PROLOGUE
Number One was chairing another council-of-war with other selected humanoid Cylons up on the top of the massive Virgon Space Elevator - one of the few structures that the Cylons had not destroyed in the recent war. Now that the additional defensive weaponry had been mounted throughout the upper complex on the tower, there was no further need to maintain a base star as the command ship while in the Cyrannus System.
Eight of the Cylon Humanoids were seated with her at the large desk that dominated the room. In addition, two Centurions were standing sentinel at the doorway, ready to act immediately upon any orders that Number One may care to give. "As you know", she began, "we have managed to decode some human communications that one of our remote probes had intercepted. From what we have managed to decode - and the complexities of this new encoding protocol has made the decoding only about sixty percent accurate, we can assume that the unknown battlestar is planning a supply rendezvous with representatives of this other remnant of humanity in approximately twenty days from now".
The when is important", Number Six commented, "but it sounds like we still do not know who they are, or where they are. Do we have any idea of where this rendezvous will be?".
"The humans are being very security-conscious", Number One replied, "They are using code-names rather than co-ordinates. They have made references to points names 'Nebula' and 'Polaris', but so far, nothing further has come up that may indicate precisely where those locations are".
"So what can we do, if this new code has not been fully broken by that time?", Number Four asked. Number One gestured to Number Seven to reply to Four's question.
"We intend to send out multiple Spartans to all of the nearby sectors around the rendezvous time. At the same time, two full task forces will be on immediate jump readiness. The moment that any Spartan detects a presence within the time period of the rendezvous, the probe will return. Then those task forces will make an immediate FTL combat jump to wherever the Spartan had come from", he explained.
They all were familiar with this new class of sentient reconnaissance drone. Larger than a Raider and as well armed - if not more so - than the pest the Colonials called the Peregrine. Once the records and scans of the encounters with this advanced scout ship had been analyzed, production began on a Cylon version that would neutralize this threat permanently. Even now, twelve of them were seeking to penetrate the Nova Maddigon to confirm the status of the Horizon Tylium mine on Carillon.
"Forgive my skepticism", Number Four replied, "but despite the number of probes at our disposal, that's still playing the laws of probability, given the vastness of space. There's no reason to think that the humans would use a nearby sector for their rendezvous".
"So far, the encounters that we have had - not counting here or in the Promar Sector - have been in nearby systems only", Number Seven said, "so the odds favor a system that is close by, but as an additional precaution,we are also sending out a larger number of raider patrols and additional grasshopper-type remote probes - in groups of two and three - to more outlying areas with strict orders for one of them to immediately jump back to base if anything out of the ordinary occurs. In that case, two base star task forces which will form our ready-alert forces will deploy to support the other two raiders and/or probes".
"I should also remind you of our success in destroying one of the C.I.S.A.R. cutters earlier", Number One added, "which leaves just one more of that class of vessel left, along with the Peregrine that has caused heavy losses to our fleet. The loss of that cutter will force them to commit at least one of those remaining fleet assets to the rendezvous with the battlestar. And once we destroy them, we can devote more of our fleet assets to hunting down and finally destroying the GALACTICA and her convoy", she concluded.
The others fell silent, thinking about what One and Seven had said. The rogue battlestar and the other humans based around the remaining cutter and the peregrine gunship had really caused a lot of trouble, and resulting in stopping them from putting other ships on the tail of the GALACTICA and the human convoy of mismatched ships that the battlestar was protecting. Something had to be done soon because the status quo would - in the long run - be disastrous. Every day that the GALACTICA and it's convoy stayed at liberty was a day closer to the humans being able to rebuild and return. They all understood - thanks to their genetic engineering - the emotion of hate and the human desire for revenge...
CHAPTER ONE: Asking for Volunteers
The Promar Sector. Once, it was a location where only remote probes were sent to, now it harbored some of the last remnants of humanity - refugees from an implacable foe that had rendered the twelve colonies unlivable. But there were other humans there as well. This group was a survivor from the destroyed Colonial Fleet - a major warship - and those on board did not think of themselves as refugees. As far as they were concerned, they were not on the run from anyone. They were there to find the human refugees that were being protected by another warship, in the hope of banding together and fighting back against those who had forced their flight from their home worlds.
The Battlestar PEGASUS - in it's quest to find the Battlestar GALACTICA and the convoy of human survivors - has had it's share of problems since departing from the colonies, but recent events had overshadowed all of that. They had established contact with another group of survivors, who were protected by another surviving fleet warship - the Battlecruiser GOLIATH, and with that news, everybody on board the PEGASUS knew that the Cylon enemy would not know victory.
The Commander of the PEGASUS, Garris Cain, was down in hangar bay nine (starboard landing bay), talking to eighty-four of the one hundred and eleven viper-qualified pilots on board. They had assembled there at his order. The remaining twenty-seven were not present as twenty-four of them (two squadrons - one from each wing based on the battlestar) were on launch standby and the other three were flying close cover while the three raptors and the peregrine gunship were conducting deep space probes, but the twenty-four sitting in their vipers had their communicators tied into the briefing room, so that they could hear what Cain was saying.
"And there you have it, everybody", Cain concluded to the assembled pilots sitting in chairs facing him. Cain was standing on a portable rostrum, with the two CAG's - Eugene Syke and Lance Voight sitting behind him. With the peregrine out on patrol, there was ample space in the bay for everyone to sit and listen.
Cain had spent the last hour personally briefing them on the existence of the Battlecruiser GOLIATH and the two rendezvous missions that Syke and Tricia Cain had been on. The mood of the pilots was very positive.
"So Commander", one of the pilots spoke up, "Are we going to join up with the GOLIATH? After all, they are giving the tin-heads a hard time back at the Colonies while we're out here in remote space, chasing shadows". The pilots quieted down as they awaited Cain's answer.
"That's why I'm talking to you all here", Cain replied, "The colonial forces attached to the GOLIATH are under-strength, and they could certainly use our help, but I'm still convinced that until the GALACTICA is located, it would not be in the best interests of our race to abort our mission".
"Why?", another pilot asked.
"The GALACTICA and the ships that she's escorting is still being pursued by an overwhelming Cylon force. If we abandon them, then eventually, the tin-heads will hunt them down and annihilate them", Cain replied icily, "The location of the GOLIATH's base is a closely guarded secret and for the time being, they are relatively safe from discovery', he continued.
"So what do you propose to do, if the PEGASUS is still to remain here in the Promar Sector?", the same pilot asked.
"I've spoken to both CAG's and they are in agreement", he began, "There will be another rendezvous coming up in a few days. This time, the PEGASUS itself will be going to the rendezvous. I am going to offer them a squadron made up of volunteers from amongst you who will fly most of the reserve vipers that we have - eighteen total - to the GOLIATH. This will be a great help to them, and it will not compromise the striking ability of the PEGASUS".
"Are you going to pull a squadron from one of the wings?", another pilot asked. At that, Syke walked up to stand beside Cain.
"The volunteers will be pulled on a basis of nine pilots each from both wings. It will not be one existing squadron. This will be a new unit known as the 'PEGASUS Volunteer Squadron', and will be attached to one of the wings that the GOLIATH has on board", Syke said.
Cain added, "I do have some provisos though. The pilots who wish to join the P.V.S. can not be any of the wing or squadron command staff, or have less than six months viper-flying experience. The GOLIATH needs experienced pilots to assist them. Your respective CAG's will make the final cut from the list of volunteers".
"How long do we have before this new squadron transfers?", a female pilot in the front row asked next. Voight stood up and replied to the question.
"You'll get the word. For now, those of you wishing to transfer to the P.V.S. can put your names down on the volunteer sheets which will be in your respective wing admin offices", he said. He nodded at Cain.
"Very well", Cain then said, "You are not to discuss any of this outside your wings. There is still a security issue here and we cannot be complacent about it. Understood?", Cain asked.
"UNDERSTOOD, SIR!", the assembled pilots shouted back. Cain nodded, then said, "Dismissed. Return to your duty stations".
As the pilots filed out, Cain turned to Syke and Voight.
"We keep the rendezvous time a secret until the last minute. Until then, you both get your nine finalists selected, then we'll start getting the new unit established. I will want your recommendations on who will be commanding the P.V.S. as soon as possible", Cain said.
"Commander", Voight said, "I was curious why you did not see fit to detach Black Knight Wing from the PEGASUS. After all, we weren't originally from this battlestar".
Cain nodded. Lance Voight had brought almost his entire complement of fighters and support ships - including one raptor - when it was apparent that his base ship - the battlestar PACIFICA - was going to be destroyed. That had resulted in enhancing the fighter complement of the PEGASUS to a level unheard of on a single warship.
"Black Knight Wing has more than proven it's worth, Captain", Cain said, "and given the fact that we are in uncharted space trying to find the GALACTICA, the PEGASUS really needs your wing to help Silver Spar in helping us reach that goal. The reserve ships that we have are what we can readily spare, and if this initial squadron transfer works out, then perhaps the GOLIATH and PEGASUS can start rotating squadrons on a regular basis".
"Too true, Lance", Syke added, "The fact that your wing is here to share the load means that our pilots are not pushed to do too much.
Voight nodded at that. He knew that his pilots were champing at the bit - wanting to attack Cylons and to inflict more payback for the loss of the colonies and the PACIFICA, but he realized that Cain was right.
"Are you going to add a raptor to the P.V.S., Commander?", Voight asked. Cain nodded.
"The wings can each maintain one raptor, and we have more than enough support for them. The Peregrine that we have is proving it to be more than adequate in picking up the slack. Since the first raptor that we donated came from your wing, the second one will come from Silver Spar. I will allow one volunteer crew from the PEGASUS to man it", Cain stated.
Cain left the hangar deck to head back up to CIC. However, before he had taken but a few steps, a voice said "Father?". Cain turned around with a faint frown.
"You know you're not supposed to call me that during working hours, Lieutenant", Cain said to Tricia with mock seriousness in his voice.
"Commander", she said formally, drawing her slim body up to attention, "Do you have a minute?".
Cain smiled at her daughter. Nodding, he gestured to a nearby room, which was a recreation lounge for the maintenance crews. It was empty, which suited both of them fine. Cain closed the door behind him and faced his daughter.
"Okay, Tricia", Cain said, "What's on your mind?".
"This squadron transfer", she said shortly, "I was wondering why you haven't asked me to transfer over to it".
"You're Syke's deputy", Cain replied, "And the policy I set is that none of the command staff were eligible. All of you are needed where you are"
"Considering your refusal to allow me to transfer to the PEGASUS after I graduated from the academy", Tricia replied, "that doesn't make sense".
"Having you come straight over to the PEGASUS from the academy would not have been beneficial for your career, young lady. By proving yourself aboard the TRITON, it meant that your career advancement would not have been due to the Old Man", Cain explained.
"You know, when my initial request was denied, I was under the impression that you would have regarded me as a distraction to your job, Father", Tricia replied icily.
"That's both unfair and uncalled for, Tricia!", Cain replied sharply. Tricia paled, but did not avert her eyes from her father's. Cain reddened some, but then regained his composure.
"Do you want to transfer, Tricia?", he asked her.
"Actually, no", Tricia replied, "Even though I enjoyed seeing old friends again, I'm enjoying my job as the Deputy CAG of Silver Spar".
"And Captain Syke as well?", Cain retorted, causing Tricia's eyes to widen.
"It's all right, my daughter", Cain said quietly, "Both you and Captain Syke are professionals and you both keep the personal and professional separate from each other".
"But how did you know, Father?", Tricia asked when she had regained her composure.
"I'm your dad, and I could see it in your eyes. Give me some credit for intuition", Cain replied with a smile.
"I thought that you wouldn't approve", she said quietly. Cain walked over to her and hugged her. Tricia returned the hug. For a minute, neither of them spoke, then she gently broke the embrace to look into his eyes.
"I didn't know what to think", she said quietly,"I thought that you'd want me on another ship so that if anything happened to the PEGASUS...".
"The thought did cross my mind, Tricia", Cain confided, "but before you are my daughter, you're a Colonial Fleet officer and a competent one at that. The latter is why I endorsed Syke's request to have you as Deputy CAG of Silver Spar, and in that capacity the PEGASUS needs you here".
"Thank you, Sir", Tricia acknowledged formally. She knew that her father loved her very much, but in his capacity as the commander of the Battlestar PEGASUS, he made his decision based on necessity. That deserved a formal response. Cain smiled, seeing that his daughter understood.
"You'd better report back to Wing Admin", Cain suggested, "There's work to do". With that, he left the lounge and headed back up to CIC. As he did so, the PA system announced, "Peregrine Maintenance Personnel to bay, Peregrine Five returning from patrol".
Tricia stayed in the lounge for a couple of minutes, then headed out to the administration annex - where her office was located. As she got to the entrance of the annex, she caught the smell of coffee. It was very good coffee at that, she thought as she entered. She saw Gene Syke sipping coffee from a mug. Judging from the look on his face, the coffee tasted as good as it smelled.
"How the frakk did you manage to secure top quality coffee, Gene?", she asked him as she walked in. Gene put down the mug and looked at her.
"Hey, the CAG does have a few perks that goes with the job, you know", he replied cheerfully, "Want a cup?", he asked.
"Yes, please", she said. Syke poured her a cup of coffee and offered her some cream and sugar - those last two items courtesy of the recent shipment of consumables recently received from the GOLIATH.
"Actually, this is a private blend. Logan Masters and myself enjoyed drinking this stuff when we were at VTT on Picon. A local coffee house near the base specialized in making this blend", Syke explained, "When our tours were up, we secured a few sacks of the stuff. Mine ran out a couple of days before the war, but I knew Logan had secured a lot more of the stuff. I asked him in the last letter if he could spare some and he sent me a five kilo block".
"This is excellent", Tricia said after sipping the brew, "Abut isn't this violating regulations against hoarding of consumables? Colonel Tolen would have you in irons for this".
"Actually", Tolen said as he walked in, "Captain Syke and I have already come to a little understanding about it". He was smiling and holding a coffee mug in his hand. Tricia rolled her eyes as Syke filled Tolen's mug.
"Gotta ration it some, though", Syke said after he filled the XO's cup, "Trying to keep it down to a cup or two a day. It should be good for at least a month, if no more people partake".
After Tolen had finished off his first cup of coffee, he turned to Syke and asked, "Any progress on volunteers yet, CAG?", as he held his mug back out. Syke refilled his mug.
"I sent Jet out with the sign-up sheet to the various squadrons in the wing", Syke replied, "and I should have a pared-down list to send to you shortly". Syke was referring to Ensign Vansen, who now handled a lot of the paperwork for the wing when not on squadron alert.
"Giving up most of our reserve vipers though may be a little rough in the long term though", Tricia pointed out. Syke silently agreed. The PEGASUS had twenty-two crated-up vipers which were now being assembled by Chiefs Krag and Brubaker. After the eighteen allotted to the P.V.S. were gone, then that would leave only four reserve ships for both wings. And this was not mentioning Silver Spar's number two raptor, which would also be part of the transfer.
"Both wings are still at full strength, Lieutenant", Tolen reminded her, "but according to the intelligence received from the GOLIATH, they are badly under-strength in fighters. They need this squadron to share the load until their base - wherever that is located - can start manufacturing replacements. Perhaps then, we'll be able to get some of those".
Tricia slowly nodded. True, the greater part of their fighter reserves would no longer be available to them, but the fact that there was a full-strength second strike wing on board meant that the dispatch of the reserve fighters would not matter for the short term - especially if wherever the GOLIATH's base was did manage to manufacture additional fighters.
Just then, the alert klaxon sounded, followed by the P.A. announcing "Set Condition One throughout the ship. This is no drill, repeat: Set Condition One".
Muttering a brief "Frakk", Tolen put down his coffee mug and headed out of the office. He had to get back to CIC.
"Wonder what's happening now?", as Tricia ran out of the room with Syke and headed down to the launch tubes.
"We'll soon be told, Tricia", Syke replied, Abut for now, let's make sure that our squadrons are set to go".
