178 days after the fall – Uncharted space
The two massive ships jumped into the system within seconds of each other and approached head on very slowly and very carefully. The last time these two ships had been in the same system, the Lords of Kobol were at war and the Exodus of Man had not yet begun. Both ships stopped and held station only half a ship's length apart, five kilometers. The two small twin engine shuttles left their respective flight pods almost simultaneously and docked to one another midway between the larger ships. The airlocks opened and two beings who not laid eyes upon the one another in almost three millennia greeted each other.
"Ares, how long have you occupied this shell?"
Ares smiled. How like his sister to notice his advanced age before anything else. He regarded the being standing before him. She was tall and thin with silky black hair and was stunningly beautiful. Her eyes were deep and foreboding. A man could be forever lost there, he reminded himself as he quickly moved his glance away from her eyes. Clearly, his sister had availed herself of numerous new host bodies in the interim between their last meeting and now. Death was, after all, ageless.
"Hekate, it is good to see you with our last conflict concluded long ago. While I am the Lord of War, I am gratified to greet you in peace."
With that, they fell into each other's arms relishing the bonds of lovers, siblings, fellow Lords of Kobol. The embrace, although brief, felt as though it lasted longer than their absence from each other. When it finally ended, it was Hekate who found her voice.
"Brother, were you summoned as well?"
Ares knew this question was coming.
"Yes, my love. I heard the being's thoughts and could not resist the call. I had to come. Was the same true for you?"
"The call was irresistible. But now that we're here … what? What is next? Who called us? What power could summon us?"
Almost as if on cue, a bright flash of light filled both shuttles and then faded away to reveal a humanoid shaped field of energy.
Hekate and Ares stood in silence as the strange creature took physical human-like form. Even for them, contact with life other than Human or Cylon was incredibly rare and had not been experienced for many thousands of years.
"All this has happened before, and all of it will happen again. That is, unless you decide to allow it to change." the creature said with assurance and with a tone of superiority.
Ares approached the now human appearing life form and looked down upon it as a human would a slow child. His voice thundered as he spoke.
"Who are you to come here and speak to us like this?"
He expected the frail looking human like thing to shake in fear as all humans did. Hekate remained calm, observing the exchange. The creature laughed. It laughed long and hard and stopped with a smile on its face.
Suddenly Hekate and Ares found themselves out in space peering down on their shuttles and ships with the creature floating in front of them. They heard his voice in their minds.
"Now see the universe as I do. See wonders and terrors beyond your imagination."
With that, both had the briefest of glimpses and feared they would go mad with what was revealed to them. Rational thought returned to them and they found themselves on their knees in the airlock between their shuttles.
"Now, you have the means to end this cycle and a place to send your children. Allow them to go and discover a new destiny beyond what you have dreamt for them. Then discover a new destiny for yourselves apart from these children. Your time with them has come to its end."
And then he was simply gone. The two remaining Lords of Kobol stared at each other in awe of this power they had witnessed that would have sent Zeus into a panic. Hekate recovered from her panic first, stood and then offered Ares a hand up. She considered the new knowledge she possessed and decided upon a plan.
"Brother, you must find the human fleet and guide them without their knowing to the place the creature has shown us. I will find the other human Battlestar and ensure its arrival there. Once they are together, we will shepherd them through the portal into the new Universe."
Ares nodded. But he saw that Hekate was still plotting.
"What are you thinking, sister?"
"I think we shall have to help our children rule this new Universe. We are, after all, the Lords of Kobol. We and our children must be allowed to ascend to our true destinies."
They embraced once more and then closed off their respective shuttles and undocked. Both returned to their mammoth vessels and immediately ordered jumps toward their children's ships.
Silently in the dark, a small un-crewed, crescent shaped ship watched. It measured and scanned. It compared the two massive ships to other ships in its database and determined that they were related to the human Battlestar in shape and form. The size of each was far greater than any human ship. But it was clear to the programming used by the Raider that these were human ships. Once the two ships jumped away, the Raider jumped back toward its mother ship carrying the data it collected.
178 days after the fall … a few hours later - Battlestar Pegasus CIC
The Mercury class Battlestar, the pride of the now extinct Colonial Fleet floated amidst the wreckage of numerous small Cylon ships. The ship's commander, Admiral Helena Cain, listened closely to what her executive officer, Colonel Jack Fisk, was telling her.
"We've had Raptors jump out about a light month away and didn't find anything. It looks like these toasters were shot up here. Debris left over ammo and exhaust vapor make it look like there were Vipers fighting these Raiders here a few days ago."
Cain held up a hand to stop Fisk.
"Vipers? Where the Frak did vipers come from if there are no more Battlestars? How do you explain that?"
"We can't, Admiral … unless there really is another Battlestar out here … "
His voice trailed off. The implications were astounding. Cain thought about the possibilities before speaking.
"If they jumped out of here, there's no way to track them. They could be anywhere by now."
Just as hope began to swell, it was dashed again and Pegasus and her crew were alone again. The Raptor crews continued to collect the bits and pieces of fighters that looked like they could be used to replenish the quickly diminishing stock of spare parts. They also retrieved any ammunition that looked like it came loose from a few destroyed Vipers.
Cain and Fisk worked over the plotting table when the DRADIS console lit up.
"DRADIS contact bearing … Frak! It's right on top of us!" called out the officer at tactical.
Hekate's ship jumped into the system only 500 meters above Pegasus. The Raptor pilots doing recovery work saw immediately that the new ship dwarfed Pegasus by a factor of more than ten. Within a few seconds, the large ship launched fighters that looked very much like Vipers … only a bit larger, sleeker and more deadly looking … that quickly took position around both ships. Pegasus launched her alert Vipers but they were pretty much hemmed in by the larger, faster fighters.
In Pegasus' CIC, the command staff was working furiously to get a handle on the situation. The enlisted crew member at the wireless console was working through all the chatter from within the ship and from the fighters and craft already launched when an incoming signal of tremendous power got her attention. She listened to it through her headset and called for the Officer of the Deck.
Lt. Kendra Shaw listened to the repeated message and then ran over to Cain and Fisk.
"Sirs, we have an incoming message from the other ship. They're asking to speak with you, Admiral."
Cain put on a wireless headset and nodded at the communications specialist.
The voice on the other end was deep, commanding and powerful.
"Pegasus Actual, you will begin recovering your Vipers and Raptors, stand down your ship to ship and point defense weapons systems. We are not a threat to you and will ensure the area immediately surrounding both our vessels is secure. Once you have complied our Mistress will come aboard your ship to speak with you directly. Please respond."
Fisk shot Cain a questioning look before she replied.
"This is Pegasus Actual. Who the Frak are you to issue orders? What ship is that? Who is your … mistress?"
"Pegasus Actual, I am Filippos Areleous. I am ship's master for Hekate… she who is our Mistress. I issue these … requests for your safety. Please comply. All will be explained. Be of good cheer. This is a good day for you Admiral. The Lords of Kobol have taken up your cause."
The CIC was silent. Finally Cain responded.
"Please have your Mistress arrive in our port-side flight pod. Our Vipers will provide a shared CAP with your fighters. Let us know when we can expect your shuttle."
"Hekate will arrive in your port flight pod in 20 standard minutes. No Viper or Raptor is to come within 50 kilometers of her craft which will depart our Starboard pod shortly and be escorted by two of our fighters. The fighters will remain on station outside your landing pod until our Mistress is ready to return to her ship."
The all heard the channel close.
"Jack, clear the port flight pod of all but essential crew. Get a squad of marines down there. Set them up as an honor guard or something. But I want them ready to act if they have to. Then meet me down there …"
Cain looked over at Shaw.
"You too Shaw … both of you in full parade dress. I'm going to change and get down there."
18 minutes later – Battlestar Pegasus port flight pod
Cain arrived in the flight pod wearing her dress uniform and found Fisk and Shaw waiting for her. The marine detachment was deployed throughout this section of the pod and the ground crew was ready to secure and service the shuttle from the other ship.
"Sit-rep" Cain requested.
Shaw stood at attention before giving the Admiral her report. To Cain, she still looked like a raw cadet but one with promise to be a great officer and with the potential to get her mind off the Cylon in the brig.
"LSO reports that the shuttle is inbound and on time. It's a lot like our Raptors but about ten meters longer. The engines are smaller but we have no idea what they can really do. It looks like it's FTL capable."
As she finished, the klaxon started sounding to indicate that the lift from the landing deck was coming down into the maintenance level of the flight pod. The three officers stood waiting as the craft was lowered and towed to them.
The shuttle was placed with the hatch facing the three assembled offices. As Shaw described, it was generally shaped like a Raptor but about thirty percent larger. It was longer and sleeker and had a much bigger side hatch. The hatch opened much like a Raptor's but with stairs and a ramp which extended to the deck plate so that the occupants wouldn't have to jump from the wing root to the deck. Immediately upon opening, four very tall men emerged from the craft. They were each nearly 2 and half meters tall and built like marines. Their uniforms were mostly black with blue markings and they carried odd looking rifles. It was clear that they were ensuring the area was secure enough for the meeting. Next out was an older male who was nearly as large as the guards. He stepped to the side to allow the last occupant to exit.
The woman who stepped out of the shuttle stood nearly three meters tall and was striking. Her long, black hair fell to her waist and she had the overall appearance of grace, youth and beauty. She strode confidently to the three colonial officers and spoke before they could recover from seeing her.
"I am the Lord of Kobol you know as Hekate and I am pleased to see you, my children. I will guide you to a new life where the faithful will join me as we rise to our glory."
Her smile seemed genuine but her eyes were dark and bottomless. Her beauty seduced the three humans standing in front of her. Cain finally found her ability to think and speak again.
"Hekate … praise your name … I am Admiral Helena Cain commanding the Battlestar Pegasus. I don't even know where to begin …"
The goddess smiled as she looked down at Cain. She then looked to the older man who had flown across with her.
"Ships Master, you and one guard will accompany us. The Admiral and I need to speak and she will have questions that you are best suited to answer. The rest of my guards stay here with the ship. We will not be long."
Hekate put an arm around Cain and pulled her close. Cain was immediately seduced by her touch.
"Take us where we may speak. Soon the children of Kobol will embark on new lives."
179 days after the fall – Battlestar Galactica (and the fleet)
Gaeta was concerned. DRADIS had picked up the contact more than a dozen times in the last hour only to have it disappear every time a Raptor jumped out to investigate. Tigh was convinced they should jump the fleet away to the pre-programmed emergency position and then bring Galactica to Condition One and blow the contact out of space. Adama kept his calm and wanted to know what was teasing them out there.
Less than 1 light year away from Galactica - Ares – CIC
"My Lord, the humans continue to jump their scout craft closer to our position each time we approach. But they do not follow with their Battlestar or their fleet." The war master stood with his head bowed before the towering Lord of War.
Ares looked down on the smaller man.
"How long have you been with me, War Master?"
"My whole life, My Lord. I was born aboard this vessel. It has been my honor to have been in your service my entire life. It was my father's honor before me and his before my father's."
"You have no sons, War Master?"
"No. I have not been granted a mate yet, My Lord."
"This is for the best, War Master. You will be the last War Master to ever serve me. Together you and I will do what is necessary to save the children. But we will not survive. My sister, Hekate, will destroy us. But hopefully, not before we have ensured the remnants of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol have found a new path."
The Lord of War paused, looked around the CIC at the brave and obedient warriors in his service and then raised his voice.
"We must bring the humans to the portal. We will generate the null field around the humans so that they may be taken along without resistance and without knowing.
The War Master repeated the orders to his crew and then turned to his master.
"My Lord, the order is given. But the field generator is weakened and still damaged. The null field will not last long and any further strain on it may permanently disable it. It is the one weapon we have that Hekate's ship does not. We would be vulnerable to her."
The War Master could see that his Lord knew this already and had decided that their sacrifice would be the cost of saving the human fleet.
"It need not last long, War Master. Only long enough to do what is necessary. Jump."
14 minutes later – Battlestar Galactica CIC
Gaeta was staring at the DRADIS console trying to figure out a way to reveal the ghostly contact that kept appearing and then disappearing when the console lit up with a solid contact close by.
"DRADIS contact bearing 015,033,060 carom 6! Range 1.5 million kilometers! No IFF detected!"
Adama was about to order launch of the alert vipers when suddenly the entire room went dark. What he didn't know is the entire fleet went dark. FTL, normal space engines, DRADIS, lights … everything lost power all at once. Crews on all the ships worked to restore power and try to understand what happened. Quickly they became concerned that they would start to collide with other ships. Then after several minutes they wondered why that hadn't happened.
Above each ship in the fleet, a group of four or more small ships that had launched from Ares was positioned and using an energy beam to hold the fleet ships in formation. Above them all was the mammoth ten kilometer long Ares generating its ever weakening null field.
Ares – CIC
"My Lord, all ships are secured and we are ready to jump the entire fleet to the portal. The null field is mostly stable but will collapse within several minutes if we do not jump now."
Ares looked around him. He knew that the jump with the fleet would deplete his ship's reserves dangerously.
"Ship's Master. Jump us all to the portal."
"The Ship's Master in his center seat did not turn to look at Ares as he replied."
"Yes, my lord. JUMP!"
The massive ship, Galactica, the remnant fleet, the various vipers and raptors, the utility vessels holding the fleet in position all jumped away in a flash of light. But they were not unobserved. Several light minutes away, a raptor like vessel hung in space, observing the actions of Ares. It jumped away to rejoin the ship of the pilot's Mistress and the other human Battlestar. Its own jump did not go unnoticed by the small sickle shaped craft which jumped to its own mother.
The creature observed it all and flashed away. He had things to attend to on the other side of the portal.
Battlestar Pegasus – Pilot's briefing room, port flight pod
Cain stood nearly shaking in the presence of a god and her ship's commander. Hekate smiled warmly at the much smaller woman.
"There was a time on Kobol when my fellow lords and I would take a human for companionship from time to time. You would have made a quite lovely companion for me back then. Perhaps you will spend time with me when this is over. But for now, my dear sweet admiral, we have to save humanity and rise to our proper glory in a new place."
Hekate continued to gently hold Cain's hand as if she were a child. Hekate's Ship Master held a piece of paper and offered it to Cain. Hekate released her hand and she accepted the piece of paper. On it, written in ornate look script, were the calculations necessary for a lengthy jump … one longer than any human had attempted.
"You will trust that the calculations are correct for my own navigator prepared them for you," the Ship's Master intoned. There was no arguing. Cain knew they were right. He continued.
"There are other ships … with a Battlestar … on the way here. Together you will jump into your new future. Our ship will join you after we take care of one or two issues remaining here after your departure. Once you are on the other side of the jump, beware Cylons in forms you have not yet seen. Wait for the other ships. Then you will jump as quickly as you can."
The Ship Master turned to Hekate and nodded. He left the room with the guards and made his way back their shuttle in the flight pod.
Hekate took Cain's face in her hands and looked into her eyes. Cain felt herself floating in the darkness behind the goddess's eyes. Hekate kissed Cain deeply and then released her.
"Helena, for the sake of humanity, for the sake of your soul, you must succeed and let none get in the way. Your future may well be at my side. It is for you to forge that future."
The tall goddess then turned and made her way, unescorted, back to the flight pod.
Her shuttle departed Pegasus and returned quickly to her own ship. Cain emerged from the briefing room nearly an hour later, collected Fisk and Shaw and headed to the CIC.
"Ok people. Prepare to have ships … human ships including another Battlestar … inbound. Once they arrive, we'll form up and jump."
She handed the paper to Fisk.
"Copy that EXACTLY and then give it back to me. Set those coordinates and calculations into FTL and get ready to send copies to the other ships when they arrive. I want us jumping within an hour of their arrival."