Writer Note – I've replaced the old part One and two with this one as it brings the word count closer to that of the later chapters I've done the same with the old parts 3 and 4 merging them into one part. The chapter count along the bottom is a little off due to that but it at least reads a little better

Space Above and Beyond Crossover

Prologue

The African-American commander Commodore Ross of the United States Naval Space Carrier USS Saratoga crossed the vessel's small Command Centre "Colonel, a word"

"Sir" Colonel TC McQueen commander of the Saratoga's 58th fighter wing said standing up from the smoking console he'd been trying to get online. The carrier had been ambushed on manoeuvres by an alien race known as the Chigs. The ship had been badly beaten in the fight barely escaping the enemy.

"We are in a race we can't win Colonel" he said in a low voice "those three enemy Battleships will catch us within the hour no matter what we do."

"We still have fight in us, we'll give them a fight" McQueen said defiantly

"That I will" Ross replied "you however and the 58th have other tasking orders."

"Sir, our place is with the Saratoga"

"Your place is where I put you Colonel" Ross said sternly "I want you to command our APCs, and as many crewmen they can carry, take them through the Wormhole and meet up with friendly forces to fight again.

"You want us to run? The 58th this ships best squadron!"

"There also the only intact one, today the 58th serve the greater good. Tomorrow you pay these bastards a visit they won't forget in a hurry."

"I can promise you that sir" McQueen said coming to attention saluting

"Get to it" Ross ordered returning the salute "any of you who wish you join the 58th are free to" he said to the command crew none moved from their ruined consoles instead they continued repairs McQueen nodded and left the room.

Three quarters of an hour later the 58th Squadron The Wildcards were ready to launch McQueen stood in front of them "your planes and you skills are all that stand between defending our four APCs we've put as many crew and supplies we can on these ships there is enough fuel to get us to the fleet if we can survive that long. The Saratoga plans to engage the enemy we need to run, it sounds simple it won't be, we know this ship and her crew they are part of us there is nothing about the next few hours that will be easy."

"We should turn and burn them there's only a couple" Cooper Hawke said defiantly.

"Yeah only a couple" McQueen repeated "a couple too many. We have orders we need to stick to them. Today the crew we've crammed on these ships need us more than to kill a couple of Chigs." He said making the point clearly "do your duty to them and get to your planes."

Soon after the eight Hammerhead Fighters launched from the underside of the Saratoga as the Carrier began its turn soon after four Heavy lift APCs rose from the Carrier's upper hull "Queen Six to Queen of Hearts, match speed and course" McQueen ordered from one of the APCs Captain Shane Vansen lead pilot of the squadron turned her fighter to join the APCs the other seven fighters following her immediately.

"The Saratoga's turning" Paul Wang callsign Joker called out

"By the time they do the Chigs will be all over them" Lt Nathan West the squadron XO noted

"We should join them" Hawke called out

"Not our place Jack of Spades, not today" Vansen reminded him as the fighters continued away from the carrier. "All fighters hold your course, Saratoga from Queen of Hearts, thank you and good luck." The eight Hammerhead Fighters and four APCs continued on a course leaving the pilots to watch as the Saratoga charged into the onslaught of the three enemy capital ships. The carrier carried significant ship-to-ship armaments but it had no chance against three enemies without her fighter support.

"There she goes" Nathan West said quietly watching his screen as the Saratoga's IFF blinked out moments later one of the Chig Capital ships disappeared as well.

"Hoorah the Commodore took out one of their ships" Cooper Hawke cheered

"There's still two of them" McQueen commented "all ships watch your rear sectors defence fire only don't turn to engage them. Six minutes to contact to the wormhole." He said those six minutes had been the longest of the squadron's life as the Chigs continued to close on them weapons fired at their longest possible range began to rain down on the unit.

"They can't expect to hit us" Vanessa Damphousse commented "just trying to force a mistake."

"No mistakes today" Shane Vansen reminded everyone as another barrage of weapons fire tore through space several shots struck one of the APCs tearing open the ships side causing it to spin. "Joker, Ace of Hearts detach and see if they can recover it." Damphousse and Wang dove their Hammerheads after the stricken vessel, the sight of the two fighters seemed to help the pilots regain their composure and bring the craft around although the forward port engine pod was damage and there was something trailing from the side of the ship.

"Joker to Queen of Hearts, we have them" Wang replied as the three ships rose back towards the formation narrowly avoiding incoming Chig fire.

"Queen Six to all units, Prepare for contact with the Wormhole, this is going to be very uncomfortable, these ships were not designed for this but stick to your training and we'll get through." McQueen informed all the ships as Chig fire intensified the Chigs knew as well as McQueen knew that if they escaped into the Wormhole there was little chance of pursuit as the Chigs had no idea what was on the other side.

Diving into the wormhole the eight fighters and four APCs were buffeted from side to side by the stresses of passing through the naturally occurring anomaly the Chigs continued to fire but the Wildcards were far from harm. There were several flashes of light as the squadron continued forwards before they were all ejected on the other side. All eight fighters and four APCs were accounted for but there was no United States Naval forces present "Queen Six to Wildcards check your data are we where we are supposed to be?" He said the APCs sensors were good but the Hammerheads were designed to be the best humanity could produce, at least that's what the brochure said.

After several minutes Vansen had heard from all the pilots "Queen Six from Queen of Hearts, we don't know where we are the stars don't match." She said before the words could sink in Vansen spoke again "Tally two Contacts extreme range, unknown silhouette!" She called out as McQueen wondered what the 58th had gotten itself into.

After an accident in the flight deck Lt Kara Thrace callsign Starbuck had been ordered to train new pilots to serve on the Battlestar Galactica. The Galactica was the last surviving Battlestar of the Colonial fleet after a disastrous sneak attack by the Cylons a race of Artificial Intelligences who had originally been created by man but evolved over time. Now the Galactica stood as the last line of defence for the remaining 50,000 humans of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol.

After a rocky start and admitting to some of her own mistakes Starbuck was finally brining to find her place with the cadets when her DRADIS detected incoming targets 8 fighter sized and 4 larger craft. "Galactica from Starbuck tally 12 contacts 8 raider size 4 larger" she called out it would take Galactica several minutes to get more aircraft in the air. "All of you turn back to the ship and don't let off the throttle until you hit the deck" she said to the cadets "you can do this... Now go" she said activating her own Viper's thrusters she noticed one fighter trailing her "Hotdog, what are you doing? I said get back to the ship!"

"You said never leave your wingman" Brenden Costanza replied

"Stick close Hotdog we're going in"

One

The two small craft shot past the Wildcards formation faster than anything Nathan West had seen. Fighting Chigs could be difficult because of their tight turning circles and fast course changes but these small craft were something else. Fortunately try hadn't fired yet.

"Colonel, I don't recognise their design but the look manned possibly humans." Joker said

"Could be a Silicate force jury-rigged designs messing up the LIDAR?" Vansen suggested naming the rebel AI force created by humanity.

"Or a secret AeroTech project?" West suggested naming the civilian contractor that supplied the military with most of their hardware.

"Simple answer is we don't know" McQueen broke in "but we're not in a place to fight." He pointed out thinking of the four APCs of survivors from the Saratoga aboard each ship was four times their maximum cargo forty persons a piece from marines to techs to cooks anyone who had been able to join them.

"Galactica this is Starbuck I don't recognise the designs they definitely don't look Cylon." Kara's voice broke over the Galactica's CIC speakers. Across the table Commander William Adama and Colonel Saul Tigh exchanged a look the two had served together for years without a word Tigh turned to the tactical officer "Lt Gaeta halt jump prep all ships"

At the same time Adama reached for the microphone speaker recessed into the CIC's centre table "Dee give me direct contact" he ordered his communication officer Lt Dualla nodded. "This is Commander William Adama of the Colonial Battlestar Galactica to approaching vessels identify yourself and intent." He broadcast it was a few minutes before a reply came.

"This is Colonel Tyrus Cassius McQueen commander of the 58th Fighter Squadron our intent is to survive. Commander, I recognise your words and rank but not you vessel or her name, please state your origin." A strangely accented voice replied.

"Colonel, we are what remains of the Colonial Defence Fleet of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol."

"Kobol? An AeroTech colony" the voice replied Adama looked around seeing blank looks.

"Negative McQueen, may I ask your origin?"

"Earth of course" McQueen answered as if it were the only logical answer there was looks of hope all around the Galactica even the normally stern faced Colonel Tigh. Had they finally found the people of Earth? "Commander, I'd love to go twenty questions with you but I have battle damaged ships and injuries over here. I'm requesting landing permission and medical support."

"Launch standby fighters" Tigh said "have Apollo bring a group of marines to the landing bay and have medical ready." Adama looked at his XO questioningly "Earth or not they are humans in need and you won't turn them away." He said smirking "the marines and Vipers make sure if its a Cylon trap they will pay for it."

The radios crackled as the Galactica replied "Colonel McQueen, Vipers will escort you to the Port Side landing bay. Activate any weapon or tracking systems and those same Vipers will be the last thing you see." Adama transmitted alongside the 58th and the APCs the incredibly fast Vipers matched the larger more heavily armed Hammerheads.

"Colonel, we have eight more fighters on intercept." Nathan said quietly "and they have support sensors detect over 30 ships an entire fleet."

As the Wildcards and their APC Transports moved forward they saw the 'fleet' only one looked anything like a military vessel easily two or three times the size of the Saratoga. "So much for a fleet most look like civies, but damn look at that big one" Cooper said as they closed.

"And tough judging by the blast marks" Wang said they were led to the massive ships port landing pod where first the eight fighters were brought aboard then the APCs one by one. The fighters were lowered below decks while the wider bodied APCs were docked in the landing pod itself.

"Better question is who was big enough and nasty enough to make them" Damphousse said quietly as her fighter was lowered into the Galactica's hanger for better or worse the Wildcards were aboard.