Office of the Fleet Admiral

[Administrator]

Fleet Admiral Deana "Athena" Middleton, Fleet Admiral of the Colonial Fleet at Terra (Earth)

[Dr. Elea Kaun-Castorious, Surg]

Elea sends a C-Mail note to the Fleet Admiral offering an idea to lighten the mood, rev up the positive side of the Colonial Forces.

Admiral,

As CMO of the Atlantia, the ongoing health of all Colonial citizens are on my mind at all times, sometimes even when I'm sleeping. In that light, I offer the institution of efforts to all who will consider taking the physical challenge:

Teams from different ships competing against each other in Pyramid:

5 member teams with 4 base goals (two per team) and one Zenith or Pinnacle Goal for double points. Based on 5 points of the pyramid, each Captain hosting the games on their ship.

I have the rules in mind, here is how it would work:

Two team captains answer to the MC who rolls a dice. even or odd answers. The correct answer's team gets a goal then the players write in the play action.

If a team captain guesses the exact number, they can write to score a Zenith, or Pinnacle goal which is worth two points. I will create the court later. Let me know what you think.

[J Castorious, CMC (Ret)]

As I look over the countless reports of casualties from the latest Cylon attack, an Aide comes into my office and hands me another intel report. I salute the Captain and look at the report.

"Frakking Cylons. Another cargo ship destroyed with over 150 people on board. We're going to have to send out ships to escort these civilian vessels or we're not going to have any ships left."

I pick up the phone and make a call to the Fleet Admiral's office.

"Get me the Vice Admiral. It's important."

[J Castorious, CMC (Ret)]

A call is sent to VAdm. Deana "Athena" Middleton, Fleet Admiral of the Colonial Fleet at Earth.

"Admiral Middleton, I have been reviewing intel reports and we lost another civilian cargo ship to Cylon raiding activity. At this rate, we're not going to have any cargo ships left. I would like to suggest that we begin sending Gunstars out as escorts for the cargo ships and perhaps even with our mining vessels as well."

[FA Deana "Athena" Middleton]

Admiral Middleton was responding to the report from Dr. Kaun as the phone rang.

Brigadier General Castorious was on the line, the tone of his voice "CMC serious." He told her about the latest Cylon attack on Colonial shipping, another vessel destroyed with over 150 people onboard.

"Damn!" Middleton spat. "We only have eight gunstars in active service. We'll have to split them up four & four; four per vessel."

She looked over the list of active fleet ships and saw the gunstars in question.

Gunstars:
Falcon BGS-001
War Hawk BGS-002
Python BGS-003
Achilles BGS-004
Cronus BGS-005
Daphne
Decuma
Diomedes

"General," Middleton continued. "We'll start with Falcon, War Hawk, Python & Achilles as the first escort group. Cronus, Daphne, Decuma & Diomedes will be the second group. Standard escort pattern; a gunstar on either flank, one fore, one aft.

"I also want to check the status of the reserve gunstars. I know there's seven of them but I don't want to use them all up at once. We need to save them in case those frakkin' toasters throw something unexpected our way."

She hoped Castorious understood her reasoning. One did not survive the destruction of old battlestars like Deliverance & Artisan, her former assignments, without taking all precautions available.

[J Castorious, CMC (Ret)]

Listening to the Admiral, J was pleased that the two of them were finally getting a chance to get together and plan the defense of the planet. The Cylons had been running raids on their shipping and outposts for far too long, testing their defenses and their resolve. Both he and the Admiral knew that with the majority of the Colonial Fleet still trying to defend the Colonies from a renewed Cylon threat that the Fleet here at Terra (as the planet was now being called) was still trying to get up to strength. Gunstars were no match for Basestars, not one on one anyways.

"Admiral, I agree. We also have an issue with being able to crew thos reserve gunstars fully. I can however provide Marine perosnnel to fill some of the gaps but not all of them."
J was trying to figure out if there were a way to take some of the crews from the Curisers and spread them out but those ships were running short as it was. The only other option was to begin drafting civilians with certain skills and he knew that was not going to be received very well by the fledgling civilian government.

"Admiral, we could pull personnel off of the colony on Mars but that's going to impact the defenses there as well."

[Imperious Leader Kona]

A message comes in from the BSG-53 Atlantia:

Any Information leading to the Identity of this woman should be immediately forwarded to Commander Playtime on the BSG-53 Atlantia. Name, Assigned Battlestar, Rank, and Commanding Officer.

[J Castorious, CMC (Ret)]

Having finally finished with what had to be the LONGESt conference in the history of the 12 Colonies, BGen Castorious makes his way down the corridor towards his office. Along the way, he is handed a report from the Marine Commander at the Fleet Supply Station, asking for additional supplies and Marines.

"Just where exactly does the Major expect me to get more Marines? Pull 'em out of a hat?"

The Lieutenant looks at the General with a look that only a Staff Officer can muster.

"I just take the reports Sir, I don't create them."

"Of course you don't Lieutenant. Carry on."

Snapping a salute, the Lieutenant walks away.

"Aye aye Sir."

Seeing his Aide come down the corridor, General Castorious motions to her.

"Major Grover, just the person I need to see. I need you to round up some Marines, say about 40 or so and have them on the next ship heading towards the Fleet Supply Station. Also, send the usual assortment of supplies."

"Yes Sir. Should I do this before or after I complete my usual duties?"

"As soon as you are able to do so Alicia."

"Give me a just a few moments and I'll have it taken care of."

"Thank you Alicia. Oh, and when you see my wife and girls, tell them I said hello!"

"Why not come home and do that yourself Sir? Oh that's right-your house was destroyed and you've yet to have it re-built, which is why Dr. Elea and the girls have been staying in government quarters."

"Go do your job Major!"

[FA Deana "Athena" Middleton]

After Castorious left the office, Middleton looked over the general's proposal and compared it to what the defenses actually were at the CMC's Ares Base.

Could the base commanders actually spare a brigade & two squadrons, a Viper and a Raptor, for such a task as keeping shipping lanes open and safe from Cylon attacks, let alone defending Terra?

Deana sighed, knowing that the decisions she & J would be making would have effects far beyond the walls of their offices. It was times like these that she missed her homeworld, Aerilon, and her father's advice.

But Douglas Middleton would always remind his oldest daughter that there was a price to pay when it came to wearing the uniform of the Colonial Fleet. The current situation was no less important than the destruction of Battlestars Deliverance & Artisan way back when.

She composed a message to Castorious:

General, see if Ares Base can spare the 7th Marine Brigade, MVS 435 & MRS 555. If they can't let us use the brigade, see if the commanders can give us a regiment. I dare not try to go any lower.

As for sharing personnel among the cruisers, let's see how thin we can go before crew strength is compromised.

I also want to see how long it's going to take to get some of the reserve ships ready for service. For now, go with Gunstars Cadmus, Bellona & Pollux and Battlecruiser Artemis.

The absolute last resort will be the civilian option. The Terran government would totally be up in arms if we present it the wrong way. We need to be honest with them, if at all possible, about the situation and stress that drafting civilians to man our ships is our last resort.

J, I appreciate your honest opinions and advice. Gods know you're under as much stress as I am. We'll have to do the best we can with what we've got.

Middleton signed off and sent the message through a secure channel. She drank some water and turned to a couple of other items.

Lieutenant Whaley, Battlestar Atlantia's tactical officer, had reported on a "mystery woman" that was being sought after by Commander Playtime, Atlantia's commanding officer. Middleton took a look at the woman's photo and shook her head. The admiral didn't know the "mystery girl" at all & decided to have the intelligence people check into the report.

Deana also completed the unfinished response to Dr. Kaun's proposal of a "Colonial Pyramid Challenge." She asked the Atlantia's chief medical officer to put together a formal proposal and an exhibition match so that the appropriate officials, herself included, could see what actual match play would look like.

It was a far cry from the days of Deana's youth, when she was a reserve for the Aerilon Outlaws, but if Kaun's idea could help boost morale and keep crews in shape, then it was worth a try. After all, fit crews meant better crews to help fight the Cylons.

Deana Middleton glanced at the photo of her father Douglas, pinning the vice admiral's rank on her collar, taken at the promotion ceremony not so long ago. She raised her glass in a silent toast and sipped the water.

"You're right, Father. It's never easy."

[J Castorious, CMC (Ret)]

Standing there listening to his Admiral, J couldn't help but admire how calm and collective she was, especially under the current situation. Most of the personnel assigned to Fleet HQ were getting by on limited sleep and she was no exception. Any moment now, the entire Cylon Fleet could come bearing down on them and the planet. The crews were stretched thin, what with people taking the opportunity to return to the Colonies, or at least those that were now safe for habitation. Realizing the Admiral had stopped speaking, J looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot from only a short nap in the past several days.

"Admiral, I defer to your decisions on personnel matters. I will reassign Marines as I am able to without leaving any stations or outposts short. I would like to suggest however that perhaps we call upon the indigineous population of Terra. We've been training a good sized group now for the past year and they're almost ready to be put to use. We can at least free up some of our pilots and let them have a break."

J was aware that the Terrans were coming along nicely in their training but the agreement years ago was to only utilize them for planetary defenses and not to assign them to any of the Colonial ships. Unfortunately, times were different than years ago and the Terrans themselves were beginning to become agitated that they were being left out of the decisions affecting their own planet.

"Admiral, I will be in my office should you need me. I've got some shuffling around to do and if I put it off any longer, it'll never get finished!"

J smiled at the woman and gave her a salute as he exited her office, heading down the hall to leave the building and go to his office across the courtyard.

[fleetops]

Incoming message from Fleet Comm Center to the Fleet Admiral

"Attention all Colonial military units, we have received word that the Battlecruiser Sovereign is under attack by a numerically superior Cylon force and has sustained heavy damage. The Gunstar Diomedes has also been attacked and destroyed. Maintain your stations and stand by for further reports, Fleet Comm Center out."

[Imperious Leader Kona]

Incoming message on the Fleet Channel from the BSG-53 Atlantia:

ATTENTION ALL FLEET VESSELS:

Commodore Playtime wants all Military Vessels in the area to rendezvous with us so we can re-group and attack the Cylons at these coordinates 3308 7331 51.886

The message is sent out Fleet Wide including Fleet HQ.

[FA Deana "Athena" Middleton]

Deana listened to the message from Atlantia Actual one more time, then decided to ask Brigadier General J. Castorious to her office. She needed a status report on what they'd previously discussed.

"Admiral Middleton," the voice of Colonel Jasmine Yolander, Castorious' second in command, came over the comm. "General Castorious isn't here."

"Not here?" the admiral raised her voice. "Where the frak is he, Colonel?"

The Deputy Marine Commander responded. "He went in response to a distress call from a transport ship, CMS Gondawa. The ship was tracked to the planet Gondawa."

Deana was not at all pleased with the news. "That's just great! With the Cylon situation being what it is, Diomedes destroyed and the Sovereign seriously damaged, the Gondawans are more of a 'wild-card.' The last thing I need is to have Castorious end up missing, dead or captured by Cylons or terrorists.

"Colonel, I take it you've heard the message from Atlantia Actual. Have the commanders at Ares Base responded to our request? Can they spare the 7th Marine Brigade and the two squadrons?"

Jasmine shook her head. "I have had some problems. Wireless lag times have affected my communications with the base, but my techs are working on it."

"Colonel, I need to know if Gunstars Cadmus, Bellona & Pollux and Battlecruiser Artemis are ready to go. With Diomedes gone and Sovereign severely damaged, or worse, we need all the help we can get.

"The ships can also be used to pick up any survivors from the Sovereign. They can be debriefed to see if they've got any intel we can use."

"True," Yolander replied. "Gods know we need all the intel we can. Let's launch the reserves."

Deana stood and adjusted her uniform tunic. "At once. Keep me informed as to the status of those Marines on Ares Base, while I look into which reserve ships we can press into service. And Jasmine?"

"Yes?"

"Keep me updated on the search for General Castorious."

Colonel Yolander nodded. "I know, Deana. I don't want to face those Cylons unprepared, let alone understaffed. We can only do our best with what the Gods have given us."

The two officers signed off, both sharing the same concerns for the fleet and Terra.

Deana needed to get out of the office or else she'd be on the verge of letting anger take over her decision making. She headed to the officers' mess for a much needed lunch break.

Middleton knew that if and when Castorious made it back from his little "hero excursion," he'd have some explaining to do.

[Jennetta - HQ Exec Assistant]

Executive Assistant Jennetta brings Commander Benjamin Little from the Reception Area to the Fleet Admiral's Office. She sees the door is open and knocks lightly as she smiles.

"Excuse me, Admiral Middleton, you have a new Officer to report in, Sir" after announcing the new arrival she then turns on her heel and returns to her desk in the Reception Area so that the Admiral and the Commander may talk in private.

[President Benjamen Little]

The Commander walks into the office in his dress uniform and looks at the assistant. He thought she was very beautiful but he wasn`t there to flirt with the ladies. He never met the Fleet Admiral, he's heard her voice in conferences at time. Little snaps to a salute as Jannetta left the room. Nervous hoping it wont be a bad meeting.