corners of her eyes, Sam did her best to push them away. Clayton knew her, probably better than anyone else. She hadn't seen him in the longest time, yet he knew just what to say, what to do. He knew what was going through her mind and heart, and always had the answers that brought her back from the edge. She'd felt like she was on the brink of losing it, and still did in some ways. But Diamond's revelations brought her comfort.
"You are right ... the hole in my heart will never go away," she started, holding in a muffled cry as she thought back to their loved ones. In her mind, Sam envied Anastasia. She was everything to Clayton, and would always hold the most special place in his heart. She was lucky to have had someone who loved her more than life itself.
Sam smiled and gently squeezed her friend's hand. "I know you didn't run away. You made the best choice for yourself, and what was best suited for you." She knew they were different. She had always been suited for military life, as much as she hated it at times. And even though she still wanted to hide away from everything, she knew she would turn into another person if that were to happen.
An announcement over the speakers brought the woman from her thoughts, and reminded her of the promise to help she'd left with Captain Marcus. She looked thoughtfully at Clayton and sighed, an innocent smile spreading across her features. "You always know what to say. I do hope you'll visit some time. Or write, like our old Colonial One days." Sam chuckled at that, as it brought back some of the best memories for her. The idea of herself and Diamond dancing and singing loudly down those halls as they'd wanted to always made her giggle. She'd been pregnant then, and he was one of the few people who had supported her and brought her spirits up.
Pushing off the couch, she took his hands and pulled him up as well. Sam wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much," she whispered in his ear. "For everything."
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