ALGAE PLANET
"Do you really think you've found the Temple of Five?" Roslin asked over the radio.
"Yeah. I recognize it from the books in my father's study, Madame President. He was a priest, and the Temple of Five was an important part of our faith. Well, his faith anyways." Tyrol replied. He and Greer had been joined by several other soldiers from the base camp. A few personnel from Destiny had brought additional kinos to record the writing for later translation.
"Could this be related to the Eye of Jupiter?" she asked.
"You got me, Madame President."
"Got something!" Sergeant Riley called from one of the walls. "'Oculus Iupiter' - 'Eye of Jupiter'. Not sure where it is – I'll need Eli or Rush to take a look at it."
From outside, Tyrol heard a low roar, like aircraft flying overhead. His fears were soon confirmed by Tigh's voice on the radio.
"Alert, we have spotted Cylon Heavy Raiders. Repeat, we have spotted Cylon Heavy Raiders. All personnel are to fall back to the gate immediately."
Nobody wasted any time. The survey team beat a hasty retreat through the passageway and down the hill, followed by half a dozen kinos. Out of the corner of his eye, Tyrol spotted a squad of Centurions. Riley sent a kino their way. Moments later, there was a burst of gunfire.
"What was that for?" Greer shouted.
"Diversion!" Riley replied. Another burst of gunfire indicated that the Cylons had missed the target at first.
When they arrived at the base camp around the gate, Zarek was directing crates and personnel through the gate while Tigh and Anders organized a defense.
"Enemy spotted!" someone shouted. Gunfire erupted somewhere behind Tyrol. He heard bullets whizzing over his head. One ricocheted off the gate. Another hit Riley in the arm. He went down screaming.
"Come on!" Tyrol picked Riley up by his good arm and carried him through the gate after Zarek and the last of the civilians. He was hit by a blast of cold air on the other end. Tigh, Anders, Greer, and the rest of the soldiers followed. The gate closed soon afterwards.
"Dial Destiny!" James ordered. "Riley, where's your remote?"
"I think I dropped it," he moaned.
"Frak it!" Tigh swore.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
The leaders of the Colonial Fleet and those of Destiny met on Galactica's bridge. Wray had insisted on being involved. Scott had brought her over on the shuttle.
"If the Eye of Jupiter is the way to Earth, we cannot allow the Cylons to get their hands on it," Roslin declared.
"There's no way to launch an assault through the gate," Tigh countered. "The Cylons know that we used the gate to escape, they'll probably figure that we can return through it. They'll have it under heavy guard. Our men would get slaughtered."
"I'm more concerned with the Cylons gaining access to the gate network," Wray said. "They have a remote, and they're probably trying to figure it out right now."
"If they get a team through the gate, they could get a star fix, and determine our location," Rush pointed out. "If they're machines like you say, it shouldn't be a problem for them."
"Send a nuke through," Young suggested. "We take out the gate, the Eye of Jupiter, and with any luck the remote. Not to mention any Cylons on the surface."
"We only have six nukes left!" Tigh shouted.
"Well, this sounds like the perfect time to use one," Young replied sardonically.
"Colonel Tigh, how many people do we have left on the planet right now?" Adama asked.
"Zarek is still organizing the last of the food shipments. He insisted to be on the last Raptor out." Tigh grimaced. He clearly considered Zarek's actions nothing more than a publicity stunt. "Almost all of the military personnel on the surface are from Destiny. If we have to evac, they'll use the gate to get aboard."
"What if the Cylons dial Destiny's gate?" Roslin asked.
"That's what the iris is for," Young answered. "Anyone who tries to gate aboard Destiny while it's closed will be killed instantly. Wray, what's the status of the FTL drive?"
Wray shook her head. "Eli says he's close, but he's been close for two days."
"In the meantime," Young continued "there are steps we can take to prevent the Cylons from attacking the ice planet via the gate."
"How?" Adama asked.
"We dial out. If we dial out and send a radio signal through the gate –"
Dualla interrupted them. "Admiral, getting a signal from our camp on the planet. They're under attack."
"That was fast," Rush commented.
"Patch it through speakers." Dualla nodded, and Zarek's voice came through. Gunfire could be heard in the background.
"Galactica, the Cylons have launched an attack through the gate. At least 20 Centurions and some equipment. Lieutenant James and her people are holding them so far, but we've been cut off from the gate…"
"Just like you said, Doctor," Roslin grimaced.
"Mr. Vice President, how many people are left?" Adama asked.
"Just me, the soldiers from Destiny, and a few more crates of food. There's supposed to be a Raptor inbound..."
There was a small explosion in the background.
"What was that?" Roslin asked.
"Grenade. The Cylons are dead – no wait a minute…" The sound of gunfire was heard. "Yes, they're dead."
"Get that Raptor down there!" Adama ordered.
DESTINY
"Picking up new contacts!" Volker yelled. Eli looked at the screen. Yup, four new contacts, almost right on top of the fleet.
"Base Stars," Helo stated plainly. Eli picked up his radio. "All hands, battle stations. Cally, we need that FTL drive online ASAP."
"Working on it!"
Eli punched up the weapons systems. He also radioed Galactica.
"Galactica, this is Destiny. You seeing this?"
"Affirmative," came Admiral Adama's voice.
"So, are we jumping?"
"Negative. The fleet needs a few minutes to spool up their FTL drives. We need to cover them."
"Got it. FYI, we have no maneuverability."
"They're launching Raiders!" Volker alerted him.
"Target the Raiders with the turrets," Eli ordered, slipping into the mindset of every starship captain from James T. Kirk to Everett Young. "And bring the main gun online. Lisa, radio our people on the ice planet. Tell them to gate aboard now."
"Um, Eli?" Volker called over. "One of the Base Stars is moving around us. We should have a firing solution for the main gun in a moment."
"Well, get it into position!" Eli rolled his eyes.
The display showed a yellow cone, indicating the area that Destiny's main gun could target. Sure enough, a Base Star was inside that cone. A line representing the current trajectory moved towards the Base Star until it lined up.
"Target acquired," Volker said.
Eli took a deep breath.
"Open fire."
The primary plasma cannon fired a blast at the Cylon Base Star. The first hit vaporized a massive section of the hull, exposing the ship's interior to space.
The second hit took out life support and the Hybrid.
The third hit took out propulsion and set off the tylium reserves, blowing the Base Star to pieces.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
"So, what's the plan?" Rush asked.
"The plan," Young explained "is to get our asses back to Destiny as fast as we can."
"Meaning we have to fight our way through dozens of Cylon fighters," Wray observed wryly.
"There isn't much of a choice. This is the only chance we've got to return to Destiny before the Fleet jumps."
"Bumper, you are cleared for launch."
"Copy, Galactica." Young smiled at the first use of his callsign in over a decade. He hit the throttle, and the Ancient shuttle launched into space.
Almost immediately, he had to take evasive action. The Cylons weren't this close to Galactica, but they were pumping out a seemingly endless supply of missiles. Young swung around and made a hard burn for Destiny.
"Bogey on our six!" Rush shouted. Young could hear bullets pinging off of the shuttle's hull. He cut the engines, and the Raider overtook them.
"Fire!" Young shouted. Scott squeezed the trigger, and the shuttle's twin plasma guns opened up on the Raider, tearing it apart.
"Two more! Four o'clock!"
Young dodged and weaved. The shuttle wasn't quite as maneuverable as the Cylon Raiders, but it had the edge in resilience and firepower.
"Colonel, I'm picking up radioactive signatures from one of the Base Stars," Rush announced. "They are preparing to fire nuclear missiles."
"How long to Destiny?" Wray asked, fear creeping into her voice.
"At least three minutes," Young grunted.
Ahead, he could see Destiny. The Cylons were firing hundreds of missiles at her, and Destiny was replying with plasma cannons. Already, one of the Base Stars had been destroyed. The Ancient ship was old and falling apart, but she had a massive technological edge.
There was a blinding burst of light as the first Cylon nuke struck Destiny.
DESTINY
The ship shuddered and the lights flickered. It was the first time that had happened during the battle.
"What was that?" Eli asked.
"Nuclear detonation!" Volker reported.
"Are the shields holding?"
"So far. But we're getting power surges throughout the ship."
"Get everyone out of the corridors!" Eli ordered.
"All civilian ships have jumped," Park announced.
"Brody, do we have FTL capability or not?" Eli shouted into his radio.
"Almost done!" Brody replied.
The lights flickered again. And again. The Cylons were launching more nukes. Fortunately, the shield continued to hold. There was nothing the Cylons could do to harm Destiny.
But the shuttle was another matter. If a nuke hit while it was on approach, the ship could be vaporized.
Eli manipulated the controls, radioing the shuttle.
"Colonel, come in!"
"Yes, Eli?" Young answered.
"The Cylons are launching nuclear strikes on Destiny. You will be destroyed if you approach. Return to Galactica. I repeat, return to Galactica."
There was a moment of silence. Then Young spoke again.
"Affirmative. Returning to Galactica. Godspeed, Destiny."
A minute later, Galactica jumped away.
"Cease firing," Eli ordered gravely. "Divert all power to the shield."
Another nuke.
"Brody, I need that FTL drive!
"Done!"
Destiny jumped into FTL, leaving the Cylons behind.
