Chapter 6: First Blood

CIC

USS Hornet

Flagship BSG-12

In 25 years the Cylons had never ventured into Earth's Solar System. Now four baseships had jumped into Earth's orbit. Non-combatant ships began engaging their FTL drives and jumping out of the way of the developing battle.

You Toasters couldn't make it easy. I was going to make some FTL jumps and nuke your homeworld but you had to come to me first. Admiral Edmondson thought to herself bitterly.

Admiral Edmondson moved to the Flag CIC, a smaller room next to the main CIC also known as "The Admiral's Corner" to take charge of the space battle now developing. Her staff was already assembling there. She took a seat in a command chair. Her aide handed her a small earpiece that allowed her to talk to the other ships in the strike group.

Hanging from the ceiling above the command chair was a flat screen monitor. It clicked on showing the faces of each Ship's Captain, including Capt. Fuchida. The Admiral began snapping off orders.

"Spread your ships out. I want to know the minute the counter-strike air group is assembled and which CAG is leading it."

"Admiral, we are prepared to close in to the Cylon Basestars, waiting for your orders" The Captain of the Space Cruiser Boston, Capt. Rozellitold the Admiral.

"Negative Captain. Hold in place and prepare to engage incoming raiders. That applies to all other escort Captains as well." There was a chorus of "aye, ma'am" coming from the monitor.

"Comm, patch me through to headquarters ASAP and the commander of Sun Tzu strike group."

The Battlestar Sun Tzu was built and crewed by the Chinese. (The People's Republic of China (PRC) turned down Weyland-Yutani's offer to build them Battlestars). Along with her sister ship Kublai Khan they made up they made up their own strike group along with the Star Cruisers Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Harbin.

"Commander Sun Tzu strike group is already on the line Admiral waiting for you". The CIC comm. Operator said.

"200 Cylon Raiders 50 miles out and closing. They are launching missiles." A CIC radar operator called out. "Two missiles inbound to Hornet"

Admiral Edmondson's conversation with her counterpart aboard Sun Tzu would have to wait as Hornet's anti-air weapons opened up. The Battlestar shook as both missiles detonated outside the hull.

The voice of Hornet's XO Commander Pierre Leclerc crackled in the Admiral's earpiece.

"Our guns took out the missles. No damage to the ship. The Cylon raider force is splitting up. Approximately 150 raiders are coming at us. The rest are headed toward Earth."

"Have Yorktown send a squadron after the small group. Hornet's air wing will go after the Baseships

with Sun Tzu. Everything else will defend the fleet." The Admiral ordered. "Let me talk to the Chinese Admiral now".

The face of Admiral Chang of People's Republic of China Space Command (PRCSC) appeared on the Admiral's monitor.

"Admiral Chang, this is Admiral Edmondson. one of my air wings is on the way to assist you in fighting the Cylon baseships. My ships will not engage until I have spoken to higher headquarters in the next few minutes."

"Very well Admiral Edmondson. Right now I think your Super Vipers will be enough unless the Cylons move in more Basestars. My air wing commander is awaiting communication with your air wing now." The Chinese Admiral then hung up.

"CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) waiting to talk to you Admiral". Commodore Delacroix whispered into the Admiral's free ear.

The Commodore handed the Admiral a small hand phone. "This is Admiral Edmondson".

"Racetrack let me get a sitrep." The CNO said.

"Sir, we have four Cylon Basestars who have launched raiders. I am holding my group back with the exception of one my air wings as a reserve in case things get bad. We have a mission to start and I feel we can't afford the loss a Battlestar."

"I understand Racetrack. Fighters are on their way up from the planet now. Get the situation under control and then continue on with your primary mission. CNO out".

"Admiral, the air wing is launched and on its way to the target. Captain Lawrence is leading. Our fighters are now engaging both groups of Cylons"

Admiral Racetrack Edmondson sat back in her command chair and waited.

Hornet Hanger Deck

Hera Agathon was being strapped into the cockpit of her Super Viper. Her plane crew swarmed around her aircraft making last minute adjustments before her torpedo bomber was pushed into the launch tube.

As usual, Agathon and her back-seater Henderson had been on standby alert. As the junior Ensigns in the squadron they were always put on alert and would remain there until some more new junior pilots, "nuggets" arrived. That was the tradition in the naval aviation community.

Being on standby alert meant their plane was fueled and armed and ready to be launched as part of an air strike if needed. All that had to be loaded was their torpedoes. Ready alert meant your plane was in the launch tube with the crew in the cockpit ready to go.

"Good hunting ma'am". It was Petty Officer Mary Herodotus an aviation mechanic who worked on Agathon's plane. She was also half Cylon; her mother was a Six and was also from Roslin City, a few years younger than Hera. "Give 'em hell from the Evens" (as in "even numbers". It is a name young ethnic Cylons call themselves on Earth since their parents are all 2, 6 and 8 models).

"Damn right I will". Hera answered. Eva "Coffee" Lopez came up next. She was wearing her space flight suit also. She gave Hera a mock salute and waved to Marty Henderson. She then took off across the hanger bay to her Raptor.

Hera lowered the Canopy of the cockpit and turned her attention to her instruments. "You ready to go Poster Child?" She asked her back-seater.

"Let's rock" was all he said. Hera powered up the Super Viper and rolled forward into a launch tube. Launch tube crewman, wearing bright green jerseys and helmets guided Hera into place. They then ran out of the way and a metal door behind the Super viper slid down sealing off the tube from the hanger deck.

"Viper 808 the tube is sealed. Rev up to full power" This command came from the "Shooter" the Launch Officer over the radio.

"Revving up to full power" Hera repeated.

"Launch tube is open, depressurizing now. Prepare for launch." The Shooter said. A metal door in front of the Super Viper slid down into the deck. The Super Viper rocked as air was sucked out into space.

Hera now turned her head to her left. A small TV screen showed her the face of the Shooter. Above the TV screen was a red light with a camera lenses next to it.

"Viper 808 you are cleared to launch". The red light turned green. Hera snapped her head forward and her plane was flung into space.

The Super Viper cleared the launch tube in seconds. Hera started her forward thrusters and started flying the fighter-bomber. She turned the Viper to the left and started flying in a race track pattern above Hornet to catch up with the other planes already launched and allow those launched after her to catch up.

In minutes Hera caught up with her flight leader Cmdr. Tiger Matsumoto. There were four VTA-8 planes in the strike force: The Squadron XO, Cmdr Matsumoto, Hera Agathon, Lt. Joe "Rib eye" Brown and Lt. Sandra "Cherry Pie" Moore. Their aircraft were identified by a black "I" painted on the tail of the Super Viper. They also had Shark's teeth painted on the front of the plane. The rest of the strike group was four C-model Super Vipers from the Marine Squadron VMA-214, two Intruder IIs from VE-81 and eight fighters from VF-80. Capt. Lawrence, the CAG was flying one of the Intruder IIs. Additional planes were being loaded in Hornet's hanger bay for a second strike.

The CAG came over a secure radio channel and talked to his pilots. "Listen up this is a standard strike. The Intruders will go in first and shut down the Cylon radar and fire control. The Marines will go in next and try to soften them up more. The torpedo bombers are the knockout punch. The fighters will punch a hole in through the fighter screen. The Chinese will be with us. Good hunting. Now go weapons hot".

Hera released the safety on the fire button controlling the plane's two KEW cannon. In the back seat, Marty Henderson hit a button arming the Mako torpedoes in the bomb bay.

Hera's thought about a saying she always heard growing up in Roslin City especially when playing sports in high school. "You have to become a razor, a weapon". I gotta become a razor now Hera thought to herself.

Cmdr. Matsumoto spoke over the radio. "Toaster Girl this is Tiger, stay on my wing until I tell you to make your run. Stay focused."

"Roger Tiger, Toaster Girl out". Hera replied and concentrated on flying her Super Viper.

The Hornet strike force moved into formation. Up ahead they could see the four base ships under attack by the Chinese Space Cruisers.

"Raiders coming in at twelve o'clock. Tighten it up!" The CAG called out over the radio. The Eight fighters from VF-80 moved to the front of the formation.

"Friendly fighters coming up from three o'clock low" The CAG called out again over the radio.

Eight Chinese Tiger fighters (The Chinese version of the Viper) joined the formation. Minutes later the first raiders came in firing. The Chinese chased after them.

"Everyone on after burners we're going in." The CAG ordered. The formation roared in toward the four baseships which were in a diamond shaped formation.

"Target the baseship in the center" The CAG ordered.

Hera looked ahead. She could see the baseships lit up in the darkness of space by their anti-aircraft guns. The old Cylon basestars had no AA weapons. They always relied on their raiders to protect from the Vipers. That had cost them during the Exodus. Now they had plenty of them. Once again the Cylons had evolved.

A/N: Next chapter the actual attack on the Cylons and what the second bunch of Cylon raiders is up to.