CHAPTER FOUR
The memorial service on the PEGASUS for the fallen of the CEREBRUS, and the recent casualties from the TANTALUS' last battle was transmitted via closed-circuit video throughout both battlestars. The personnel of both ships not on ready alert paused and watched the service take place on the various video monitors.
The viewers could see the lineup of caskets. On one side were the caskets of the fifty-nine corpses taken from the CEREBRUS – one of them placed on a higher dais being that of Commander Martin Tyler. The CEREBRUS flag that had been removed from the battlestar now draped his casket.
On the other side were the caskets of the fifteen dead taken from the heavy cruiser TANTALUS. The flag that had been given to Colonel Wright after the decommissioning ceremony now lay on top of the casket that contained the body of the highest ranking casualty. Between the two sets of caskets was a podium behind which stood the PEGASUS Color Guard, holding the flags of the PEGASUS and the Colonies.
Commander Cain and Colonel Wright stood behind the podium as the PEGASUS' chaplain gave the final prayers for the souls of the seventy-four bodies lying in state.
"And as we say a final farewell to the souls of those departed, we pray to the Lords of Kobol to grant them life eternal. So say we all", the chaplain concluded.
"So say we all", the few assembled persons intoned. Apart from Cain and Wright, representatives of the TANTALUS' and PEGASUS' departments were present, making a total of thirty witnesses. Tricia Cain was representing Silver Spar Wing there.
Tricia watched with the others as the TANTALUS' chaplain said a few words pertaining to the fourteen dead crewmen from that now-decommissioned ship.
"Not exactly one of the things I'd be glad to represent CIC in", Lieutenant Annan whispered to Tricia during the chaplain's eulogy. Tricia nodded in silent agreement.
After a couple of minutes, the TANTALUS' chaplain finished his eulogy with the obligatory "So sat we all", which the assembled witnesses echoed. Commander Cain now came up to the dais.
"Martin Tyler's will specified that this memorial be kept low key, so in accordance with his wishes, that is why this ceremony is both brief, and only being directly witnessed by the commanders and department representatives of the PEGASUS and TANTALUS", Cain began, "although I'm sure that if Commander Tyler could see this ceremony, he would be heartened by the fact that his battlestar – once left as a derelict adrift here in the Erenkoy Sector – is once again ready to do battle with our implacable Cylon foe".
The witnesses – and the people watching the ceremony on their monitors – nodded at that last statement. Cain continued after a few seconds of silence.
"As the mortal remains of these departed souls in front of us are buried in space, we take heart for that cause to which they gave their last full measure", Cain said next, "and that their deaths shall not have been in vain. Let the memory of their souls brace us and strengthen us all for what we will be facing. The CEREBRUS lives again, and as long as she lives, so will the memories of those departed".
Cain stepped back to let Colonel Wright speak. Wright walked up to the podium, and then started to talk.
"The fifteen comrades I lost on the TANTALUS, I will never forget", Wright said, "and neither will I forget the fifty-nine departed from the CEREBRUS. They have waited a long time for this memorial, and I am proud to be able to participate here in eulogizing them. Shortly, the CEREBRUS will be officially re-commissioned, and that fact alone is a tribute to their sacrifices that will ensure our never forgetting them. Let us dedicate ourselves to that cause for which all seventy-four here before us lost their lives for when we return to the fray. Thank you".
Cain made a short gesture with his hand. The lights dimmed, with only two beams of light stabbing down of the TANTALUS and CEREBRUS flags. As four crewmen walked up to each casket and ceremonially removed and folded the flags, other crewmen entered the area and began to wheel out the caskets. They would be taken to the nearby launch tubes, where they would be jettisoned one at a time into space.
After five minutes – when the last casket was wheeled out – the lights came up, revealing an empty space where the caskets once stood. Cain walked up to the podium.
"That completes the memorial. All TANTALUS and PEGASUS off-duty personnel are to assemble on the starboard landing bay flight deck of the CEREBRUS", Cain concluded.
As the monitors went dark, the personnel on both ships – decked out in their dress uniforms – headed over to the CEREBRUS' starboard bay for the re-commissioning ceremony. Both ships however would maintain a ready-alert watch, plus one squadron from Silver Spar and Black Knight wings manning their vipers. Just in case the Cylons decided to crash the festivities…
Tricia followed the other officers out of the bay where the memorial was being held. Several transporters were waiting to take them over to the CEREBRUS. As Tricia got on – followed by Annan, Commander Cain and Colonel Wright jumped on board.
"Commander", Tricia greeted her father formally – after all, she was on duty and her father was the Commander first – "hopefully the re-commissioning of the CEREBRUS will be a bit more cheerful than this memorial ceremony".
"Me too", Cain replied as he settled in his seat. Wright didn't comment, but the expression on his face showed clearly that he fully agreed with that sentiment.
"You'd think that in war, one gets used to seeing death all around you", Cain commented as the transporter moved off, "but a memorial like that really brings it all back into perspective. You hear all sorts of stories about bravery and other such high ideals in battle, but when one sees the dead…"
Tricia nodded. She was glad that for all his bravery in battle, her father still despised the war, and the senseless loss of life. The remainder of the trip over to the CEREBRUS was made in silence.
After the transporter dropped the party off at the PEGASUS side of the docking bay, Cain led the group over and onto the CEREBRUS. Transporters were waiting there to take them over to the starboard landing bay. Quickly getting in, the transporter slowly moved off.
Tricia noticed that from out of one of the large viewports in the bay, once could see a large portion of the topside exterior of the battlestar. She noticed several crewmen in spacesuits finishing off their repair work on the outside. The scars from the last battle of the CEREBRUS were still visible – and with the absence of dry-docking facilities, they would continue to be so – but the integrity of the battlestar overall was excellent. Scarred she may be, but the CEREBRUS was otherwise battle-ready.
Tricia saw that Wright had been watching the repair work as well. Wright nodded at Tricia. Wright's sense of perfection did regret not being able to remove all exterior battle damage, but part of him also regarded those scars as honorable wounds, showing to all who encounter her that the CEREBRUS had been in the thick of battle – and survived.
The transporter carrying Cain and the others were moving with other transporters carrying members of both crews to the re-commissioning ceremony. By the time that their transporter had pulled up outside the main hatch to the starboard landing bay flight deck, there were other transporters parked, and there must have been over twelve hundred personnel awaiting them there on the flight deck.
The XO's of both the PEGASUS and TANTALUS called the personnel to attention. As the throng of people quieted and stood, Cain and Wright walked in, followed by the PEGASUS and TANTALUS department head representatives.
Tricia and the other representatives from the PEGASUS peeled off and went to stand with their contingent. The PEGASUS crewmen present were standing to one side of the bay while the TANTALUS crewmen were in the center, facing a large podium, upon which Cain, Wright, Tolen, and Gale stood.
"Be seated!" Gale ordered over the microphone. The crewmen took their seats.
Gale then nodded to Cain. Cain took the microphone.
"At a formal commissioning, or a formal re-commissioning, of a warship into the colonial fleet", Cain said to the assembled personnel, "an admiral would be making the opening remarks. Well, we don't seem to have any available admirals here in the Erenkoy Sector, so that job has to devolve upon the senior ranking officer present. That's me, unfortunately".
Some chuckling broke out in response to that, but it quickly died down. Cain continued.
"As you all are aware, we paid tribute to those honored dead of both the CEREBRUS, and the TANTALUS", Cain said next, "and we continue that tribute with the formal re-commissioning of this vessel to active status in the Colonial Fleet".
The flight deck was deathly silent as they took in those words. Cain continued to speak.
"The Battlestar CEREBRUS had an outstanding battle record in the first Cylon War", Cain stated, "and I am sure that under the command of Colonel Wright, the CEREBRUS will be able to continue to give a good account of herself. It is now my honor to call Colonel David Wright up to the podium and ask him to read the letter of re-commission".
Applause broke out as Wright walked up to the podium. Wright shook Cain's hand, then handed him an envelope.
Wright opened the envelope, and then spoke clearly through the microphone the following words:
"As the incoming Commanding Officer, It is my pleasure to read to you the following: As of this moment, the COLUMBIA-class Battlestar CEREBRUS, registry BSC-5, is formally re-commissioned as a capital warship in the fleet of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. The officers and crew of the decommissioned heavy cruiser TANTALUS, registry HCR-15, are herby transferred to the CEREBRUS to serve as her crew. This commissioning order to stand until superseded by higher authority. Signed, Garris Cain, senior officer present, Colonial Fleet".
Putting the letter into his pocket, he then said, "Please rise and come to attention as the commissioning pennant is brought onto the flight deck".
As the assembled crewmen came to attention, a single flag bearer, carrying the commissioning pennant, entered the flight deck and walked up to the podium. Stopping before Colonel Wright, the flag bearer dipped the pole on which the pennant was mounted. Wright then touched the flag with his left hand, and raised his right. Kneeling, he started to recite the oath of assumption of command.
"Will all those assembled here as witnesses", Wright said next, "hear this oath. I, the commanding officer of the Battlestar CEREBRUS, hereby accept the responsibilities and obligations that go with this high position. May I be victorious in battle, be mindful of each and every person on board her, and maintain the honor and integrity of this grand ship, so help me Lords of Kobol!"
Applause and cheering broke out after Wright stood and saluted the pennant. The flag bearer then marched the pennant off the flight deck. It would go to the bridge where it would be prominently displayed. The CEREBRUS was now officially re-commissioned.
Wright raised his hand to quieten down the cheering throng. As silence came back over the flight deck, Wright once ore started to speak.
"Shortly, the TANTALUS will be scuttled", Wright said, "and to the CEREBRUS will be left the task for which the TANTALUS left off. While the shell of the TANTALUS will be consumed by it's nuclear scuttling charge, her soul will still live, both in her crew, and in the components from her that brought life back into the CEREBRUS. Let that be the new motto of this Battlestar: Remember the TANTALUS!
The TANTALUS crewmen – now the CEREBRUS crewmen – shouted back, "Remember the TANTALUS!" The PEGASUS personnel witnessing this echoed the motto.
Just then, Commander Cain walked up to the dais.
"As most of you know, Battlestars are not commanded by Colonels", Cain said, "Now as I'm not an admiral, I can't field-promote Colonel Wright to a full Commander, but I can field promote to the wartime temporary grade of Sub-Commander. So Colonel Wright, front and center!"
Wright walked up to Cain and saluted. Cain removed the Colonel's insignia and pinned on in its place the special insignia of Sub-Commander. Cain then shook his hand.
As the newly appointed Sub-Commander Wright saluted, Cain called Major Gale over.
"Major Gale", Cain said next, "It is my pleasure to field-promote you to the grade of Lieutenant-Colonel. The Executive Officer of a battlestar is a position of high responsibility, as Colonel Tolen can tell you, so let this new rank symbolize to all who see you, your position on this battlestar".
With that, Cain removed the major's rank insignia, and then pinned on in its place the double-diamond insignia of Lieutenant-Colonel. He then shook his hand.
"Congratulations, Colonel", Cain said.
"Thank you, Commander", Gale replied. Cain then turned to Wright.
"Sub-Commander", Cain said formally, "the CEREBRUS is yours".
A large cheer broke out at those last words. Wright let it go on for a couple of minutes, and then he made the first formal announcement as CEREBRUS' commander:
"XO, post the watch and get everyone to their duty stations. We've got a war to go back to", he said.
"Yes, Sub-Commander", Gale acknowledged. He went up to the microphone.
"All CEREBRUS personnel, Condition Three is now set. All PEGASUS personnel not on temporary assignment to the CEREBRUS return to your battlestar".
The assembled throng broke up as the crewmen headed out of the landing bay. They had to get both battlestars ready to depart. Gale saluted Wright, and then headed out himself. He had to get up to the bridge.
"I almost forgot, Dave", Cain said to Wright, "I guess this can go into your office now". He handed over to Wright the CEREBRUS' flag. Wright nodded his thanks as he took the folded flag.
"By the way, Garris", Wright replied, "thanks for providing those extra crewmen from the PEGASUAS to help us with the CEREBRUS".
"Well, just as long as I can get them back once we get back to the HYPERION force", Cain reminded him.
In addition to a squadron from each of the PEGASUS strike wings to support the TANTALUS squadron, one hundred ship's personnel were put on TDY to help man the battlestar. As the CEREBRUS needed more crewmen to operate than the TANTALUS, it was a necessary move. There were still more than enough personnel aboard the PEGASUS to keep her operational though…
"I don't think that there will be any problems with that", Wright replied, "Though I wonder how Tillman and Roberts are going to take my promotion".
"I don't think that they are going to object", Cain replied, "but anyway, we're scheduled to head out in two hours. When do you want the TANTALUS to be scuttled?"
"If we can time it so that the charge will go off just after we make the FTL-jump, then that should be fine. I don't think any of my crew wants to see the detonation".
"Okay, I'll pass it on to PEGASUS CIC. They will set the activation", Cain replied.
"Then let us get our ships separated, and let's get back into the war", Wright said.