Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Present Day

Brother Cavil led a group of pilgrims (mostly young couples) into the hills above Delphi for a wilderness retreat. He glanced at his watch to make certain the group would have enough time to get away from the city and avoid the worst of the nuclear fallout to come.

While most of his fellow infiltrators worked to undermine Colonial defenses Cavil had the task of preserving a few examples of good genetic stock. The commandment to be fruitful and multiply still drove the Cylons. Their own failures were a heavy burden.

It would be over soon. Simon had the ‘clinic’ set up and ready for them. Cavil would make certain the group ‘accidentally’ stumbled upon it a few hours after the attack. The men would be killed and the women preserved. And soon after that, survivors could be brought in from across the planet.

Unknown to Cavil a half dozen molecular sized transmitters secreted on his body kept his position well marked.

A couple of thousand kilometers away in Caprica City Six stared into a crib. Such a wondrous creation, she thought. Small fragile and yet her people were unable to duplicate this tiny miracle.

Six wondered how it would die. Quickly in the nuclear fire to come or slowly of radiation poisoning or starvation. They were on the outskirts of Caprica City, in the new market development that linked the city with the sub-divisions and housing expanding into the hills to the west. The odds were most of the humans in this area would survive the initial blast wave but be subjected to lethal radiation levels.

As the mother turned away from the crib, Six reached inside. Her attention concentrated on the infant Six never saw the small shimmer, like light reflecting off a mirror, occurring three meters above her. She applied a small amount pressure and the baby stopped making noise. Six quickly rose, turned and lost herself in the crowd.

As she walked away Six expected to hear the cries of a terrified and grief stricken mother, but they never came. Shaking her head Six was appalled by how indifferent humans were to their environment. The mother had not yet noticed something was wrong.

God was right to replace them.

Behind her, a mother picked up her cooing baby and gave him to his father to carry.

----

22 Years ago (Colonial reckoning)

---- To –Incident Group
-------- From – GSV – Tripping Through the Stars (Incident Coordinator)

So, we are agreed on a basic course of action.

Covert infiltration of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol to facilitate societal development and pave the way for Contact to open direct communications. Approximate timeline: 47 years to complete the project. Assuming base stabilization can be achieved within the first 20 years.

As for the Cylons; behavioral patterns and societal development remain unstable. The consensus opinion, based on examination of the Colonial genome and current Cylon experiments in biological constructs, is that the Cylons represent a breakdown in the failsafe system designed to hold the humans at a set development level.

For now the determination is we retain close observation of the Cylons and only intervene if:

a – Contact or Special Circumstances develops an effective intervention program (either open or covert) that will stabilize their social structure and move them along a more beneficial development path.

b – The Cylons develop into a Hegemonic Swarm and intervention is necessary to prevent harm to the Colonials or other sentients.

Unknown at this time who created this experiment; a current Involved civilization, an Elder civilization or a civilization that Sublimed.

---- To –Incident Group
-------- From – GCU – Dew of the Morning Flower

The group has reached a consensus but I wish to log my formal objections one last time.

I still say we should stay out of it all together.

We are dealing with an Elder Artifact. And given the behavioral patterns of both the Colonials and Cylons it seems clear to me that somebody is still interfering with their societal development. The pattern of disruption is too complex to be caused by a programmed failsafe. I maintain it shows active involvement from something that may not appreciate our interference.

I for one don’t want to get slapped down by one of the Sublimed.

---- To –Incident Group
-------- From – GCU – Dancing on Pinheads

We’ve had this argument already.

We’ve been doing close monitoring, including covert observational infiltration, for six years now without a peep from anyone.

If we’re going to hide the shadows worried about one of the Sublimed coming down from their mountain and actually DOING something beyond contemplating their navels for once we’d never get anything done.

We are seeing the affects of a long term social engineering project initiated by an Elder civilization before they Sublimed and abandoned it. The breakdowns we are observing in both societies are the result of the failsafe system turning rogue without its original creators available to act as a control. Given current patterns we are all agreed that both societies will collapse into a genocidal conflict within the next 20-25 years.

Covert intervention is only possible if we start soon. Otherwise circumstances will force us to either intervene directly, with all the projected risks, or watch both civilizations die.

---- To –Incident Group
-------- From – GSV – Tripping Through the Stars (Incident Coordinator)

The objection is noted.

Inquiries with the Elders have been met with silence (the majority) or denial of involvement with the Twelve Colonies. Also no answer as to what civilization might have set up this experiment.

Our limited backdoors with the Sublimed have also yielded no replies.

Infiltration of the Twelve Colonies will move forward per Special Circumstances’ plan.

---- To –Incident Group
-------- From – GCU – How Many Roads Can a Mind Walk Down

Excellent.

It’s about time.

I have a recommendation for someone I feel would be perfect for the initial infiltration team.