Sidon Mining Colony in orbit over Caprica
Admiral Clements stood looking out the large window at the modern colonial city at the heart of the massive mining colony. It was early evening in the colony and the overhead lights had gradually dimmed to imitate the setting sun. Streetlights could be seen coming on across the busy city as well as lights in some of the taller buildings where people still worked on colony business. Johnathan knew that, on the far end of the colony beyond the city, the many automated factories were running nonstop producing equipment and material to be shipped down to the surface of Caprica to aid in the rebuilding process. This colony meant something special to Admiral Clements, without it and its manufacturing capability the Cylons might never have been defeated.
"I never get tired of this view," Governor Mike Patterson spoke from his position next to the Admiral peering out the window. "We still have 700,000 people living in the Sidon, and I suspect it's going to stay that way for a long time."
"They feel safe here," Johnathan replied in a quiet voice. "It's become their home and a place to raise their families without fear. Something we all need. Down on the colonies there are still signs of the war everywhere. Burned out cities, destroyed farms, and hundreds of millions of graves. It will be decades before people on the surface begin to feel completely safe again."
"The New Haven colony is the same way," Mike continued nodding his head in agreement. "Governor Anderlen reports the same thing. Very few of the refugees want to return home."
"I guess it was to be expected," Johnathan replied with a heavy sigh wishing everyone could feel as safe and secure as the people on the two large asteroid colonies. "Too many of the survivors we rescued as we were leaving the colonies and then later with our attack on the refugee camps on Celeen 2 and Picon the asteroid colonies became their homes."
"Even back in the nebula it is still the same," Mike spoke recalling his latest communication with General Collins who had returned to the nebula to check on current operations. They were still proceeding with building a large military asteroid colony. This colony would be capable of building almost any military hardware and munitions that you could imagine. In addition, the military asteroid would also have a small shipyard on one end capable of building the new Firestar Repulse Class Battle Cruisers.
It had been decided to keep the two completed Agro colonies inside the safety of the Andorian Nebula. Currently 75,000 colonial citizens lived in each of the two Agro colonies living very peaceful and secure lives. If a disaster were to full upon the survivors of the Twelve Colonies, the two Agro colonies would serve as secure fall back positions. There were also four of the new Titan 2 Class Gunstars permanently assigned to the nebula as well as a number of large and powerful defensive satellites.
"I wonder if things will ever get back as they were before the Cylon attack?" Johnathan sighed knowing instinctively that it would take a long time. It was even hard for him to go down to the surface. The memories of some of the places he and his wife had visited on Caprica would always be with him. Many of those places had been destroyed in the Cylon attack.
"In future generations, it will be better," Mike replied knowing that living in the Sidon had protected much of its population from the horrors of the war. "Children being born today won't remember the war. It will take awhile, but in future generations, the war will just be a distant part of history."
The two were interrupted as President Urie, Governor Anderlen, Admiral Reynolds, and Admiral Reed entered the large conference room. Everyone walked over to the large conference room table and took their seats. This would be the first time they had all met since Admiral Landers had made his surprising admission two weeks back.
President Urie looked over at Governor Patterson with a look of concern and curiosity on his face. He had been deeply concerned since Admiral Landers had made his shocking admission about being a Cylon of the Thirteenth Tribe. "What did the scientists and medical teams find out Mike?"
"As you all know, two weeks ago we learned that the Thirteenth Tribe was a form of Cylon," Mike began taking a deep breath and looking around at the assembled group. All eyes were focused intently on him. "This came as a tremendous shock to all of us, but does explain why they took a different path when they left Kobol instead of coming along with the other twelve tribes."
"I still find it disturbing that the Kobolans didn't reveal this fact to us earlier," Governor Anderlen interrupted shaking his head. "I realize that the majority of their population is completely human, but the fact that they have tens of millions of Cylons living amongst their population should have been revealed to us earlier."
"From what Admiral Landers has told me, their military wanted to tell us," Admiral Clements spoke recalling the long conversations with Admiral Landers over the last two weeks. "It was their civilian government that was hesitant. Due to our hatred of the Cylons, they were worried about how it might affect our relations, especially with Demeter so close."
"I guess I can understand that," Governor Anderlen replied. "But they still should have made some effort. I mean, it's been over five years since the war was over. They had to know we would find out sooner or later!"
"What did the tests results show?" President Urie asked inclining his head toward Governor Patterson.
"As you all know, Admiral Landers made a number of his crew available to us," Governor Patterson responded opening up a thick folder and passing out several thin sheets of papers to the others. "Out of his total crew of 1,000 on his cruiser, 82 of them have Cylon heritage in their background. Sixteen of them volunteered to be tested by our experts."
"Eighty two out of 1,000," Governor Anderlen spoke with his eyes wide. "I guess that's to be expected if the Thirteenth Tribe is as numerous on Terra as the other twelve are."
"The tests were quite surprising," Governor Patterson continued looking down at the test results on the paper in front of him. "All sixteen show some of the same genetic markers as the current race of Cylons we are familiar with. However, only two showed all of them. From what our scientists here on the Sidon have reported as well as our medical experts, the centuries of interbreeding with the other twelve tribes have diluted the markers to the extent that, for the most part, they are barely detectable. Most of the members of the Thirteenth Tribe on Terra are far more closely related to humans than they are to current day Cylons. They also no longer possess the ability to download, that too disappeared as they interbred with the other tribes."
"Then all this worry has been for nothing," Governor Anderlen breathed with a heavy sigh of relief.
"Yes," Governor Patterson replied recalling his conversations with Admiral Landers. "The tribes on Terra for the most part have become so interbred over the centuries that they look upon themselves as Kobolans and not members of an individual tribe. However, each tribe does maintain a small group of members that does not practice interbreeding and have stayed relatively pure. This is where the members of the Quorum on Terra are chosen from. From what Admiral Landers has told me, this group consists of around 100,000 to 125,000 members of each tribe."
"Not a large enough of a group to be a real threat," President Urie spoke thoughtfully. "Even 125,000 Cylons on Terra amounts to only a very minor fraction of their overall population."
"Remember that these Cylons have always lived and worked with their human counter parts of the other twelve tribes," Admiral Clements spoke. "To them being Cylon is no different than being a member of the other twelve tribes."
"In your scientist's opinion, there is no potential threat here?" President Urie asked.
"No, none what so ever," Governor Patterson replied. "Even the pure blood members of the Thirteenth Tribe look upon themselves as being Kobolan first and a member of the Thirteenth Tribe second."
"Well I'm glad that's behind us," President Urie spoke with a relieved look upon his face. "Admiral Clements if you will arrange a meeting with Admiral Landers in the morning I want to personally apologize to him and his crew for any inconvenience or problems this incident may have caused."
"Admiral Landers has been very understanding in all of this," Admiral Clements replied. "I will set up a meeting."
"Now on to other business. What have we found out about the Galactica's location from the records of the Cylon Basestar and the Cylon Hall of Knowledge?" President Urie asked looking intently at Admiral Clements.
"Under the recommendation of Admiral Landers, we forwarded the stellar coordinates to Professor Anthon on Terra. He is science specialist Denise Anthon's father," Clements replied.
"Why him?" Governor Patterson asked confused. "Our own astronomers could have confirmed the coordinates."
"That's the problem," Clements replied with a frown. "They couldn't. We couldn't match up any star system with those coordinates. We used our most powerful telescopes to check those coordinates, and there isn't a star there!"
The room was silent for a long moment, before the President asked. "Now what do we do?"
"I don't know, but Professor Anthon was very excited after he had time to study the information we forwarded him from the Basestar and the Hall of Knowledge," Clements replied.
"I don't understand," Admiral Reed spoke looking confused. "What did he find?"
"He hasn't said," Admiral Clements replied shaking his head slightly. "But he and his daughter are on the way here even as we speak. The rest of Admiral Lander's battle group is acting as escort, and the new Jupiter Class Battlestars Hyperion, Prometheus, and Pacifica are also enroute."
"Anything else?" President Urie asked leaning back in his chair, in thought."
"Yes, Professor Anthon and his daughter are on board the exploration ship Explorer, which the Kobolans have put through a complete update. They are also bringing two of the Super Colony ships that were in orbit around Demeter."
"He knows something," Admiral Reed said leaning forward excitedly. "Professor Anthon wouldn't be coming here with that large a force if he didn't. He knows where the Galactica is!"
"I believe you're right," Admiral Clements replied with a nod. "But with the force that's coming with him, I don't think it's all good news."
Caprica Station
Four weeks later, Admiral Clements, Admiral Reynolds, Admiral Reed, Admiral Stockwell, and Admiral Landers were meeting in the main conference aboard Caprica Station. The mission to rescue the Galactica was about to be launched.
"I still don't understand why we have to go the Ionian Nebula instead of straight to Earth," Admiral Reed commented perplexed. "Professor Anthon has been very insistent that we have to go that route, but has been very evasive as to why. He says he will reveal his reasoning when we get to the nebula."
"I agree it's very strange," Admiral Clements replied nodding his head in thought. "But the Kobolans have agreed to commit Admiral Lander's battle group to the mission as well as the colonial Exploration ship Explorer, which they have completely redesigned and modernized."
"The two super colony ships have finished going through their system updates and modifications over the last several weeks," Admiral Reynolds spoke looking at a report in front of him. "If we find the Galactica and her fleet that gives us room to put 10,000 people each on board those two ships."
"Will that be enough?" Admiral Stockwell asked looking over at Admiral Clements. "From what we have learned from the surviving human Cylons on the rebel Basestar, there were nearly 40,000 surviving colonials still in Admiral Adama's fleet."
"Some of their ships should still be serviceable," Clements commented. "We could also put survivors in our warships if necessary.
"We are also taking the Fleet Tender Crescent, so we could repair any of Adama's ships that need it," Admiral Reed added. "That should give us sufficient lift capacity for all the survivors."
"I also don't know why Professor Anthon is insisting on going to the Ionian Nebula instead of setting a direct course for Earth," Admiral Landers interjected shaking his head listening to the conversation. "I talked to him earlier, and all he would tell me is that we can't go to Earth directly without going to the nebula first."
"Sounds very mysterious," Admiral Stockwell stated leaning back in his chair and drumming the fingers of his right hand on the table. "Just what ships are we sending on this rescue mission? I'm still nervous about this new group of Ovions Admiral Reed ran into on his last mission."
Admiral Clements looked around the group. Admiral Reed, President Urie, and he had discussed this in considerable detail just several nights back over lunch at one of the plushier restaurants on the Sidon. "The trip to the Ionian Nebula skirts what we think is the home stomping grounds of this new group of Ovions by several hundred light years. However, that's only supposition. We can't be sure just how far their colonies extend out without more exploration."
"How are we going to do that?" Admiral Stockwell asked with concern in his eyes. We don't have the fleet assets to get drawn into another long drawn out war, perhaps it's best if we just stay away from their area of space."
"Terra feels that this new group of Ovions represents a very serious future threat," Admiral Landers spoke with a frown creasing his forehead. "Just the way they attacked Admiral Reed's battle group is a cause for concern. The President and the Quorum have authorized a reconnaissance in force. Admiral Crius will be taking a large battle group out to the area where Admiral Reed encountered the Ovions. These will be out latest ships and heavily stealthed."
"That worries me," Admiral Reynolds spoke his eyes widening and looking around the group. "What if the Ovions detect this force and consider it an act of war?"
"With the advanced stealth systems Admiral Crius's battle group will be employing that is highly doubtful," Admiral Landers responded. "The battle group will stay just outside of what we believe is Ovion space, and special heavily stealthed units will be used to explore that entire area of space. I hope that when they return, we will know how large an area of space the Ovions occupy and just how big a threat these new Ovions represent. That is also why Admiral Crius is going. To ensure there is no accidental provocation of the Ovions. Every safe guard possible will be used to make sure the Ovions don't detect our ships."
"This course of action has already been discussed with President Urie and the other heads of the civilian government," Admiral Clements added. "We believe just the distance involved will keep us relatively safe from a new war, however, we must know what is out there. The Ovions have demonstrated in the past that they can be totally ruthless. Look at what happened to New Kobol and her colonies."
CAPRICA STATION MAIN CIC
It was a week later, and Admiral Reed was standing next to Admiral Clements in the main CIC of Caprica Station. The main view screens were focused on the assembled fleet that had gathered in upper orbit above the station.
"Should we be taking this many of our warships on this mission?" Admiral Reed asked feeling uneasy about taking so many ships with him.
"Our remaining forces will be more than adequate," Admiral Clements replied nodding his head at the screens. "With our planetary defense grids, Caprica Station, the Sidon and New Haven colonies, plus the Aurora we have all the firepower we need. Don't forget we also have the Mercury Class Battlestars, Aires, Picon, Tauri, and Canopus and their attending fleets."
"What if we encounter the Cylons?" Admiral Reed asked. They had discussed this already, but he wanted to confirm his orders. "Do you really want us to destroy any of their ships we encounter on our way to Earth?"
Admiral Clements hesitated for a moment. "We don't know where the Cylon Baseship went that escaped from the Cylon home world. We know that four Basestars and eight Support Ships escaped with it."
"They could be anywhere rebuilding their forces," Reed replied worriedly hoping he didn't encounter that Baseship. The pulse lasers it was equipped with were deadly.
"They can't build new Basestars, only the Colony could produce the hybrids needed to operate their Basestars," Clements answered. "They could build new Baseships and Support Ships, but it will take years to implement that type of building program."
"So, if we encounter any Cylon survivors we are to engage and destroy?" Admiral Reed replied looking at one of the screens, which showed his fleet's flagship the Rycon floating in orbit far above them.
"Yes," Admiral Clements answered looking at Admiral Reed solemnly. "According to the survivors on the Rebel Basestar only one other rebel ship survived. It has joined Admiral Adama's fleet. You are to consider any other Cylon ships you encounter as hostile and destroy them."
"That's why the new nukes have been loaded aboard the three Kobolan battle cruisers," Admiral Reed replied. The new weapons were frightening. All three Kobolan battle cruisers had been loaded with 100-megaton nukes. Each ship was given two each to be used against the Cylon Colony if encountered.
"Yes," Clements replied. "I only authorized the production of the six we are sending with you, they are based on the same designs as the 50 megaton nukes the Cylons used against us."
They were both silent as they stood in the CIC watching the fleet in orbit above them.
Two hours later, Admiral Reed entered the CIC of the Jupiter Class Battlestar Rycon. "Current fleet status?" he asked looking at his Executive Officer Major Streth.
"All ships are fully supplied and ready for the first FTL jump. Pre jump checks have been completed, and the first set of coordinates for our first jump point has been downloaded," Major Streth reported.
Admiral Reed looked around the CIC. They were finally going to Earth. If Professor Anthon was correct, and he could indeed furnish them with the proper coordinates after going to the Ionian Nebula, than Adama and his fleet were finally within reach. Reed took a deep breath wondering just what all Adama and his fleet had gone through over the past seven years.
In Caprica Station, Admiral Clements watched the assembled rescue fleet in high orbit on the view screens. He knew he was sending Admiral Reed and Admiral Landers on a dangerous mission; there was a high probability that somewhere along the way they would encounter the remains of John's fleet. He just hoped that Admiral Reed returned safely and brought back Admiral Adama and his survivors.
On the main view screen, the ships of the rescue fleet began to vanish in blue white flashes of light. In less then two minutes, the fleet was gone, and the mission to rescue the Galactica was on its way.
If you would like to read an excerpt from my upcoming story The Ovion Kobolan War, go to my profile page, then to my website, then to Battlestar Galactica.
Ships in the Rescue Fleet
Jupiter Class Battlestars (Rycon, Prometheus, Hyperion, and Pacifica)
Valkyrie Class Battlestars (Victory, Independence, Dark Search, Shrike, and Caprica)
Firestar Repulse Class Battle Cruisers (Osiris, Hibernia, Eternal, and Cerebrus)
Kobolan Battle Cruisers (Zeus, Apollo, and Terra)
Six Kobolan Heavy Escorts
Electronics Surveillance Ship (Silent Seeker)
Marine Assault Vessel (Guardian)
Kobolan Hospital Ship (Mercy)
Fleet Tender and Dry Dock (Crescent)
Exploration Ship (Explorer)
Two Super Colony Ships
Four Tylium Tankers
Four Supply Ships