Fanfic: On Starlit Wings 3/?
Oct. 7th, 2009 06:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bibliodragonOn Starlit Wings 3/?
Rating: Teen
Characters: Bill Adama, Ensemble
Summary: Captain William Adama and the crew of the dragon Galactica are to be posted to the Americas; Britain's Aerial Dragon Corps having little use for the aging dragon. But first there is the treacherous crossing of the Atlantic to be taken; tensions between the crews of ship and dragon and family, and why has the Lady Laura Roslin taken passage aboard a dragon transport ship? And then there are rumours of sightings of the ships and dragons of a group of pirates known only as the Cylons... A Battlestar Galactica/Temeraire crossover AU.
Disclaimer: Not my characters, I'm just borrowing them. Not my world, I'm just playing in it. They belong to RDM, Syfy etc. and Naomi Novik.
Galactica would not hear of him sending his apologies to Captian Nagala along with his excuses for not attending, even though she never much cared for social engagements that took Adama away from her before.
"So you can tell me everything afterwords, since I never get invited because I can't fit," was her elusive answer when he had questioned this.
"You've never been a socialite before," Adama said.
Galactica had shrugged and continued to eat her own meal with a studied indifference. She had all the subtlety and wiliness that a dragon of almost 20 tons needed, not much indeed, and there was a definite shifty air about her. He would rather not dwell on such a personal issue, and had no illusions about his son's stubbornness; but if Galactica had any misconceptions that he would suddenly see reason it would be best to let her down gently to avoid disappointment.
"You do know that the captain's table will be no place to talk to Lee, even if he is not on watch or some other on some other duty?"
"I am not thinking that at all. What is that to me? I am merely thinking of not wanting the sailors to take offence." She rustled her wings and turned her head away in an offhand manner, though he could see her glance down at him through one large reddish-brown eye.
Then there was the important issue of who to bring; he would have preferred to bring Tigh, even if he did tend to be mulish in his cups, but he was still claiming seasickness.
"Not that I'm happy to turn down an invitation; they'll probably be serving much better food and drink than what we get," he said, looking in a fine temper if still a little green around the edges. "Even if the entertainment with those stuffed shirts won't be up to much."
"And I'm sure they will miss your company too, but I'm sure there will be plenty of other opportunities to show off your social manners."
"Like hell!"
But there could be no denying that it would break up the monotony of the trip; and perhaps could go a way towards soothing the rumblings of rivalry between the aerial crew and the crew of the ship if their officers could maintain a cordial relationship. He had forgotten about their fellow passengers, so when he and the handful of officers he had picked out as unlikely to cause any offence to Navy sensibilities arrived he was surprised to see a lady sitting at the Captains table.
Quickly getting over his initial surprise, Adama surreptitiously glanced at his men to make sure that they knew to behave themselves in mixed company; luckily Lieutenants Agathon and Gaeta could be relied upon, and perhaps it was a good thing that Tigh was not with them.
Looking around briefly, and noticing with some dread Lee who did not look at him as he entered the cabin, he observed that there were other non Navy personnel attending also, and from the reticence of some of the Naval officers he steadied himself for an evening of awkward and stifling politeness.
At least the food and drink were excellent, better than what the Aviators received, though he much preferred the relaxed atmosphere and informality of his crews communal dining. And it did give him an opportunity to observe their fellow passengers, and at their introduction he could only continue to wonder even more at what would have brought them upon such a vessel.
While his visits into Society were brief in the past and had been at the behest of his wife when they had been attempting a cordial marital front, he knew Lady Laura Roslin only by reputation; the only surviving daughter of a Peer and unmarried despite her age and very much a respectable lady. With her were a Mr Keikeya, rather awkward young man and introduced as her ward, and the Reverend Gaius Baltar, who looked put out when Adama admitted that he had never heard of him. “But I suppose you would not get out into society much, being tied to your beast as you are,” Baltar said with swift recovery and much to Adama's irritation. "Though I have just lately given a talk for the Royal Society refuting some of Sir Edward Howe latest fanciful ideas, but perhaps too soon for that to have reached Aviator circles."
"Unfortunately not." Adama managed to respond with a measure of politeness, but was secretly pleased when the other man quailed visibly under his glare.
"I am sure Captain Adama's duties leave him with little time for such things," Lady Laura interjected, meeting Adama's gaze quite calmly.
He did not care for her condescension. "I am sure it is no more than any other division of His Majesty's Forces," he said gruffly.
From the expressions on several of the naval officers faces it seemed they did not care to be lumped in with aviators. "Though ships require a quite different type of handling than a dragon," said one.
"Yes, and a ship can't turn around and, uh, refuse orders," one of the younger officers managed to recover with a guilty glance towards Lady Laura, though the intended words 'eat people' were still obviously clear.
"A dragon is only as likely to refuse orders as any other common soldier," was Adama's sharp response.
"Or perhaps any common soldier with 10 tons behind them," Baltar said, to a ripple of amusement from the naval officers.
"Are you and your dragon posted to the Caribbean?" Keikeya asked in the silence that followed.
"I would have thought all dragons would have been used on the front," the Atlantia's first Lieutenant said. "I can only wonder at what a heavyweight would be needed for there."
"We go where we are ordered," Adama said, irritated because it was what he himself had often wondered.
"Perhaps the tradesmen are worried that piracy might raise its ugly head once more," Baltar said with amusement. "Though there has been talk of rumours at numerous events I have lately attended, it is almost as if people wish such romantic notions to be true."
"More likely the French up to no good," was Captain Nagala's opinion. "I believe the corps has a Longwing out there, Captain?"
"Pegasus. Yes," Adama said. While more detailed discussion of the war would have normally provided a sure topic of conversation that could bridge the gap between the two factions, with Lady Laura present they were forced to struggle for more neutral subjects. Awkward silence would have likely reigned had it not been for Gaius Baltar's skill of conversation: he had a charming ease that did nothing to further recommend him to Adama, but as Lieutenant Gaeta had apparently read some of his articles they were able to carry enough conversation to distract and a fine excuse for the others less learned to merely listen rather than take part.
Still, the time between courses continued to crawl, and the atmosphere was thick enough for even that conversation to falter. No doubt used to more stimulating dinner conversation, Lady Laura made an effort. "Lieutenant Adama, am I right in assuming a family connection between yourself and Captain Adama?"
Lee looked surprised at being so addressed, but managed to answer "my father," with cool politeness before taking refuge in his glass. Staring fixedly at his plate Adama thought he felt her gaze upon him but when he glanced up she was looking away.
"That is unusual, I had thought Aviators tended to run in families?" Baltar said.
"My mother's father was an officer in the merchant navy, so the sea is in my blood also," Lee said stiffly.
Cutting too hard, the sudden crack of his knife against his plate was almost like a gunshot in the stuffy cabin. Adama looked up briefly and murmured an apology.
"Billy, I believe you have not spoken of our trip to London." Lady Laura sailed forth once more and they managed to carry the conversation to the end of the meal.
Port and cigars were taken out on deck, the cool night breeze welcome after the heat of the cabin; being the only woman of the party Lady Laura joined them but prudently took a place at the rail a short distance away with he ward at her side, allowing the men some freedom to converse.
Looking over the dragon deck, Adama could see that Galactica was still awake; her head was up and she was watching the sailors in the rigging while keeping perfectly still, but he could see from the slight bristling of the ridge of spines down her neck that something had annoyed her.
"I have not seen a dragon of her like before; she is not one of the British breeds is she?"
He looked at Lady Laura in some surprise; he had not been aware that in checking on the dragon he had moved closer to her than the men behind them.
"No, she was hatched in Central America, but her mother was a Regal Copper and she has more than proven herself to be the equal of that breed." He knew he sounded defensive, but it was a long standing sore point. But Lady Laura merely responded with a nondescript hum.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, with just the murmurs of conversation behind them and the creaks and groans of the ship as she ploughed through the water. Rather than put her through more awkward conversation, he excused himself by saying he needed to check on Galactica. She nodded politely with a smile that did not reach her eyes and then turned back to Billy, though if she thought this just an excuse she gave no sign; it was an improvement of his experience of society women they often did not even try to conceal such feelings from Aviators, especially his wife.
Galactica watched his process but only gave a grumble of welcome once he was close enough to put his hand on her side.
"Is something troubling you?" he asked her. "You seem ruffled."
"Just bored," she said, though she darted a quick glare in the direction of nearby sailors.
"Have they been bothering you?"
"They wouldn't dare trouble us," was her enigmatic response. Stepping round he spotted a figure hidden by her bulk, leaning against her side and smoking a cigar.
"What do you hear Starbuck?"
"Nothing but the rain sir."
"Have you been bothering them?"
Lieutenant Kara Thrace just grinned. "'Course not sir. I've just been keeping Galactica company, that's all."
"We don't get to dine with the Captain," Galactica said with a sniff.
"Now that's not fair, you are the one who practically pushed me into going. And Kara understands why she couldn't go."
"Can't have the Navy knowing our deep dark secret now, I know. Besides, there's plenty of others things I'd rather do than have to listen to that stuck up lot. Like sitting here listening to the sailors grumble. They've been whispering about ships on this route that have been going missing, so we might get to see some action after all." The young woman looked positively eager.
"Just sailor rumours. Go get your head down."
"Yes sir, I understand, need to be rested for another day of doing nothing."
"Go to bed Starbuck."
Hiding his amusement he glared at her, but she was unperturbed as she headed to the stairs that led to their cabins. Galactica moved her leg forward for him in invitation, and once he was sitting with his back against her chest he felt the tension he did not know he had begin to leave his body.
Rating: Teen
Characters: Bill Adama, Ensemble
Summary: Captain William Adama and the crew of the dragon Galactica are to be posted to the Americas; Britain's Aerial Dragon Corps having little use for the aging dragon. But first there is the treacherous crossing of the Atlantic to be taken; tensions between the crews of ship and dragon and family, and why has the Lady Laura Roslin taken passage aboard a dragon transport ship? And then there are rumours of sightings of the ships and dragons of a group of pirates known only as the Cylons... A Battlestar Galactica/Temeraire crossover AU.
Disclaimer: Not my characters, I'm just borrowing them. Not my world, I'm just playing in it. They belong to RDM, Syfy etc. and Naomi Novik.
Galactica would not hear of him sending his apologies to Captian Nagala along with his excuses for not attending, even though she never much cared for social engagements that took Adama away from her before.
"So you can tell me everything afterwords, since I never get invited because I can't fit," was her elusive answer when he had questioned this.
"You've never been a socialite before," Adama said.
Galactica had shrugged and continued to eat her own meal with a studied indifference. She had all the subtlety and wiliness that a dragon of almost 20 tons needed, not much indeed, and there was a definite shifty air about her. He would rather not dwell on such a personal issue, and had no illusions about his son's stubbornness; but if Galactica had any misconceptions that he would suddenly see reason it would be best to let her down gently to avoid disappointment.
"You do know that the captain's table will be no place to talk to Lee, even if he is not on watch or some other on some other duty?"
"I am not thinking that at all. What is that to me? I am merely thinking of not wanting the sailors to take offence." She rustled her wings and turned her head away in an offhand manner, though he could see her glance down at him through one large reddish-brown eye.
Then there was the important issue of who to bring; he would have preferred to bring Tigh, even if he did tend to be mulish in his cups, but he was still claiming seasickness.
"Not that I'm happy to turn down an invitation; they'll probably be serving much better food and drink than what we get," he said, looking in a fine temper if still a little green around the edges. "Even if the entertainment with those stuffed shirts won't be up to much."
"And I'm sure they will miss your company too, but I'm sure there will be plenty of other opportunities to show off your social manners."
"Like hell!"
But there could be no denying that it would break up the monotony of the trip; and perhaps could go a way towards soothing the rumblings of rivalry between the aerial crew and the crew of the ship if their officers could maintain a cordial relationship. He had forgotten about their fellow passengers, so when he and the handful of officers he had picked out as unlikely to cause any offence to Navy sensibilities arrived he was surprised to see a lady sitting at the Captains table.
Quickly getting over his initial surprise, Adama surreptitiously glanced at his men to make sure that they knew to behave themselves in mixed company; luckily Lieutenants Agathon and Gaeta could be relied upon, and perhaps it was a good thing that Tigh was not with them.
Looking around briefly, and noticing with some dread Lee who did not look at him as he entered the cabin, he observed that there were other non Navy personnel attending also, and from the reticence of some of the Naval officers he steadied himself for an evening of awkward and stifling politeness.
At least the food and drink were excellent, better than what the Aviators received, though he much preferred the relaxed atmosphere and informality of his crews communal dining. And it did give him an opportunity to observe their fellow passengers, and at their introduction he could only continue to wonder even more at what would have brought them upon such a vessel.
While his visits into Society were brief in the past and had been at the behest of his wife when they had been attempting a cordial marital front, he knew Lady Laura Roslin only by reputation; the only surviving daughter of a Peer and unmarried despite her age and very much a respectable lady. With her were a Mr Keikeya, rather awkward young man and introduced as her ward, and the Reverend Gaius Baltar, who looked put out when Adama admitted that he had never heard of him. “But I suppose you would not get out into society much, being tied to your beast as you are,” Baltar said with swift recovery and much to Adama's irritation. "Though I have just lately given a talk for the Royal Society refuting some of Sir Edward Howe latest fanciful ideas, but perhaps too soon for that to have reached Aviator circles."
"Unfortunately not." Adama managed to respond with a measure of politeness, but was secretly pleased when the other man quailed visibly under his glare.
"I am sure Captain Adama's duties leave him with little time for such things," Lady Laura interjected, meeting Adama's gaze quite calmly.
He did not care for her condescension. "I am sure it is no more than any other division of His Majesty's Forces," he said gruffly.
From the expressions on several of the naval officers faces it seemed they did not care to be lumped in with aviators. "Though ships require a quite different type of handling than a dragon," said one.
"Yes, and a ship can't turn around and, uh, refuse orders," one of the younger officers managed to recover with a guilty glance towards Lady Laura, though the intended words 'eat people' were still obviously clear.
"A dragon is only as likely to refuse orders as any other common soldier," was Adama's sharp response.
"Or perhaps any common soldier with 10 tons behind them," Baltar said, to a ripple of amusement from the naval officers.
"Are you and your dragon posted to the Caribbean?" Keikeya asked in the silence that followed.
"I would have thought all dragons would have been used on the front," the Atlantia's first Lieutenant said. "I can only wonder at what a heavyweight would be needed for there."
"We go where we are ordered," Adama said, irritated because it was what he himself had often wondered.
"Perhaps the tradesmen are worried that piracy might raise its ugly head once more," Baltar said with amusement. "Though there has been talk of rumours at numerous events I have lately attended, it is almost as if people wish such romantic notions to be true."
"More likely the French up to no good," was Captain Nagala's opinion. "I believe the corps has a Longwing out there, Captain?"
"Pegasus. Yes," Adama said. While more detailed discussion of the war would have normally provided a sure topic of conversation that could bridge the gap between the two factions, with Lady Laura present they were forced to struggle for more neutral subjects. Awkward silence would have likely reigned had it not been for Gaius Baltar's skill of conversation: he had a charming ease that did nothing to further recommend him to Adama, but as Lieutenant Gaeta had apparently read some of his articles they were able to carry enough conversation to distract and a fine excuse for the others less learned to merely listen rather than take part.
Still, the time between courses continued to crawl, and the atmosphere was thick enough for even that conversation to falter. No doubt used to more stimulating dinner conversation, Lady Laura made an effort. "Lieutenant Adama, am I right in assuming a family connection between yourself and Captain Adama?"
Lee looked surprised at being so addressed, but managed to answer "my father," with cool politeness before taking refuge in his glass. Staring fixedly at his plate Adama thought he felt her gaze upon him but when he glanced up she was looking away.
"That is unusual, I had thought Aviators tended to run in families?" Baltar said.
"My mother's father was an officer in the merchant navy, so the sea is in my blood also," Lee said stiffly.
Cutting too hard, the sudden crack of his knife against his plate was almost like a gunshot in the stuffy cabin. Adama looked up briefly and murmured an apology.
"Billy, I believe you have not spoken of our trip to London." Lady Laura sailed forth once more and they managed to carry the conversation to the end of the meal.
Port and cigars were taken out on deck, the cool night breeze welcome after the heat of the cabin; being the only woman of the party Lady Laura joined them but prudently took a place at the rail a short distance away with he ward at her side, allowing the men some freedom to converse.
Looking over the dragon deck, Adama could see that Galactica was still awake; her head was up and she was watching the sailors in the rigging while keeping perfectly still, but he could see from the slight bristling of the ridge of spines down her neck that something had annoyed her.
"I have not seen a dragon of her like before; she is not one of the British breeds is she?"
He looked at Lady Laura in some surprise; he had not been aware that in checking on the dragon he had moved closer to her than the men behind them.
"No, she was hatched in Central America, but her mother was a Regal Copper and she has more than proven herself to be the equal of that breed." He knew he sounded defensive, but it was a long standing sore point. But Lady Laura merely responded with a nondescript hum.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, with just the murmurs of conversation behind them and the creaks and groans of the ship as she ploughed through the water. Rather than put her through more awkward conversation, he excused himself by saying he needed to check on Galactica. She nodded politely with a smile that did not reach her eyes and then turned back to Billy, though if she thought this just an excuse she gave no sign; it was an improvement of his experience of society women they often did not even try to conceal such feelings from Aviators, especially his wife.
Galactica watched his process but only gave a grumble of welcome once he was close enough to put his hand on her side.
"Is something troubling you?" he asked her. "You seem ruffled."
"Just bored," she said, though she darted a quick glare in the direction of nearby sailors.
"Have they been bothering you?"
"They wouldn't dare trouble us," was her enigmatic response. Stepping round he spotted a figure hidden by her bulk, leaning against her side and smoking a cigar.
"What do you hear Starbuck?"
"Nothing but the rain sir."
"Have you been bothering them?"
Lieutenant Kara Thrace just grinned. "'Course not sir. I've just been keeping Galactica company, that's all."
"We don't get to dine with the Captain," Galactica said with a sniff.
"Now that's not fair, you are the one who practically pushed me into going. And Kara understands why she couldn't go."
"Can't have the Navy knowing our deep dark secret now, I know. Besides, there's plenty of others things I'd rather do than have to listen to that stuck up lot. Like sitting here listening to the sailors grumble. They've been whispering about ships on this route that have been going missing, so we might get to see some action after all." The young woman looked positively eager.
"Just sailor rumours. Go get your head down."
"Yes sir, I understand, need to be rested for another day of doing nothing."
"Go to bed Starbuck."
Hiding his amusement he glared at her, but she was unperturbed as she headed to the stairs that led to their cabins. Galactica moved her leg forward for him in invitation, and once he was sitting with his back against her chest he felt the tension he did not know he had begin to leave his body.
