Starfields
PROLOGUE: 23 Years Ago
Commander Adama watched with great sadness as the Cylon warships tore through the vastness of space toward the dim blue jewel that was the Earth. Vipers were in pursuit, but Adama knew that at least some of the Cylons would make it to the Thirteenth Colony.
On the screens around them, he could see broadcasts of celebrations. The people of Earth were preparing to celebrate an event they called New Year's Day, unaware of the terror they were about to face.
Adama watched the happy celebrations for a moment. Then turned to the youth standing grimly beside him.
"Is there nothing we can do, Dr. Zee?" he asked, solemnly.
"We've done all we can, Commander," Dr. Zee said. "We cannot prevent the attack. All we can do now is destroy the Base Star while the ships are busy with Earth. Then when they return we will engage the fighters."
Adama frowned at the boy whom he often thought of as an honorary grandson, even though he had a perfectly good grandson of his own.
"What about Troy and Dillon?" Adama asked. "Or the Scouts?"
"I will pass a message on to them if you like," Dr. Zee promised.
"You?" Adama stared at him, aghast. "Surely you're not going down there!"
Dr. Zee nodded. "The events taking place now are likely to cause a panic amongst the population. It is my intention to use my ship to send a mind-erasing tone through the atmosphere. Everyone outside my ship will hear it and their memory will be erased."
"Including Troy and Dillon and the others?" Adama asked.
"Yes," Dr. Zee said. "They won't remember the Galactica or the Cylons. And perhaps it will be better that way. It will make integration into the world around them much easier."
Adama nodded grimly.
Dr. Zee was almost never wrong.