Title: Phythian Mission
Author: GEM
Date written: 3/8/08
Rated: T
Word count:
Story Timeline: Season 1
Category: Drama
Characters: General
Summary: If the want to survive this is the only chose the have. The story behind the Hand of God.
Spoiler: Season 1 Hand of God
AN: My take on the hand of God. I have wanted to write this since the first season and finally found the time. This story fills in some of the gaps of the Hand of God and has my own twist on the ending and my take on some of the continuity errors of the episode. A lot of the mission dialogue comes from the episode and the story also includes my OC Lauren "Wildcard" Myers from my stories Academy Days and Goodbye is the Saddest Word. Enjoy reading and as always Reviews are appreciated.
Chapter 1The search was on. The fleet needed fuel and so far their search had come up empty. "Boomer reporting in Sir." Dee said from her station. "She's transmitting her intel now sir."
Adama looked up at the dradis console. "Thank you Dee. When she is done with the transfer switch her down to the LSO. "Yes, sir."
The news wasn't good. They had found their fuel source, but there was a catch.
"It figures the Cylons would be sitting on the only source of fuel within our reach." Tigh looked over the recon photos
Gaeta looked over the information in disbelief. "Yeah, still staking out every water hole in the desert."
"Only this time it's a lake with enough tylium to last us a couple years." Tigh said as he turned his attention to Apollo.
"This must be some kind of conveyor belt, to get the ore from the mine, here into this cracking plant here. "
"A refinery, this far from their home world?"
" Why not? They need fuel as much as we do."
"Now they've got it."
"And enough firepower to keep it." Tigh stood up.
"All right, so we forget this asteroid, find another source." Lee said
"You can bet your ass the Cylons will be guarding that one too. "
"So we send the raptors out farther, 10, 15 jumps. Find a source they haven't reached yet."
"And use up all our fuel doing it. How are we going to get it to our refinery ship." Tigh challenged. Lee looked away he knew Tigh was right. Adama broke the silence between the officers.
"We take the tylium from the Cylons. "
"With all respect, this is hardly the time to attack a superior force." Tigh was doing his job this was suicide.
"This is exactly the time. We know where they are; they don't know where we are. Catch them with their pants down." Adama countered.
"If we fail?" Apollo asked.
"End of game." Tigh said in a gloomy tone but Lee knew the assessment was correct.
"So we don't fail."
--
The rumor mill aboard the Galactica was in full swing. They had found the only tyilum in the system and the cylons were the ones that were in control of it. This was the end of the road. They needed to take a stand everyone knew it. The card game didn't have much enthusiasm tonight.
"What is wrong with you?" Kara said as she drew in her newest winnings.
"I'm contemplating my future." Lauren Myers stated looking at her cards.
"How so?" Felix Geata asked as he dealt a new game.
"It feels different around here." Wildcard folded her hand.
"She's right. I feel like we're waiting for the other shoe to drop." Tyrol said as he put in his beat.
"The old man seems preoccupied" Dee offered.
"He's always preoccupied about something. The thing is if we are going to survive we need to do something. Lee said as he smiled in Dee's direction.
"The question is what?" Cally said.
"It's not our fault the rock is crawling with cylons." Crash down folded his cards.
"It not about placing blame. It's about standing up and fighting for our survival." Lauren offered.
"The air wing is very thin Lauren I agree with you but we have long way to go until they're ready in a combat situation." Kara said. "I think I've done it again. Kara put her cards down and she had full colors.
"That the end for me folks have a wonderful evening. Tyrol said and he and Cally walked out of the recreation room. Geata and Dee left a few minutes later to get ready for their respective shifts. Crash down and Boomer left for the evening CAP.
Lauren leaned back in her chair "Wow, the rumor mill is thick. I was trying to figure out who started which rumor tonight but no one's talking."
"An op has to be in the works." Kara offered Lee was silent.
"Ladies if their were an Op in the works you know that it would be a need to know at the moment and we don't need to know." Lee stood up. "I'll see you both later I have to check on a few things on the flight deck."
"Good Night Apollo." Kara said.
" 'Night Lee." Lauren said.
They waited until Lee was out of earshot before they spoke again. "He knows about the op. There has to be one in the works. That's only way we can survive."
"Yeah, he knows. I figured that and to be honest…" Lauren stood up and filled her coffee cup. "I'm not looking for a fight but I have to say it will be nice to stop running." Lauren sat back down with Kara. "How's the knee coming along?"
"It's fine. I'll be ready. I'm not going to let you and Lee have all the fun."
They laughed. Laura took a sip of coffee and put the cup down. "You better start working those nuggets I have a feeling they will be called up very soon."
"Yeah."
--
Dee and Geata took their posts and began their normal routines. It was a quiet evening. The quietness concerned them both. Crash down, Boomer and Maze were on CAP. Dee sat at her station looking down at the Commander and Colonel. The shift was about to change and the transition period was in full swing. The Commander would be passing the watch to Tigh soon.
"Do you have the communication logs from the mid-shift?"
"Huh."
"Dee?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry."
Geata was puzzled by her lack of attention. "You have to focus."
"I know Lieutenant "I apologize sir."
"No need Dee. I've noticed too." They looked at their commanding officers, looking at intel and talking in hushed tones. "Something's coming."
"I feel it too." Dee turned her attention back the communications traffic and Geata walked back to his post.
--
The CAP was turning out to be uneventful Boomer and Crash stated talking about the latest rumor. "So what do you think about an Op?"
"What we need is here and the fraking toasters are in control I say it's time to fight. I think there is something in the works.
"Well, put Crash. I feel the same way I'm tired of running. I'm ready to fight.
"So say we all."
--
Tyrol and Cally were busy working on Viper repairs when Cally stopped cold. "Chief?"
"Yeah, Cally." Tyrol looked down at the young deck hand. "Do you think we're ready for a fight?"
"We've already survived thirty-three minutes and days without sleep we're still alive."
Cally tighten the connections as he talked. "This is different we were defending ourselves then now, we are the ones been aggressive."
"Cally don't worry about it…focus on what you're doing."
"Do you believe the rumors?"
Lee walked toward the chief and listened, as he and Cally spoke "Not until they become fact."
"Chief"
"Captain." The Chief stood up and saluted.
"May I have a word?" Lee and Tyrol walked over to a workstation away from Cally. "I have every confidence in your team Chief."
Tyrol gave the CAG a look of confusion. "Thank you Sir."
"Chief I can't confirm or deny any rumors you may have heard. Gods knows there are enough of them going around. Just look at our card game.
"Yes, sir."
"I need a count of Raptors and Vipers that are combat ready."
"Yes, sir we have a good number and about seven to ten more that we'll be ready in about two days. I'd say that we would have our full compliment up by the time anything will happen. That is if something is going to happen."
Good to hear, Chief. Thank you.
--
"We don't have much of a choice here. Do we?" Laura put her glasses on the table in front of them.
"No, I don't think we do. I think it's time to take the fight to them. The press is right we only have enough tylium for one or two more jumps. We either hope we find a habitable planet or we take our chances with the cylons.
Bill leaned forward. "I'm tired of running."
"It's not the safest option but it's the only one that we have at the moment. There is no Guarantee we'll be able to find a habitable planet.
"There's no Guarantee about anything." Bill saw the pain in her face. This was hard for her, it was hard for him, but it was their only chance.
"Draw up a plan Commander. We'll meet when that is completed.
"Yes, Madame President." Bill stood up and Laura followed.
"I hope this is the right decision."
"It's the only one we have."