Episode 4:
The Fleet
Intersun Transport Colonial Eve, Colonial Survivor Fleet 'Kobol', High Medra Orbit:
Two Days, Fifteen Hours ATA
Cathy stood up as the door to the Raptor she was sitting in swung open. Outside the ship, inside the Colonial Eve's docking bay, Betty awaited her mother's arrival. Cathy climbed off the wing of the Raptor and embraced her daughter. "So..." Betty asked as the two began to head out of the docking bay. "I heard you joined in the fight,"
"Not really Betty. I had to watch the CIC for a moment until your father joined us," Cathy explained as they stepped through a hatch and headed up towards the cabins. The two were silent for a minute until they reached the main passenger cabin.
"Did dad tell you what we're doing now?" Batty asked as a member of the ship's crew approached Cathy and took her bag.
"He's going to be announcing that to the fleet in a little while Betty. But don't worry, he has a plan," Cathy reassured Betty. Since the arrival of the Hyperion, there hadn't been much communication between the military and civilians, with most announcements coming from the Defender Zeus. Cathy sat down on one of the chairs and stared out the window silently. "Did you know that it's nearly been three days Betty?" Cathy asked, her mind wrapped up in memories of the Colonies.
"Three days? Wow, I suppose we've just lost all sense of time... along with our sleep," Betty replied, sitting down on the chair in front of her mother. "How was he by the way?"
"Your father? He's fine... surprisingly fine actually. Have you heard about the Battlestar Eos?" Betty sat up at her mother's question.
"No. What about it?"
"Commander Biers and Colonel Doral were Cylons. Like the priest who tried to kill Captain Collins," Betty sat in silence for a moment before replying.
"Cylons? Gods... What's happening to the Eos now?" Betty asked, looking out of the window towards the Battlestars in amongst the fleet.
"It's sorted. I think Colonel Kurl's got her now," Cathy told Betty as she sat back in her chair and rested her head back. Betty stood up and headed towards the door to the cockpit.
Intersun Transport Colonial Eve, Colonial Survivor Fleet 'Kobol', High Medra Orbit:
Two Days, Sixteen Hours ATA
Betty entered the cockpit once more at the request of Captain Collins, who was still piloting besides the fact that he was still wounded. "What's the matter Zach?" Betty asked as she entered the cockpit. Captain Collins turned around in his chair as Betty entered.
"You might want to wake everyone up now. I think Admiral Jenkins is about to make an announcement to the civilian ships," Captain Collins told her. Betty nodded and headed back into the main cabin of the ship.
"Excuse me... we're about to get an announcement from Admiral Jenkins regarding his plans for the fleet. If you'd like to wake up and he'll be ready in just a moment," Betty said calmly as the very tired passengers of the Colonial Eve woke up from their light slumbers and listened for the ship's speakers to switch on. Betty sat down by the door to the cockpit as the speakers bleeped.
"This is Admiral John Jenkins of the Battlestar Hyperion to all civilian ships. As you well know, we lost our Colonies a few days ago. The Gunstar Limpet has been sent back to find out as many survivors as possible and the Eos and Theia have been doing the same. You may also know that the Hyperion jumped away from the fleet a few hours ago and I'd just like to reassure you that we only went to search Djerba for any signs of Colonial or Cylon life. We found none and this means that there will be no chance for any kind of Colonial counter-attack in the near future as the Admiralty has so far concluded that at least five Battlestars would be needed to successfully fight a Cylon fleet; and we only have four Battlestars. So, you must be wondering: what happens now? We've lost everything and now where do we go and what do we do, especially seeing as how we can't really fight back," Betty watched the passengers inside the cabin listen intently to her father, who she still hadn't seen since Canceron. "To that I tell you that Admiral Peter Corman had thought of this and he sent me to prepare a mission is case of such an event as we are seeing now. You are this mission. You have each been selected for many reasons and you alone will help save the human race on our new home. The planet of Kobol," A murmur went up from a few of the passengers inside the cabin about the Admiral's last statement. "As I have already told my crew, this will not be as dangerous as some of you may think. They say a return to Kobol will be met with blood, but haven't we already met enough blood? I'm sure we can survive a little more if we have to. For now, the Battlestars of the fleet will continue to search for any Colonial survivors, namely the Battlestar Galactica, who is rumoured to have survived the Attack. The Hyperion will be out on the search, so all military issues will be handled by Commander Terra who has taken temporary command of the Battlestar Themis, your protector for the time being. Thank you for listening, and may we all hope for a brighter future," Admiral Jenkins finished and the line to the Hyperion was cut. Betty looked around at the passengers, who had begun to whisper quietly amongst themselves.
"So say we all!" One of the passengers called.
"So say we all!" Another cried. Then another said the same thing, and another and another until the whole cabin was repeating the same thing: "So say we all!"
Defender Zeus CIC, Colonial Survivor Fleet 'Kobol', High Medra Orbit:
Three Days, One Hour ATA
Allison stood in the centre of the CIC as the Commander of the Zeus, Commander Philip Grand (a short man with fair hair), entered the CIC. Allison snapped to attention as the Commander walked up to her. Commander Grand returned the salute before turning away from Allison and towards the command table where the XO, Major Eleanor Marks, stood waiting for him. "Major Marks, check with DC. I want to know what the hell is going on in the engine room," Commander Grand told her. Allison watched Major Marks go and gave the Commander a confused look.
"Engine room sir?" Allison asked. The Commander nodded.
"Yes Captain, the engine room. We were supposed to jump three hours ago but our repair team found something and we haven't heard from them since," Commander Grand told her. Allison nodded as the Commander read a report in his hand.
"You wanted to see me about something sir. Is it related?" Allison said as she stepped into the Commander's line of sight. The Commander shook his head as he placed his clipboard with the report on it, onto the Command Table.
"I would like to speak to you about Major Renner," The Commander said in a solemn tone. Allison thought for a moment before saying anything.
"Lonely? What about him?" She asked.
"I understand he hasn't been to happy having you as CAG over him," Commander Grand said.
"That is true Commander; although he knows that it is not his place to..." Allison started before being cut off by the Commander.
"Well, he has formally requested to be posted as CAG. Did you know that?" Commander Grand said. Allison looked at the Commander in shock. She knew he wasn't happy, but she had assumed he would be transferred to a Battlestar anyway.
"What are you going to do sir?" Allison asked worriedly.
"You don't have to worry Captain, you will remain as Zeus' CAG; but, I have posted Major Renner to fleet CAG. He and his two squadrons of MkVs, VIs and VIIs have been assigned to various civilian carriers, with their primary base being on the Prometheus-class freighter, the Élan. You will continue your duties on the Zeus, but he will have full control of the fleet's Vipers when the Themis isn't around," The Commander explained. Allison nodded as she took it all in.
"Is that all sir?" Allison asked after the Commander had finished. Commander Grand nodded.
"Yes Captain. Thank you for your time," Allison saluted before turning to leave. She checked over her shoulder one more time as she was about to leave and saw Major Marks come running towards the Commander from the DC section. Curious, Allison walked back towards them.
"Commander," Major Marks said quietly to Commander Grand. "Damage Control says everything's fine. The computer was a little damaged, but they got stuck down there. They say it was... sabotaged!" The Commander stared at his XO.
"Sabotage? Who would want to sabotage the Fleet's main line of defence?" Commander Grand asked.
"Commander, Major," Allison butted in. "Some of the pilots have heard... rumours," Both Commander Grand and Major Marks turned to face Allison.
"What kind of rumours Captain?" Commander Grand asked.
"That the Cylons look like us now. Apparently someone claiming to be a priest tried to kill the Captain of the Colonial Eve a few hours after the Attack. He looked old but he is supposed to be the strongest man in the fleet before he was shot and later sent to the Hyperion," Allison told them. The Commander and Major gave each other a confused look.
"What are you suggesting Captain?" Major Marks asked Allison.
"I'm suggesting that the Admiral Jenkins may not be giving the whole truth," Commander Grand slowly nodded while Allison spoke and thought for a minute before replying.
"I'll speak to Commander Terra about it after the next jump. For now let's just... carry on. Major, prepare for the next jump. Same for you Captain, I'd get yourself ready just in case," Commander Grand told them. Major Marks nodded and headed over to the command table and grabbed a phone. Allison saluted before running down towards her quarters to get changed into her flight gear.
Allison was jogging down the corridors when Major Marks started the jump clock over the speakers. "All hands, prepare to jump," Major Marks said. Allison stopped jogging for a moment and lent up against a crate as the ship jumped away from Medra.
Defender Zeus, Colonial Survivor Fleet 'Kobol', Unknown Space:
Three Days, One Hour ATA
Allison pushed off from the crate and continued running. FTL jumps always did make her nauseous. She ran around a corner and past a couple of her pilots before she entered her locker room. Inside, Gabriella and Harry were sharing a drink which looked an awful lot like Major Renner's whiskey. "Allison?! I... uh," Harry stuttered as he wiped the sweat off of his brow. Allison looked at them sternly for a moment before the three of them started laughing. Allison shook her head as she walked over to her locker and took out her flight suit.
"So how much of Lonely's... juice, have you been drinking?" Allison asked. Harry shrugged his shoulders as he stood up.
"Enough to fly," Gabriella said, shrugging off any possible accusations. "You know Rocker, I fly better drunk!"
"I doubt that," Allison said. "In that case though, I think you two should stay here and sober up. I don't think we need you yet any..." Allison was interrupted by the Condition One alarms activating.
"Action stations, action stations! Set Condition One throughout the ship," The three pilots looked at each other as the Zeus' Tactical Officer called to the crew of the ship. "All Viper pilots report to Vipers immediately. Inbound Cylon Raiders!" Allison quickly whipped her blue uniform trousers off and hooked her feet into her flight suit before throwing her uniform on her rack and starting to hop down the corridors towards the hangar.
Allison sat calmly in her Viper as she completed her checks and was raised up to the flight deck. "Alright pilots," She said as she stared at her DRADIS screen. "Looks like we've got ten bandits on their way; let's not keep them waiting," She and seven other Vipers un-clamped from the surface of the flight deck and they blasted out of the Zeus. "Rocker, Lonely:" The smug voice of Major Renner called to Allison. "Let's try and split these guys up. I've got Raptors who are going to help your CAP to get the fleet to a safe distance so the Fist can have her way with those Raiders. Just stick on us for now," Allison rolled her eyes as the eight Zeus Vipers formed up behind the forty Vipers who had been placed around the fleet on the sides and in the hangars of the civilian ships.
"Gap, Rocker: You and Switch-back are on missile intercept duty with Bono and Exam," Allison told her pilots as the Vipers ahead of them tightened their formation.
"Tally Rocker," Gabriella replied.
"All other Zeus Vipers: Let's see how many kills we can get before Lonely can get too comfortable up front," Allison and the three other Vipers blasted in front of the more advanced Vipers as another wave launched from both the Zeus and Themis.
"All players, Themis: You have weapons free. Go get 'em!" Allison heard the Themis tell them. She flicked off her safety and she led the Vipers towards the incoming Raiders.
The Raiders suddenly broke formation as the Vipers approached, and they darted in different directions towards the other ships in the fleet. "Rocker, Lonely: I wouldn't get too close. Those bandit look rather erratic to me," Major Renner cautioned. Allison snorted to herself as she spun around behind the nearest Raider and fired a wave of KEWs in its direction, taking out one of its engines.
"Lonely, Rocker: You wanna bet?" Allison said cockily as she closed in on the kill. The Raider fired a quick missile at the civilian ships before flipping over and firing a barrage at Allison. "Argh! Frak me!" Allison said as one of the Cylon rounds clipped her engine. She flipped herself towards the Raider as one of its friends closed on her tail. "Switch-back, Rocker: I've got one on my six. Can you give me a hand?" Allison asked desperately as the Raider prepared a missile for her.
"Copy Rocker. Coming around," Harry quickly replied. The two Raiders sandwiched Allison in as Harry dived down and fired wildly at the Raider behind Allison, who was now chasing the first Raider herself. "Rocker he's too fast. I can't get a clear shot,"
"Roll right," Allison said. Harry didn't say anything for a moment until he realised what she said and rolled out of the dogfight. Allison flipped over in mid-bank and fired everything she had at the Raider and got a clear shot right in its head. The Raider split in two and sent its guts splattering onto Allison's cockpit. "Splash one," She said as she blasted through the debris.
"Very nice Rocker, but we need to deal with these others... oh frak me!" Major Renner said as four Raiders and two Heavy Raiders jumped into the fight. "All Vipers, Lonely: We need to get those Raiders towards either the Fist or the Themis right frakking now. If they get too close we're all toast,"
"Lonely, Rocker: You mean you want to get them into flak range?" Allison asked as she resumed chasing her first target.
"Roger that. Now let's get to work Captain!" Major Renner replied. Allison nodded to herself as she kicked on the throttle and blasted ahead of her Raider and forced it to start chasing her. She then flew towards the Heavy Raiders and sent a few KEWs their way. "Rocker, Lonely: What in the Lords' names are you doing?"
"Helping!" Allison said as she pushed her throttle to max and sped towards the Firestar Fist, which was just beginning to close in on the fire-fight. Allison quickly glanced at her DRADIS as she careered towards the Fist and saw that she had six Cylon fighters currently on her tail. "Fist, Rocker: I need you to fire all flak right frakking now! No questions asked,"
"Copy Rocker," The Fist replied immediately. A second later the flak guns of the Fist opened up and sent waves of flak fire towards both Allison and the Cylons on her six. Allison pulled up her Viper as soon as the first guns fired and pulled through the flak on a wing and a prayer. Quite literally with the wing as moments later a flak round clipped her post wing and knocked it clean off, sending her Viper flying. As she spun she saw the Raiders engulfed by the Fist's flak and she saw the other Raiders either being chased by MkV Vipers or sent flying into the Themis' firing solution. Allison sighed as she watched the last red blips disappear off her DRADIS in only a few seconds. "All Vipers, Lonely: Nice job, now let's head home. And Raptor 219, go and pick Rocker up; or I think she'll be stuck out there for the time being!"
