Chapter 7
Mark Sarnex couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had in the pit of his stomach. He was following a friend, following the wife of his best friend with another man. He tried to convince himself that this wasn't anything untoward, just two adults sharing a meal and walking through a garden. They could have been discussing upgrades to the virus, or some other scientific matter, he thought. It wasn't until the two stopped, and D'Anna pulled Xavier close to her and kissed him on the lips.
"Oh frak!" muttered Sarnex. He turned away and exited the gardens.
Aboard the lead Basestar Natalie monitored the damage being inflicted on the ship. The sudden appearance of the Defiant was not expected, and their swift attack coming out of the jump had interfered with the imminent crippling of Galactica. The aging Battlestar was the primary threat to the overall plan. Galactica must be eliminated, after that the smaller Earth-made Battlestars would quickly follow. While they had the advantage of speed and maneuverability over the much larger Cylon warships, they were limited in numbers and would be overwhelmed by superior numbers.
Doral was concerned with the turn of events. "Galactica should have been destroyed by now, we waited for their patrol to be spaced out sufficiently in order to strike and now we've lost the high ground." Said the Five model.
"It's only a matter of time before the other two Battlestars arrive." Stated the Eight model now walking up to the data stream.
"We will recall our raiders and jump to the staging area." Proclaimed Cavil, a One series Cylon model.
"Agreed." Responded the three humanoid Cylons at the data stream.
Captain Chris Halo was in pursuit of a raider doing its best to not be blown out of the sky by Silver Spar squadron's assistant squad leader. Halo, whose call sign was Six Pack was getting frustrated. This raider was good, and evaded the relentless barrage of 30 mm rounds ejected from the two wing cannons and the cannon affixed to the vertical stabilizer of the new Mk. VIII.
"Fraker is good," he said to no one in particular. Without warning the raider flipped end-over end 180 degrees to face its pursuer and immediately fired. The rounds stitched its way across Halo's his port wing and into the port intake which resulted in an explosion. Damage warnings sounded in the cockpit as the raider flew by him at blinding speed. His primary hydraulics were knocked offline, and the secondary system automatically kicked in. Luckily, Six Pack was an exceptional viper jock who quickly compensated for the changed flight characteristics.
"You okay over there Six Pack?" came the voice of Galactica's CAG over his helmet speaker. Starbuck was an exceptional CAG, and against the predictions of Commander Saul Tigh and other Colonial officers who knew the rebellious pilot well, she managed Galactica's flight wing even better than the former CAG and now Executive Officer of Galactica; Lee Adama, otherwise known as Apollo. She angled her viper in Halo's direction and fired upon a raider coming in to finish off the damaged viper.
"Thanks for the assist boss, I've lost my port engine, and I'm on secondary hydraulics. She's not handling well, I probably have structural damage to the wing as well. I think I can still stay in the fight though." Replied Halo trying to sound confident.
"Negative Six Pack, you're done here. No sense in tempting faith…besides you're not that good a pilot!" said Starbuck sarcastically. "Get your scrawny ass back aboard the bucket and I'll cover you."
The battle was terrible;, two more seasoned viper pilots were blown out of the sky, Kraken and Emissary. Even with the superior Mk VIII viper, the raider's superior numbers were no longer evening out the odds, but shattering them. Andromeda and Potemkin had arrived earlier, and they double teamed the second Basestar inflicting moderate damage.
Admiral Adama was pacing in front of the plotting table, the number of EDF viper transponders disappearing from Dradis was mounting; the taste of bile was growing stronger in his mouth. Finally Gaeta reported something surprising.
"Admiral, Cylon raiders are disengaging the fleet and returning to their Baseships…Baseships spooling up their FTL's."
It didn't make any sense, they were outnumbered and taking heavy losses and now the Cylons were retreating. "XO, order the recall of our vipers…I want the battle group to assume formation and submit damage and casualty reports immediately. Ordered Adama.
The hanger bay was filled with battle damaged vipers; those not taken offline were rearmed, refueled and immediately loaded back into the launch tubes. Hephaestus, Peacemaker and Starbuck were secluded to the side going over KIA's.
"Too fraking many lost!" said Major Jon Horlach, anguish clear in his voice after going over the names of those Galactica pilots lost. Hunter Seeker squadron lost all but four of their pilots, only Gambler, Hannibal, Eagleone and Maverick survived. There were four pilots from Silver Spar, eight from Blue squadron, four from the Red Aces and six from the Dragons. Starbuck wasn't happy, in addition to losing her outstanding viper pilots she lost two Raptor pilots. Racetrack and Betty were the best Raptor duo in the fleet. She and Betty were very close, and she glanced over to Gambler who was slumped against the bulkhead attempting to come to grips with his wife's death now that the battle was over and the losses starting to sink in.
"I've yet to hear the KIA count from the other Battlestars, but we can only assume they aren't good either." Said Lensherr eyeing the hanger bay activity. He was happy to see his ASL's viper being rolled into the hanger from the landing deck platform. The port wing was twisted, and the intake of the engine was blown apart, how he landed the viper in that condition was a testament to his piloting. Halo jumped down out of the cockpit and walked over to the three ignoring the specialist attempting to hand him his post flight checklist. Lensherr nodded to him and issued a wry comment. "Looks as if Camille is out of the fight for the foreseeable future!" stated Lensherr.
"I have every faith in Chief Tyrol's knuckle-draggers to get her flight ready in quick time." Replied Halo.
"You're pretty fraking optimistic my friend," began Peacemaker. "That bird will be down at least two days."
"We don't have two days, Major." Came the voice of Admiral Adama behind them. The four officers swung about and saluted the Admiral who came below to check in on his returning pilots.
"Your wings took a beating Starbuck!" said Adama.
"Yes sir, we were just going over the KIA's." replied Starbuck.
"I came down to check on you all, especially Gambler. It can't be easy for him right now, if not for Racetrack and Betty's sacrifice we might not be standing on this hanger deck. Those heavy raiders were packed with Solium." The hurt in Adama's voice was palpable. William Adama genuinely cared for all of the crew members under his command, from pilot to Marine, from knuckle-dragger to mess hall cook. He came to think of Nina Nintius in the same way he felt about Starbuck, the daughters he never had. Adama excused himself and walked over to Gambler.
In the Cylon Command and Control Center of the damaged Baseship Cavil took stock of what just transpired. Two Baseships with their full raider compliment should have overwhelmed an obsolete Battlestar past her prime. With the timely arrival of the Defiant, Galactica was spared its planned destruction. Defiant quickly disabled the FTL drive, but not to the extent that they had hoped. Superior Cylon technology made it possible for the damage to be quickly repaired. They barely escaped, and were now at the staging area. Close to 30 Basestars and four resurrection ships were concealed in an area known to Earth as the Gas pillars of the Eagle Nebula; a nearby star-forming region 6,500 light years away from the constellation Serpens.
"Hard to believe we had that antiquated rust bucket on the ropes and we couldn't seal the deal!" said Cavil in his trademark sarcastic voice.
"If the plan is going to work than we need Galactica out of the picture. Adama presents an unacceptable level of risk." said the Cylon-Humanoid formally known Aaron Doral.
"Earth will be on a higher level of alert now that we have renewed hostilities." said Natalie. The humanoid-Cylons nodded in agreement. "Fortunately we have longed planned for this, and all things are as they must be."
"It ends here and now. The human race as outlived its usefulness to the Cosmos, throughout history they interfered in the natural order of things, in their quest for knowledge and colonization they have spread their war-like beliefs, and their flawed understanding of the infinitesimal role they play in universe. Their adulteration must be deracinated." said Cavil.
"Send the signal and prepare to jump." said Natalie.
A council of war was convened aboard the Galactica; the commanding officers of each Battlestar in all battle groups with the exception of BSG-3 were present. Adama paced the chambers; looking across the assemblage of officers he was relieved to see his old executive officer present. Saul Tigh was his oldest friend, and at times missed him greatly as XO. The eye patch was long gone, shortly after they had reached Earth he was fitted with a prosthetic eyeball. Unless you knew the story of Tigh's confinement and torture on New Caprica years earlier you would never know that a humanoid-Cylon interrogator slowly and painfully deliberate ripped the eye from Saul Tigh's eye socket. That brutal act gained no information on the resistance movement, and it cemented Saul Tigh's hatred for anything Cylon.
"Gentlemen, we can no longer deny the facts," began the Admiral. "The Cylons have renewed hostilities and we must be prepared for the possibilities of an all-out attack on Earth and our outposts."
Rear Admiral Culverhouse was next to speak, "The Cylons obviously meant to attack Galactica while she was separated from the rest of her battle group and possibly more vulnerable. Thankfully they had not anticipated her upgrades from the earlier refit, or the tenacious defense put up by the Brittanic…Gods rest their souls!" The men slowly nodded at the mention of the destroyer obliterated by two kamikaze heavy raider runs packed with solium.
"Fraking slit eyed bastards were loaded with Solium I hear, thank the Gods they couldn't make contact with Galactica!" said Tigh in a tone dripping with disgust.
"We have to anticipate that they will use similar tactics in future clashes, the raiders themselves are too small to be packed with Solium, if anything they'd be armed with nukes which our radiological detectors will pick up on, we have to assume they'll use the heavy raiders…that will be the giveaway." Said Adama.
"They jumped within Galactica's security envelope, if they continue that tactic we'll be hard pressed to evade or take them out at such close range." Said Commodore Morlock.
"That's true, we obviously can't maneuver away in time, and chances are our viper wings will be engaged. If that happens all point defense turrets will be set for fully automatic and in close range solution." replied Adama.
Mack Culverhouse was jotting down information is a binder he carried with him, making various notations that he would review later, he looked up and spoke. "Admiral Adama, Polaris battle group is on station in Earth's immediate orbit, what about our other outposts, and planetary defenses?"
"Planet-based viper wings have been placed on full alert, the viper wing assigned to Pluto are on alert as well. Orbiting platforms have spaced themselves out equally across the circumference of the planet in the even anything gets past Polaris' battle group." replied the Admiral.
"Gentlemen…We will continue to patrol the outer perimeter until ordered otherwise by EDC, or something else goes down. I want you all to get your damaged vipers back in service as soon as possible, we'll need every stick in the sky if they launch another attack." The meeting continued for another half hour as Adama went through other issues with the commanders. The meeting concluded and raptors whisked their commanders back to their Battlestars under heavy viper escort.
Pilot's ready room. Starbuck entered the room as Vixon called everyone to attention. "As you were ladies!" grumbled Major Kara Thrace as she made her way to the podium. Becky Zathras leaned against the bulkhead to Starbuck's left, a pewter mug of coffee clutched in her hand. Sipping from it periodically she looks at the assembled pilots and is happy to see the rows full, not long before finding Earth there were far too many empty seats for pilots attending pre-flight briefings. The Galactica's air wing was at full capacity now, and with the latest in viper technology.
Starbuck looked drained, over the past year she had really pulled herself together as Galactica's CAG. Her legendary drinking was under control, and the relationship she had with Captain Jack Hoffman; former Earth Air Force officer now assigned to Hunter Seeker squadron under the call sign Hannibal had been a moderating influence. She wore her blond hair longer than normal, something that pleased Hoffman immensely. Those few that knew this fact, and knew Starbuck well enough were taken aback by how much of her formidable guard she let down around Jack Hoffman.
"Alright listen up…we've lost some good friends out there this morning. We do not have the time to properly send them off as they deserve, but trust me when I say that we will in due time. Galactica is down approximately 30 Vipers, and no new replacements are coming in until we return to Earth. I've made some temporary transfers to equalize the four squadrons, the list will be posted after pre-flight briefing. The Cylons are no doubt planning another attack, no matter what it is I'm sure that we will be outnumbered as usual. Check out your birds from nose to tail, leave nothing unchecked. The Mark VIII viper is the latest in viper technology, and we're going to need every ounce of that fraking technology to give us an edge against superior enemy numbers."
Starbuck nodded to Vixon who placed her mug down and walked to the podium, Starbuck stepped back allowing her to move in. "With the loss of Betty and Racetrack, Athena and Helo move up to lead Raptor team. From this point on, every raptor will be fitted with the Spectra Six launcher system, all raptors will now be armed. They will still be primarily used for Airborne warning & control and electronic countermeasures platform supporting viper operations, but at least if they run into trouble they can defend themselves, or lend a hand in offense in the worst case scenarios." Vixon looked directly at the Agathons, "Congratulations Athena and Helo, you are now the lead raptor team…good hunting!"
On Earth, Mark Sarnex had returned to his small house on base at the Groom Lake facility, his cape-style home was approximately six blocks away from Matthew Lensherr's home. Dropping down into his soft leather chair he balanced the glass of scotch on his knee. He poured the scotch neat, and had every intention of drinking it down to help alleviate the mood he was in after seeing his best friend's wife kissing another man. Something just wasn't right with this picture, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something seriously wrong. Philip Xavier just didn't make any sense, he was thin, unattractive, and an in his own world intellectually. He and Matthew Lensherr couldn't be more opposite.
Sarnex tossed back the glass of scotch in one shot, the rush to his head was amazingly pleasant. He reached for his old Silver Spar squadron pullover and made his way out the door. He was going to Xavier's office to confront the little weasel. He had no idea if Xavier would be there, but rumor had it that the man spent his evenings in his lab; a practice that contributed to his single status. The five mile ride seemed longer to Sarnex, he grew angrier with every minute and he had the overwhelming urge to administer a "good old fashion ass kicking!" as they say on Earth. Xavier would be easy to scare off; he had no idea what to do about D'Anna, no idea how to even broach the subject with her. How would he explain surveilling her?
Xavier's car was parked in his assigned spot; the front doors of the building were locked however. Mark Sarnex had access to most facilities on Groom Lake by nature of his rank and assignment in Fleet Intelligence. Fishing through his pants pocket he produced an identity badge. Sliding the metal strip along the access pad the door buzzed and unlocked instantly.
Sarnex made his way to the second floor lab and stopped at Xavier's office. The door was slightly ajar, the hair on Mark's neck started to bristle. Entering the darkened room he felt around for a light switch. Finding none he groped around the room searching for a desk lamp. He tripped, and fell face first against the floor.
"Frak!" he muttered. He finally made his way to the desk and felt around for a lamp which he soon found and turned on. He stopped cold. On the floor lay Philip Xavier, quite dead. Sarnex checked for a pulse and determined that there was none. Years of trusting his intuition was ingrained in Mark Sarnex, he wasn't alone with the corpse of Xavier. The door clicked shut, and he spun around in time to witness the blur that was a very powerful backhand.
The force of the blow nearly rendered him unconscious before he slammed full force into corner of the wall. Mark wasn't sure if the loud crack was the sound of the plaster wall or his bones. The momentary blackout subsided and he saw D'Anna walking over to him. Placing his hands on the floor he attempted to push himself up. Nothing, he couldn't seem to get to his feet. D'Anna's face was emotionless, and she stopped before him, squatting down on the balls of her feet. She was dressed in what appeared to be a black, form-fitting jumpsuit. Her green eyes blazed before him.
"Good evening Nightstalker. Wrong place at the wrong time, wouldn't you say?"
"…D'Anna…what the frak?" whispered Mark, still unable to catch his breath, or move. His legs weren't working, and fear crept into Mark Sarnex as he realized he couldn't feel anything from the chest down.
"You shouldn't have followed me earlier tonight, Mark. Did you actually think I didn't know I was being followed, or by whom?" Her voice was different, this was not the same D'Anna Lensherr he knew, and cared about. The smile that slowly crept across her face sent shivers through Mark's body.
"Why?" he said, his voice becoming stronger. She came closer, straddling Mark's unmoving legs.
"This day has long been planned for, Mark. The Cylons will soon be here, and humanity's future is about to take a completely unexpected turn of events. Xavier's 'Cylon virus' program had to be neutralized, the fool kept the only working disc here in his lab." She held aloft a red rectangular disk with black lettering, that disc was the key to the master transmitter that could deliver the virus into space from its location not far from where they stood.
"How could you betray us, how could you betray Matt?" said Sarnex angrily.
D'Anna just smiled, her face just inches from his. "I always caught your sideways glances at me Mark, the lustful looks…the undressing of me with your eyes when you thought I wasn't looking…who's betraying Matt?" She ran her fingers along the side of his face, reaching down she kissed him fully on the lips then drew back. "All of this has been planned, from the creation of those remote outposts, from my collaborating with the humans, my alleged betrayal of Leoben, and eventual impregnation by a Colonial officer which ensured I remained with him upon Galactica in the hopes that we would eventually find Earth. The next stage of Cylon and human evolution begins very soon, I'm just sorry you won't be here to see it."
"What stage of evolution, what the frak are you talking about?"
"Human women will bear the offspring of the Cylon selected males, these will be the children of our future. Humanity is an evolutionary dead end; it is time to reach the next level. Of course the majority of the population will need to be culled to a controllable number…sadly you will be one of the first, goodbye Mark." She slowly placed her hands on both side of Mark's face, kissed him again and with incredible strength snapped his neck. Fleet intelligence officer Major Mark Sarnex slumped dead to the highly polished floor, his neck at a grossly anatomically incorrect angle. A look of horror frozen on his face would be his lasting image. D'Anna Biers-Lensherr, humanoid-Cylon model number three stood up, her gaze lay upon the now lifeless form of the man who had been a part of her life, the life of her two hybrid children, and the best friend of her husband. She cocked her eyebrow, and spun on her heel exiting the room with the only means of protecting humanity from the Cylons.