The Reclaimer Wars:The Reaper Crisis

Shining Lights on the Horizon

Aboard the Colonial One

"Far be it from me to comment on the developments that have unfolded while being stuck in my bloody laboratory, madam President," Doctor Baltar spoke at the convened Quorum of Twelve, a bit miffed that this was even an open issue, "But should we not be voting for this already? It has been some time since our arrival within the confines of this Milky Way and we have a way open to not one, but two Earths."

As the Quorum, the representative legislative body of the Twelve Colonies, began to speak to one-another in murmurs and hushed whispers in front of the President, she rubbed her temples and told them, "The discussion began the moment I went to talk to the other human factions present, doctor. I'm acutely aware of what this means for all of us. It is basically the end of our journey..."

"As Vice President, I feel it's necessary to remind you every once in a while that said matter should finally be put to a vote. A referendum should be held within the Fleet, to see where people want to go," Baltar shot back while the group deliberated. Roslin stared at her VP and the fleet's lead egghead with mild annoyance.

"As much as we'd love to, I want to get every detail out of our two possible resettlement locations beforehand," She told him and the Quorum at large, "Informing the people, however, is a good step toward preparing us to make the choice of where to settle. All of you may inform your specific Colonial groups about the current developments."

"We will convene with our peoples, then," One of the Quorum members replied, strangely calm, "Let them know."

"I will hopefully have enough information so that our people can make an educated guess on where we should request asylum," The woman told them, "Until then, update your people as you see fit. The Quorum will continue reconvening in Extraordinary Session for the next few weeks as we make our decision... So Say We All."

"So Say We All," Chorused everybody. The sound of creaking chairs and footsteps soon filled the main passenger hold of the Colonial One as the people began to file out. Roslin, Billy and other aides, as well as the Secret Service, casually began writing up more information. Sat on the left side of the President's desk, amidst all the papers, were two touch-screen datapads.

One was bulky, dark-grey and military-like, with a reinforced case and corners made of rubber. The other was a more sophisticated, 'soft science-fiction'(For lack of a better term), very thin tablet that almost seemed like a frame with a central hard-light haptic interface in nature. Terrifically interesting difference.

Baltar approached, pointed at one and asked, "May I see that...?" to which Roslin gave him a wave of the hand. He picked up the Tablet that specifically belonged to the Systems Alliance and found it to be a recollection of their history, their formation and their combat against the Turians barely forty years ago. It seemed as though their Thirteenth Colony brethren here bore strife in their lives, too.

"Before you ask," Roslin sighed, rubbing her eyes, "The two Earths share a history up to the twenty-second century. The United Nations Space Command themselves have spoken in detail of their pre-unification conflicts, as well as their most recent and bloodiest war... They told us of the Human-Covenant War live, however."

"I see..." Baltar hummed as he skimmed through some of the details. He said, "Well, I know just by looking at one tablet whom my vote is cast toward."

"The Alliance?" The woman blinked, "Why?"

"It seems fairly utopic there. Even with all the disagreements between the local nations making up the Alliance, they've come together over the common goal of exploring space and have done it in a little over four decades since the discovery of their portion of these 'Mass Relays'," The man explained as he showed her the data, "They're the youngest power, but they have the strength to match local threats."