The Ethics of Technical Destiny  
Chapter 1
By Wayne Coleman


        "I watched from the bridge of the NeSchon as the fire from the
viper's turbos disappear into the cold vastness of space.  Some how I felt
it ironic to watch the light fade.  Light from a fire that bring's hope is
suppose to get brighter.  The light from the fire I saw was fading.
        The fuel systems have nearly been depleted.  It has been six sectars
since we were able to find our last source of tylium.  Fuel has been
disbursed, and redisbursed through out the fleet, and we're still
dangerously low.  Trace elements were picked up by the scanners in the
system the vipers are now heading into, but it will be awhile before we know
anything for certain.
        Several of the ships in the fleet are now running on essential
systems only, life support, navigation and a skeleton crew.  The rest of the
personnel from those ships were evacuated for the time being.  Right now if
the Cylons were to attack, there would be no stopping them.  We would lose
everything.  There's no where near enough fuel to run.  No Cylon ships of
any kind have been detected for several sectons.  For that we are thankful.
Even so where survival is concerned there is still a need for food and fuel.

        The agricultural ships have been in full production and so far have
been able to keep up with at least the basic demand.  From time to time we
do find sources on planets as we have been traveling.  The Duralian system
provided us with a very large amount of seed, which will produce enough to
last a very long time.  All of the seeds they gave are from high yeilding
hybrids, which will produce large quantities of fruits and vegetables.  All
they wanted in exchange were the answers to some equations regarding light
speed propulsion.  We were more than happy to oblige them.  I only hope that
as they expand their journey into space, they will never encounter anything
like we have with the Cylons.  The Duralians are a wonderful and brilliant
people with great potential.
        Fleet maintenance has been tremendous to keep up with, eventhough
it's been broken down to make it easier to manage.  Each group has ten ships
to monitor and maintain.  When I was assigned as head of maintenance and R&D
for the entire fleet, I had no idea what I was getting into.  Although
technically, I am an engineer, we've all taken on other duties as
neccessary.  Most of the ships are fairly space worthy, some more so than
others.  There are a few however that I would just assume scuttle into the
nearest star.  Four propulsion drives blew, three computer cores had to be
rebuilt, and five stress breaches manifested in the hull of one cargo ship,
which we barely managed to save.  All of this happened within a twenty
centar period.  It was not fun to say the least, but we are managing to keep
things together.  
        The NeSchon is originally from Aria.  It was designed for scientific
research, specifically energy research.  I suppose that's why this ship was
designated for Maintenance and Engineering R&D.  Most of the equipment was
already on board, and functioning. By combining energy R&D with fleet
maintenance we find it to be very efficient.  We can monitor the problems
we're having, and research them at the same time.
        Siress Belloby and her team have made great strides in engine
efficiency on many of the ships.  They have developed many new theories, but
without the resources, it's difficult to research and implement them.  They
have been working with what's available, and have done their best with with
what we have.
        We were on our way home from a long range research project when the
holocaust happened, and had returned just in time to see the aftermath.  One
hell of a reception, and not what anyone expected or wanted. In the little
time we had, we did what we could to get what ships were left into space and
on our way,"

        "Captain  Molfe," the voice came from the com speaker at the door
behind him, breaking his concentration.
        "Just a moment," he answered.  "End log."  He carefully sat his
down, got up rom the chair, and went over to the door, adjusting his uniform
as he was walking.  When he got to the door, he pushed the top button on the
panel next to the frame, and the door slid open.  Ensign Egibso was standing
at the door.  Molfe greeted him.
        "Please come in."  Egibso entered and the door slid closed behind
him.
        "What is it Ensign?".
        "Sir, Commander Adama has called a meeting at 1300 centares on the
Galactica."
        "Was there any mention of what it's about?", inquired Molfe.
        "No sir, I was only told to deliver the message.  Also sir, it was
requested that if the current fuel status and maintenance reports were
ready, Command would like to have them forwarded as soon as possible."
        "Not a problem, I finished them last night  Anything else Ensign?"
        "No sir"
        "Very well.  Thank you. Your dismissed."
        "Yes sir"
        Egibso turned and left.
        "What could possibly be going on?" puzzled Molfe.  He knew what ever
it was, could not be good.  The current fuel situation told him that.
Problems were about to come his way.  The rest of the morning was going to
be shot, with the preoccupation of the meeting on his mind.
    The fuel and maintenance reports had been completed last night, as he
had told the ensign, with the exception of the summary.  That would take no
time at all, and then the report could be forwarded to command.  He sat back
down in his chair, picked up his cup, the steam still rising from it, and
began the summary.  The rest of the log entry would have to wait until
later.

        The ride on the shuttle craft from the NeSchon to the Galactica was
not out of the ordinary.  The fleet was now passing by one of the most
beautiful nebulas ever seen.  Swirls of violet, red, orange and yellow with
varying depths of flickering light of various other colors from the center
all the way to outer rings, in perfect spirals.  The view was much better
here because the NeSchon was on the other side of the fleet.  The passengers
were all preoccupied with the nebula, as they were all peering out the
windows.  Molfe was thinking about the rear stabilizers on the shuttle.
Although none of the other passengers felt it, he could feel very slight and
minor vibrations running through the floor along the center axis of the
ship, as he was sitting in an aisle seat.  He knew the rear stablizers were
out of alignment.  He made a mental note to himself to have a work request
put in after the meeting.  "Just another something that needs fixed.", he
thought.
        Siress Belloby sat next to him.  She was dressed to the nines as
though she was going to a formal gathering.  It was no secret that she and
Adama were not strangers to one another.  As far as any further knowledge of
things between them, it was still part of the unknown.
        "You seem preoccupied Molfe, talk to me, tell me what you're
thinking."
        Siress Belloby is without a doubt a one of kind and an original.
She's every bit a lady who knows her own mind, and is willing to speak it
without reservation. In spite of her appearance as a gracious lady, she can
take care of herself as well as any warrior in the fleet.  Although she has
no military rank, she was made head of the quantum resarch team, and does
have substantial influence in the rest of R&D.  She unquestionably has a
mind for engineering and research of the highest calliber and brilliance.
Sometimes she can seem somewhat flighty, but she knows and has taught more
about quantum dynamics than any one could have ever gotten from the academy.
Brash at times, and very much a headache, life would not be the same with
out her.  In her own unique way she has adopted the entire R&D crew and
staff as her "children" as to speak, and watches after her little family
like a hawk. "Auntie Bell" as she is known as, has fought just about
everyone on the council, and half the fleet.  The funny thing is, when she
does go to war, she's always right, and it doesn't matter who it is, Belloby
is right.
        "I was just thinking I need to put in a work request to get the rear
stabilizers on this shuttle realigned.  That's all."
        "Oh please, tell me another one."  She adjusted her postion in the
seat to look at him directly.  "Now, what's really on your mind, and don't
give me the run around.  We've been working together, and have known each
other too long now, for you to think you can pull one on me.  Now, talk to
me."
        Molfe knew that as always, Auntie Bell was right, and this was going
to be a no win situation.  He would have to concede.  He also knew she
genuinely cared, and how much she cared.  Elswise she wouldn't be this way
with him and the rest of the staff and crew.
        "It's just this meeting that's all.  Short notice meetings generally
never have any good news, and they usually make things complicated for me.
With the current fuel situation..." he trailed off.
        Belloby knew that was a truthful answer, and was satisfied she got
it.  She didn't like his pessimism and was not happy with that aspect of the
answer.  Molfe knew she wasn't going to let it go, and he was going to hear
more.  Much more.  She placed her hand on his, and curled her fingers firmly
into his palm.
     "Look at me Molfe.  Now that's not always true, and you know it. Even
if it is, it's like I've been trying to tell all of you, or should I say
teach all of you.  You have to make the most of, with what ever you've got.
You have to learn to adapt circumstance to your advantage, and use them as
resource.  Elsewise, circumstance will always be dictating you, and you're
not going to get anywhere, or get anything accomplished."
        He was hearing what she was saying, but he was not listening to what
she was saying in spite of conscious effort to do so.  He knew that it would
come back come back to haunt him, maybe not today or tomorrow, but it will.
        She put a hand gently on the side of his face, and he felt her
gentleness, as she looked him right in the eye.
        "So, do you understand what I'm telling you"
        He conceded as he knew he would, and smiled.  "I understand." 
        "Good".
        She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, as a mother would kiss
her child, and they smiled at each other.
        The clearance for docking came through the comm system speaker.
        "Shuttle Protello, you're cleared to dock in bay five.  Hope you
enjoy your visit"
        The pilot responded.  "Acknowledged Galactica. Thank you, Protello
out."  Speaking over her shoulder to her passengers.  "O.K. everyone, we're
cleared for docking."
        The passengers watched through the front window of the shuttle, as
the Protello approached the docking bay on the Galactica.  Every time Molfe
saw the Galactica from the docking approach, it was like he was always
seeing it for the first time.  She was always impressive to him, and always
would be.

        Molfe exited the shuttle with Belloby on his arm.  She was still
talking, but he really wasn't listening.  The Alpha four maintenance  crew
was working on another shuttle and he thought about the rear stabilizers on
the Protello.  He decided not to say anything, and let the work request run
through the proper channels.  That way it would all get logged and
documented.   Pulling rank when people were busy is one thing Molfe was not
fond of doing, especially with minor stuff.  It took the maintenance and
repair crews away from important things, and upset the balance of the
command heirarchy.  There were only a few jobs which were quick and appeared
minor, but of a great and essential importance. Replacing the targeting
circuts in the Vipers only took ten microns to do, and is quick and minor,
but is of great importance.  If the technician was taken away to do
something else, and it never got done, the potential could be disastrous.
It's these types of things Molfe understands.
        His crew knows he understands these types of things, and that's how
he's earned their respect.  He would never ask anyone to do anything that he
wouldn't do himself.  It's not out of the ordinary to see him crawl out of a
maintenance shaft, covered in grime with rips and tears in his uniform.  In
the yarhens that he'd been in command, he never had to forcibly reassign
anyone except once, and that was medical.  The crew saw him for what he was.
Patient, fair and understanding and most importantly, human, just like them
and no different. 
     Molfe's temper was rarely seen, but when it was, it was only under
extreme provocation.  It had gotten him into trouble a few times back in his
youth, and released demons that still haunt him all these yarhens later.
His battles were private and he fully intended to keep them that way.  It
was for those reasons he learned to control his temper, and chooses his
battles with care.

     They entered the conference room and the large oval table with the a
clear glass top set center in the room, supported by curvatures of brass
beneath.  On the far side were windows with points of light passing quickly
by on the other side of them.  At one end of the room a map of the system
being searched for tylium was on the display monitor, large enough for
everyone to see clearly when seated around the table.  It was mounted to the
wall behind what was more or less the head of the table.
        Commander Adama stood on the opposite side of the room talking to
Athena and a couple of counsel members.  He saw Siress Belloby and waved to
her and smiled.
        "Excuse me, I must greet someone.", he said as he excused himself.
        Molfe saw the light in Belloby's face light more so than usual as
Adama was approaching.  She let go of Molfe's arm and stepped slightly
forward to greet Adama.
        "Belloby, It's so good to see you.", he said smiling.
When he was close enough, she put her arms around his shoulders, and they
hugged each other. 
        "You to," as she kissed him on the cheek, "Where have you been you
silver haired rascal?  I know you haven't forgotten about me now have you?",
she smiled.
        "No one could forget you Belloby.", replied Adama.
        "You got that right."
        He looked at her for a secton, she was still everything she always
was, has been and will be. 
        "In all the Yarhens I have known you, you are still pretty
spectacular.  You haven't changed one bit, or lost a thing."
        "And every last piece of it's in working order too.  I can show you
some of the most amazing maintenance routines, anytime your heart desires."
She smiled, laughed and winked at him, in a style and candor that was her's
and her's alone.
        Adama blushed a bit at Belloby's comment, as he caught the innuendo.
He just wasn't so sure it really was an innuendo.  Molfe had never seen the
two of them together before, and in a rare moment in time, was speechless.
It didn't happen often, but it only figures that Siress Belloby would have
been the one to do it him.  Her notoriety for that ability was a well
established part of her character and reputation, which both preceeded her
endlessly.  Molfe was taken a back.  
    Adama quickly realized he had not properly greeted Captain Molfe.
     "Captain Molfe, it's good to see you.  How are things on the NeSchon?",
as he extended his hand to shake it.
        "Very well sir." Molfe smiled slightly, as he reached for Adama's
hand to shake it.  Molfe was a little nervous.  This scenario between
Belloby and Adama had caught him completely off gaurd.
        "Good.  I wanted to say thank you for getting the fuel and
maintenance reports sent over earlier.  I know it wasn't due until later,
but we really needed it before this briefing.  I apologize for doing this to
you on such short notice."
        "No problem sir."
        "I'll explain it all shortly."
        "Is he good or is he good Adama?" said Belloby talking about Molfe.
        "Yes, he is.", answered Adama.  
        Molfe appreciated the comment from Adama.  Adama then looked around
the room,  taking a mental role of who was there.  He seemed satisfied with
his observations by the look on his face.
        "It looks like everyone is here, I think we should get things
underway."