"One of the intercepts is an alert message, Commander", Sanders reported, once Cain had walked up to him "and it directly affects us!". Cain held out his hand for the printout. Sanders handed it to Cain, who read it with heightened interest: DESTRUCTION OF SENTINEL OUTPOST EPSILON ALPHA IN ANOTIAN SECTOR EVALUATED AS DUE TO HOSTILE ACTION FROM HUMAN WARSHIP. INITIAL ASSESSMENT INDICATES REPEAT INDICATES BATTLESTAR TYPE WARSHIP CALLED GALACTICA RESPONSIBLE. HOWEVER THIS ASSESSMENT CONFLICTS WITH OTHER INTELLIGENCE PLACING GALACTICA IN VICINITY OF PROMAR SECTOR. THEREFORE, UNTIL CONFLICT OF INTELLIGENCE IS RECTIFIED, ASSUME OTHER UNKNOWN HUMAN WARSHIPS ACTIVE AND MAINTAIN CURRENT ALERT STATUS.
"You're right, Comms", Cain replied, waving Tolen over. As Tolen came up, Cain handed him the printout. Tolen's reaction was similar to Cain's.
"So they think we may be the GALACTICA", Tolen said, "They fell for those fake shoulder patches".
"Better yet, they're also providing us with the first firm indications of the location of the GALACTICA", Cain said with a smile, referring to the Promar sector reference..
"But the problem is that the Promar Sector is a remote sector, and one of the larger ones. If the GALACTICA is still there, then she will not be at all easy to locate", Sanders pointed out. Cain nodded and went over to the navigation table. After pulling up an astronomical society map of the Promar Sector - the best that they had to work with, Cain looked at it intently for a couple of minutes, then turned to both Tolen and Sanders.
"Bill Adama chose well", Cain summarized, "that sector is way past the Red Line, and is large. Easy to hide in, plus a large number of star systems to allow for the possibility of provisioning".
Just then, a communications technician handed Sanders another printout. Sanders scanned it, then handed it to Cain. This communications read: COMMAND BASE STAR INFORMS TRAP SET FOR VALHALLA STATION FAILED. FIVE OPERATIVES MIA AS RESULT. ONE BASE STAR DESTROYED, ANOTHER SEVERELY DAMAGED. STATION VANISHED WITHOUT TRACE, ALONG WITH TWO MEDUSA-CLASS CUTTERS DOCKED AT STATION. INTELLIGENCE SUSPECTS ASSISTED FTL-JUMP FROM UNKNOWN VESSEL CAUSE OF STATION DISAPPEARANCE. ADDITIONAL INTELLIGENCE EVALUATES BASE STAR DESTRUCTION DUE TO NUCLEAR DEVICE. DAMAGE TO SECOND BASE STAR DUE TO PEREGRINE-CLASS GUNSHIP. MAINTAIN ALERT.
"Valhalla Station?", Tolen remarked after Cain passed him the report, "that's a Colonial Intra-stellar Search And Rescue station back in the Cyrannus System".
"To be exact, it was in Libron's orbit", Sanders clarified.
"Those stations would need a capital ship to make an FTL-jump, so it is more than possible that there are other survivors out here", Cain commented.
"The Cylons seem to agree", Sanders said, passing along another printout, "and this decoded intercept makes for interesting reading".
"All of it is interesting", Cain said as he took the printout. But he could see why Sanders would make that comment after reading this message. It read: FOLLOW-UP FOR PREVIOUS ALERT MESSAGES. INTELLIGENCE STATES ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN BATTLESTAR-TYPE WARSHIPS CONFIRMED DESTROYED. WITH EXCEPTION OF GALACTICA, UNACCOUNTED FOR WARSHIPS OF THIS TYPE ARE ITHACA, PEGASUS, AND PROMETHEUS. IN ADDITION THREE RECENTLY DECOMMISSIONED BATTLECRUISER-TYPE WARSHIPS DESIGNATED AVENGER, COURAGEOUS, AND GOLIATH ARE ALSO UNACCOUNTED FOR. UNTIL INTELLIGENCE UPDATES THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE AFOREMENTIONED WARSHIPS, ASSUME THAT ONE OR MORE OF THEM MAY STILL BE OPERATIONAL AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
"One warship at least, if Valhalla Station had made a successful jump", Tolen said, after reading the report, "and the Cylons are not sure that we have been destroyed or not", he finished, pointing to the name of their battlestar on the printout..
"Do you think that these communications could be a ruse to lure us into a trap either back in the Cyrannus sector or in the Promar sector?" ain asked Sanders.
"They were using a new code protocol. It did take the decryption routines a little while to crack it. If they wanted us to hear it, they would have used an older protocol. Plus, if they knew where we were, why have two base stars seed a system with mines in full view of a scout, then play these messages for the scout's benefit, when they could have just as easily jumped to where the PEGASUS was in order to give battle?", he replied.
Cain nodded. This did not have the feel of a trap. The Cylons would have committed a large search force had they known generally where they were. Subtlety was not their strong suit.
"So it looks like there are fleet survivors back in the vicinity of our home system. At least one of the Peregrines, but in addition at least one other capital ship", Cain said, "but those messages say nothing unfortunately about where the station went to. However, with this information about the GALACTICA, we can now narrow our search some. Once we find the GALACTICA, then we can both search for this other group of survivors".
"There's something else too", Sanders said quietly, gesturing to a conference room just off from CIC. Cain nodded and he, Sanders, and Tolen walked into it. After closing the door, Sanders locked it and turned to face them.
"That report on Valhalla Station confirms what I've suspected. That reference to operatives means that the Cylons must have a number of humanoid agents", Sanders announced quietly, "Both I and Doctor Ashley have theorized that the Cylons had infiltrated the colonies and the military with these engineered humans. We suspect that at least one of them is here on board the PEGASUS, after the autopsy of the dead crewman, and the failure by normal means to expose the agent".
"Don't you think that you and the good doctor may be over-reacting?", Tolen asked. The hypothesis sounded fantastic.
"We can't afford not to overreact - particularly in this circumstance", Cain answered, "We have to assume the worst-case scenario. So what do you recommend?", he asked Sanders.
"We are keeping a close watch on the forty-six suspects, as you know", Sanders said, "I'm trying to work on a plan where the agent will expose him-or-herself, without actually compromising the PEGASUS, but it will take time", he concluded.
"At least by keeping them under close scrutiny, it will disincline the agent to take any risks", Tolen pointed out. Cain nodded in agreement.
"Keep working on it though, Comms", Cain said, "but the sooner we can find out who it is, the better".
Cain then gestured to Sanders to unlatch the door. It was time to get back into CIC.
As the trio of senior officers re-entered CIC, the Core Command operator came up to them.
"Sorry to interrupt, Sirs", she said, "but the other raptor patrols are returning. They have reported nothing of consequence".
"Recall all of our viper patrols as well", Cain ordered, "As soon as all of our patrols are back on board, we'll be making another FTL-jump".
As the operator returned to Core Command to issue the recall order, Cain went to grab the inter-ship commlink. He keyed it, causing a humming tone, thus calling the ship's crew to attention.
"This is the Commander. As soon as our patrols return, we will be making an extended FTL jump. We have just acquired solid evidence that indicates other surviving elements of the Colonial Fleet are continuing the fight. In addition, we have also obtained reliable information pointing to the general location of the battlestar GALACTICA. The Lords of Kobol willing, we will soon find her, then we will get back into the fight as well. That is all". He then hung up the commlink.
The crewmen on and off duty flashed smiles and thumbs-up gestures to their crewmates. With that piece of good news, the personnel began to hope that they would soon find the GALACTICA.
Down in the Quartermaster department, the blonde woman thought about the commander's announcement. How would they be getting that sort of information, she wondered. Despite her desire to know, she knew that she had to tread very carefully. The recent medical examinations had not tripped her up, plus the way her brain was configured made attempts to use hypnosis or truth drugs useless. But she was still under close surveillance, along with forty-five others.
She thought that it would probably be best to wait until the PEGASUS did in fact find the GALACTICA. With this ship leading her to their other quarry, that would put all the eggs in one basket - to coin a human phrase. Once there, she would find some way to alert her colleagues to their location. But for now, she had to keep a low profile. Underestimating the humans could be disastrous, but if an earlier opportunity did present itself...
Down in Bay Five, the midshipmen were exchanging smiles at the news. Higgins was in a good mood too, but there was still a job to do.
"Okay, we've had our good news", he said, "and when we make the FTL-jump, we should be closer to our goal, but I still have this little task of getting you all ready for flying vipers. Once you all prove to my satisfaction that you have understood the avionics and warbook systems, then we will arrange simulator time. I expect you all to be ready for that within two days", Higgins warned.
Most of the midshipmen rolled their eyes, but they had the good sense not to verbally object. Higgins was putting them through a crash program by compressing a twelve month course into two weeks. They all knew that this could be their only chance to earn the wings of a viper pilot, and the early commission that went along with it. There would be a lot of studying into the late hours over the next few nights, but both the wings and the ensign rank insignia made for a good incentive.
As Higgins was getting the cadets to understand the function of the warbook in conjunction with the avionics, Tricia was calling in on Wing Administration. She noticed Ensign Vansen working on a large pile of forms with the assistance of a couple of yeomen.
"Good news, huh, Jet?", Tricia said as she walked in. Vansen nodded. Any good news was something to rejoice about.
"Well, don't get too comfortable. Where the GALACTICA is, there will probably be a lot of Cylons trying to hunt her down and that means more risk of our getting discovered", she pointed out, "so we'll have to increase our wing readiness across the board. That means you and I will both have our work cut out for us", she warned.
Captain Syke thought likewise. He had finished talking to Gorde and Dundee about the minefield and their tracking of the base stars earlier. Just then, his communicator beeped. Syke picked it up.
"CAG here", he said.
"This is Colonel Tolen", the voice on the other line replied.
"Yes, X.O.?", Syke answered.
"Have you finished with the debriefing yet?", Tolen asked
"Just wrapped it up now", Syke replied, "The hard copy of the debrief should be up to you very soon".
"Okay then", Tolen acknowledged, signing off. Next, he contacted the squadron ready room.
"Silver Spar Ready Room", a voice came back on the commlink.
"This is the X.O., Put Ensign Dutch on, please", he said. A few seconds later, a new voice came over the line.
"This is Ensign Dutch, Sir", he said.
"Ensign, are you familiar with the Peregrine gunship?", Tolen asked. Dutch was surprised at the question.
"Affirmative, Colonel", he replied.
"In that case, please report to CIC. Tolen out". The link was terminated as Tolen shut off his communicator.
"Peregrine?", Jake Watt, his RSO said, "What's that?" He had been sitting close by where Dutch had been speaking and had heard the conversation clearly.
"Something I was called in to do an assessment on a few weeks before the war", Dutch explained, "but why does the X.O. want to know about it?", he wondered aloud.
"Well, the sooner that you get up there, the sooner you will be able to find out, Razor",Watt said, gesturing toward the door. Dutch nodded, then headed out.
While Dutch headed up to CIC, Syke had wrapped up his debriefing with the two Jasons and decided to head over to Wing administration. If Tricia had not already done so, then he would need to let the administrative staff know that the closer they got to the GALACTICA, the more likely Cylon contact would be, so further contingency plans would need to worked out and implemented.
Over the next hour, the Landing Control Officers of both landing bays were guiding the various patrols back onto the flight decks. None of the patrols had reported seeing anything, which was good news. At last, all of the patrols were back aboard. Core Command got the word from both LCO's.
"Port and Starboard LCO's report all patrols back on board and secured", the Core command operator reported.
"Very well, start retracting the landing bays", Tolen ordered. As the Core Command operator activated the controls to start the retraction, Tolen turned to the Helm officer.
"Have you got the co-ordinates inputted into the navi-comp?", he asked. Helm nodded.
"Very well, warm up the FTL drive and start your countdown as soon as the bays are retracted", Tolen ordered. He then turned back to Core Command.
"Alert the CAG's of both wings to get their ready alert squadrons in launch readiness. We'll be going to Condition Two as soon as we exit the jump", he said. The Core Command operator nodded, then contacted both CAG's.
Syke got the page. He picked up his communicator and contacted Lt. Halley, saying "Ratchet, get your squadron to their fighters. We'll be going to Condition Two as soon as we exit the jump. The jump will commence in two minutes".
"Understood, Bojay", Halley replied. She turned to her pilots and jerked a thumb at the door. The pilots grabbed their helmets and ran out the door to man their vipers.
Over in the Starboard bay, Captain Lance Voight was doing likewise, directing the C.O. of Knight Three to get his people ready as well. Both alert squadrons were well-trained. By the time that the landing bays had fully retracted, Both Spar One and Knight Three Squadrons were ready for deployment.
"CAG's report ready alert squadrons in place. Landing bays retracted and locked in position", Core Command reported to Tolen. Tolen looked at Cain, who nodded. Tolen keyed the P.A. system, while watching the countdown clock steadily click down to zero.
"All hands, we are preparing to jump. FTL-entry in 6...5...4...3...2...1...jump!".
The helm officer hit the activation switch. The familiar feeling of dizziness and nausea hit everyone on board - except for the blonde woman, who was feigning it - as the PEGASUS made the jump.