Son of Metis

Battlestar Galactica

the Galactica was being swarmed by hundreds of small drones, each one carrying an armour plate and attaching it like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle on the hull, it was as if the Galactica was a gigantic metal beehive being swarmed by worker bees, all of them being directed by the raptor floating above them.

Jack spent most of his time going over the reports from his constructors and writing out requisition forms, and he was quite happy to discover the tramline surface rust was just surface rust, and with the proper tools, equipment and sandblasting equipment the engineering crew managed to clean the entire line, as well as replacing the maglifts that allowed the tram to work. The whole system was designed to allow pilots or crew to travel from the forward 'head' section of the ship to the flight to the flight pods allowing for a drastically reduced deployment time.

he had also found out much to his relief that the rattle was keeping him awake at night worrying over was simply coming from an improperly secured fuel pump apparently the crew chief at the last yard layover had not tightened down, with that improperly secured pump the fuel that the Galactica was pumping from its tanks into its reactors was not unevenly firing putting more strain on one reactor to power the ship more than the other. During Galacticas last overhaul at Picon fleet HQ this should have been spotted and rectified but apparently the crew chief responsible had not done simple cursory glance over, this was dereliction of duty, fraud criminal negligence and dereliction of duty.

Jack spent the rest of his time filing complaints against various yard crews and chiefs as well as supply depots for gross dereliction of duty in the maintenance and repair of a Colonial Battlestar a charge that has a minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum penalty of death by hanging. The scandal alone would shame the fleet and make sure that it will not happen again.

Jack had sent a few constructors in to secure fuel pump sparing the human crews for the internal Tram system and the viper launching systems that had been removed in the Port flight pod when the gift shop was being constructed. Jack was overseeing the delicate process re-armouring Galactica's hull with the ablative armour when he received a communication from CIC Comm. Officer Dee ordering him to return immediately to the hangar and report to Adml Adama.

(Galactica CIC)

The CIC was perhaps the most busy section of the Battlestar outside of it flight pods as it was the brain of the whole ship and housed everything from communications to internal D&C at the centre of the CIC is the tactical readout where the commander and XO keep abreast of all the information as it becomes available to them as Jack entered through the vacuum sealed door he made his way to this pedestal.

"Commander Adama reporting is ordered" Jack snapped to attention gave a crisp salute. Adml Adama and CO Tigh both turned to greet the young officer before the Adml picked up a folded piece of paper that appeared to be a printout form communication.

"Jack, you have a communiqué from Fleet FADM Nangala" the Adml handed him the folded printout "It's coded for your eyes only" Jack read over the communiqué before pocketing the paper and straightening his tunic.

"Adml can we talk in privet please" the Adml nodded sharply before taking office glasses and inserting them into his breast pocket and leading Jack out of the door and to his quarters Jack sat onto the couch before he began.

"You didn't read the message?" He asked reluctantly knowing the answer but wanting to be completely sure.

"no," he said as he joined Jack sitting opposite form him "it was coded your eyes only and given the level of encryption we had to use to decode it I didn't want to spend a few years after retirement in hack."

"Apparently the President Adar liked the idea of using the Galactica as a living museum so much that he has signed the secretary of education to oversee the last part of the retrofit, she should be here within two weeks for inspection." Bill Adama was notorious for hating political BS, so much so that the Admiralty made sure that he was far away from any such situation as to prevent him from answering questions from political suits honestly and causing offence. "we've been ordered to meet with fleet command in two days" he continued "apparently my Battlestar is ready for me to take command and they want the ceremony and shake down cruse finished as soon as possible so I can get back to finishing the retrofit."

"Your first command" his uncle Bill smiled with pride, "you always remember your first command, no other ship will ever measure up to it and every ship you command after will always be measured against it" he clapped a strong hand on Jacks back before brining him into a one armed hug "I'm guessing Valkyrie Class right as I understand it the Monitor has finished construction and seems to be a good ship"

"No," jack said a bit too quickly "no, I made a request of the Admiralty and they saw fit to grant me an Artemis class light Battlestar." He said grinning

"I thought the retired the last of that class halfway through the last war," William Adama had served in the last war and was the best of the ace pilots in the fleet during the war, he remembered that the Artemis class had been removed from service when the Jupiter class Battlestar came into full production as well as the new Valkyrie class had made the role of a light Battlestar almost completely superfluous to requirements.

"they did." Jack said, "but I found a few at the Sagittarian 'mothball' fleet yard the one that was in the best condition was used along with two that had been mostly disassembled where used as parts vessels." Jack had smiled to himself finding those gems was a high point for him "it was a thank you from the Admiralty for bringing down costs in the fleets overall fuel consumption, as well as increasing overall fuel efficiency by thirty five percent" Jack smiled as his uncle went to the bureau behind his desk and pulled out a bottle of Ambrosia, he could practically feel the smile radiating from his uncle as he poured out to drinks into crystal glasses. "I think Adml Cole was practically tap dancing on his desk when he found out that the amount of money I saved the fleet was being pumped into his War star project, I think he wants me to marry his oldest daughter". The Adml chuckled deeply before he spoke.

"You're entering an elite corps Jack" he said as he turned and handed Jack one of the classes "there have been only 200 commanders in charge of Battlestar's and only 120 in active service today." They toasted Jacks new posting tapping there glasses together and allowing ring of the glass to sound before drinking "welcome to the best and worst posting in the fleet." He chuckled

"Thanks uncle Bill." He smiled as he placed the glass on the table, on top of a coaster that depicted the emblem of the Galactica "the Admiralty are giving me an experienced command crew and staff to ensure smooth running they want to give me experience in command of a Battlestar and then a Battlestar group before promoting me out of the line and onto a desk."

"its strange that they would just reactivate an Artemis class just for you to gain enough command hours for a promotion, what will happen after your promoted"

"the Nova will be under my permanent command like Nagala and the Atlantia where I go it goes with me"

"I Understand" said the Adml knowingly "tell me how goes the re-armouring of the Hull"

"we have finished the forward Dorsal plating and are half way through the forward Ventral section unfortunately the barbets in the aft engineering section are damaged too severely to be used without extended period in dry dock and the Admiralty are not willing to put the expense and time into a ship that is being used as a living museums so I have had the plates restored, and after review of the rest of the Barbets I have determined that only a four on the dorsal forward section can be restored and four on the ventral forward section." David said "I have also been able to restore 600 of the point defence guns, and I have installed my new plasma cannons on the 'Jaw' of the forward command section but because of their kick back I've had to lock and secure them into the forward position only."