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Old May 10th, 2006, 12:48 PM   #9
Tabitha
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COLONIAL FLEET INTELLIGENCE OFFICE

Planet Caprica: Monte Claire Radio Observatory.
1/7/48 1500

Major Delangelo turned up the tri-d to hear the speech that was being broadcast on all of the major news networks. It was possibly the biggest news broadcast in recent history. The Supreme Cylon Command had not hinted at what it was about, but back channels had confirmed that the odds were heavily in favor of it being a formal request for truce. A formal cease-fire was over due, since the actual war with the Cylons had ceased to be a shooting war nearly ten years ago. There was no actual armistice however, and that point had been hotly contested in the last election, and cost the careers of several political magistrates. Therefore, to say that this was the biggest event in a decade was no lie or exaggeration at all.
He hated to turn the channel from his favorite soap opera, which was also the most popular show on the space channels, but being a leading intelligence officer, he certainly felt it was a good idea to see history being made.
His office mate, Captain Ross, had brought in some pizza and ambrosia, which was definitely breaking regulations, but it was far after hours, and they were breaking regulations already, by tuning the top secret, only to be used to spy on highly classified Cylon transmissions, type DRADIS dish to the local tri-d satellite and using the crypto gear to descramble the signal. Ross had figured out the algorithm of the tri-d station while eating lunch, just as something to do, and since then they had been watching “Star Ocean” every Friday since. So instead of watching their weekly series, they were going to see history made.
“You think its going to be another Cylon white wash?” Ross asked. The office betting pool was a ten to one landslide that the Cylons were simply going to say they were willing to discuss a formal treaty, which seemed to be the commonly accepted mind set.
“Most likely it will be something more. The amount of noise generated on their side doesn’t seem like its going to be just another empty verbal joust.” Delangelo said seriously. He looked over at the younger Ross, who was already taking off his jacket and getting comfortable with his feet up and a glass of ambrosia in his hand.
On the tri-d was the command Cylon, an IL series unit. “People of the 12 Colonies of Man.” It began in English. “Allow me to begin by making a brief statement. After which, I am sorry to say, I will not be able to answer your questions, however. We will transmit a full report to all your major news outlets, as well as to all of your political officers.” It said in the typically calm and oddly disturbing voice that the IL series used.
“Your Colonial Fleet Admirals have often spoken publicly about how the Cylon Republic has done nothing to prove its peaceful intentions. At this time, it is my sad duty to report to your people, the Moloch Empire has attacked and destroyed your 5th Fleet in an attempt to sojourn the upcoming peace accords. Naturally, they will attempt to place the blame on the Cylon Republic, and we anticipate that. It would be a disastrous blow to the image of the Cylon Republic, and so I have the honor to announce that the Cylon Republic is going to show our desire for peace is real. To prove our intentions, we must avoid the ‘mutual destruction’ of our people, we are about to take a bold step, one we challenge the Colonial Fleet to match.” The IL series Cylon said with perfect clarity. Ross and Delangelo both looked at each other. The Cylons had always spoken in terms of absolutes. This was a huge change for them, to admit mutual destruction. This was beyond the curve when it came to Cylon admissions. Delangelo raised an eyebrow; he had never expected to hear the Cylons admit to the chances of destruction as a race if they continued to make war with the Colonies. Ross put his glass down and was no longer eating the pizza. He took his feet off the table and sat closer, as if he were going to see something that would not be visible otherwise.
“It is obvious to any sentient being, that the actions of the Cylon Republic are defensive only, and that we are a merciful people, with respect and admiration for our Human neighbors. It would be tantamount to insanity to continue to fight with your people, and for your people to make war on us. The war already became dangerously close to mass solium bombing of civilian populations centers, on both sides, and indeed, such a horrible fate did occur to our peaceful research post on Opus 9. Such bombing would lead to cellular decomposition on a mass scale. This cannot be allowed to happen.” It said making what seemed to be a gesture akin to hands held in prayer. Delangelo snorted at the effect, realizing that it was obviously a manipulation on the IL’s part to evoke a spiritual response from the human civilians watching. It knew that the council of twelve was mostly civilian in nature, and that spirituality drove their responses, so that gesture was sure to score points there.
“As I said earlier, the Cylon Republic is taking actions to prove that the destruction of your fleet was NOT of our doing, but was a trick by the Moloch’s to inflame the population of your race towards the peaceful Cylon civilians. To this end, the Cylon Republic is going to begin a drastic fleet reduction. I would like to announce, that at this time, the Cylon Republic is going to perform a reduction in force, unlike the false proposals that your Colonial Fleet Admiralty have dangled in mock attempts to paint the Cylon Republics forces as being unwilling to draw down. Indeed, as your admiralty claims to be seeking peace, they build three new Battlestars, as they claim they desire peace; they arm Sentinel satellites with 60-megaton solium missiles, aimed at the hearts of peaceful Cylon civilian population centers. They claim to want arms reductions, and claim they are doing so by withdrawing their obsolete Harbinger missiles, but then they replace them with far more powerful solium missiles. This makes any real arms reduction talks useless, as verification means nothing when everything counted is simply replaced by weapons that are more lethal. How ironic, to call that arms reduction, in fact it seems almost insulting to us.” The IL was good, it was true that the admiralty had proposed false reductions and had hoped the Cylons would not find out. It would be difficult, if not impossible to spin this in a positive light. Delangelo was glad he was not in charge of the admiralty house. “That is what your admiralty offers as peace initiatives, but we, the honest and honorable Cylon Republic will now show what real reductions are.”
Ross turned up the sound and sat back, he was stunned and drawn in, much to his chagrin. He knew he was being manipulated, as were all who watched this broadcast, but he was teased enough to want to know what the Cylons were going to do. This damned IL Cylon had teased, making many references to their intentions, and was dragging it out to make the people watching desire it as well. It was a brilliant speech so far. Whatever series wrote it, they were light years ahead of anything the Cylons had written before.
Ross looked over at Delangelo; he was both admiring this IL as well as growing angry that it was not yet saying what the entire speech was leading up to.
“In three days, when our first and second fleets have reached ports in our home system, we are going to mothball an entire class of Basestar, and the reduction of all solium based missiles above the 15 megaton warhead capacity over a period of two years, and that we welcome the Colonial Fleet admiralty to monitor the reductions. We challenge the Colonial Fleet to retire their Battlestars, as well as to reduce the warhead yield on their Colony Defense Weapons. The Cylon Republic is also willing to agree to a third party to supervise the reduction of the Colonial Fleet and its solium missiles, if the admiralty is not willing to allow our own experts to do so. The third party supervisors can be discussed and agreed to in talks after the peace accords are signed. To prove our good intentions, however, the reductions on the Cylon Republic Fleet will begin regardless of whether the Colonial Fleet agrees to these terms; so that no sentient and enlightened race can make the claim that the Cylon Republic did NOT make an honest and generous gesture.” Ross stood suddenly, as did Delangelo. Delangelo was sure that there were a number of admirals standing, enraged, amazed, astounded, and definitely outraged. This was not going to be stopped, there was momentum here, and this was a pivotal moment. The elimination of an entire class of Basestar was big news.
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