HYPERION TASK GROUP
Volume 4: Stoking the Fire
By Jim Quigley
Date: 2007
Warnings: None
Notes: Please check each chapter as it may be modified at any point. Please note that my stories take place in the same realm as Expatkiwi.
The clock alarm went off at the 0515 hours just as Brice had set it the night before. He reached over and shut it off and then motioned to Lieutenant Walker that she had to get up and catch the first shuttle of the morning so she could report back to HYPERION on time. Amanda reached down and fumbled for her blouse. After she pulls it down over her head, she made her way towards the bathroom. The two had started to see each other almost two months ago. As Brice lay in bed watching her dress, he thought to himself how in the beginning it was hard for them to sneak around and not be discovered, but it with the arrival of AULUS it has become easier.
"How's your head feeling?" she asked
"It's pounding. I definitely had to much beer last night." He responded as he slowly leaned up.
"Well, I warned you to drink some water before we went to bed," Amanda chuckled as she fixed her hair and approached him.
"I'll meet see you here in three days?" he asked as they embraced.
"You sure will!" she responded before kissing him.
ADELPHIA HANGER BAY (0600 Hours)
Colonel Walsh told Colonel Tillman and Lieutenant Kirby they would meet them in thirty-two hours at the rendezvous coordinates as they boarded their raptors. All three teams had their respective missions to complete. While Admiral Tillman was looking through the files on the laptop left to him by the late Admiral Greene he discovered information about a possible Black Ops military base located on the southern continent on Picon. Braylen Tillman was to seek out this base. Kirby was to land on Tauron and scavenge medical supplies and Colonel Walsh was going to scout the cylon defenses around the colonies.
ADELPHIA jumped in just long enough to launch Raptor 594. Inside was a six-man team consisting of Braylen, Corporal Sprang, Pvt. Halsey, Lt. Cole Mennen, Lt. Powers, and Lt. Hanson. They were going to attempt a low attitude jump hoping to avoid being spotted by the cylons. The raptor emerged from its jump point like a ball of fire. After a moment, Lt. Powers pulled the nose of the ship up to level their descent and maintain the two hundred feet above the deck as requested by Tillman. They were within ten miles of the coordinates his brother gave him.
"Radiation levels are still high but, manageable. Everyone will have to take another anti-radiation shot." The ECO officer announced.
"Put us down there!" Braylen told Lt. Powers as he pointed to a small clearing about three miles shy of the coordinates.
"Lt. Hanson, I want you to stay with the raptor after we land. Power down everything! I don't want the cylons to pick up any power signatures." Braylen ordered.
"Aye, Sir!" Hanson acknowledged.
DAEDULAS WARDROOMCol. Williams was sitting at a table with Capt. Rhodes reviewing the repair schedules over a cup of coffee when Admiral Tillman arrived unannounced. Both men stood to attention until Jason ordered them to sit.
"Admiral, I was not aware that you were onboard." Williams said.
"That's alright. My meeting with the civilian counsel went longer than expected and I missed my shuttle, HYPERION is sending another. I just wanted to see how things are coming." Jason said as he scanned the photos on the table.
"I heard Lankester Jorden weaseled his way on the counsel. Good luck with him. That man was a pain in the ass!" Rhodes blurted aloud.
Tillman smirked; one thing Jason learned about Rhodes is that he doesn't hold anything back and he was right. Jorden was pressuring Tillman to turn over the refinery ship CARPUS to his control since his family owns the vessel. Tillman knew Jorden by reputation. Jorden was an astute businessman if he got control of CARPUS he would try to institute some form of economic system within fleet. He soon asked for an update on the repairs.
"As you're aware, ninety percent of our repair teams are focusing on her structural damage. We've repaired damage to her skeleton around the cargo bay and we've already started replacing the hull plating." Williams said as he pointed to the latest photographs on the table detailing of the work completed. "The station's fabrication facility is doing excellent work. They've finished eighty percent of the plating and expect the rest by next week,"
"That section should be air tight in two weeks." Rhodes continued. "The other crews have rebuilt the main power grid and should be able to go online in another week."
"Excellent progress. What about the flight pods?" Jason asked.
"The starboard pod is partially operational. The flight deck has been patched, but we haven't concentrated on the launch bay yet. Due to the fire damage, most of the port pod needs to be rewired. After the hull is air tight we'll shift some of the crews to the flight pods." Williams answered.
"Any word from the recon teams?" Rhodes asked.
"If all goes well, we shouldn't here from them until they return, I'll let you get back to your work." Jason said as he made his way to the hatch. He returned the salute that both men gave him and left.
PICON (0930 Hours)Once the group reached the coordinates Braylen knew the type of facility they were investigating. He knew it was either a supply warehouse or a research and development testing area.
"This is what we're here for? There's nothing here except for this river and an old building!" said Mennen disappointedly.
"That's what they want you to see lieutenant." Sprang said as she surveyed the surroundings
"There's something here. Or should I say down there." Braylen told the pilot as he pointed towards the ground.
Sprang and Pvt. Halsey cautiously moved toward the building carefully looking for any signs of recent activity and finding none. They searched the small building and found two decomposing bodies near a sealed door. Sprang located the access panel and went to work. After a few minutes they could hear the door locks release on the inside of the door. Powers pulled the door open to reveal an elevator shaft. Tillman looked down and there was no light at all, only darkness. He reached for a flare lit it and tossed down the shaft and watched it come to a stop about a hundred yards down. After a moment Braylen gave the order to descend.