Disclaimer: I never have and never will own the characters, ideas or anything else based on these 2 shows. The TV studios that produced them, do. This story is also free as it is a pet project. Enjoy. Now with a beta.
"Talking"
"Thinking"
"Wireless/communication"
"Speaking in a different language"
"Reading a text"
Chapter nine: Human Nature & Pirate Nature
Kobol, Colonial expedition in abandoned Goa'uld base, minutes later.
Nagala and a security detachment had arrived. As he stepped down from the slightly elevated platform to get to the dialing device. He had to step over some corpses. The room was filled with them. Including two Colonial marines. Sanders, Arkhipov and their people were already cleaning the mess.
Sanders went up to Nagala and saluted. "Sir... we had guests as you can see."
"Not the friendly kind too..." They were all humans in these strange uniforms, if you could call them that. Around two dozen of them. But they all had weapons similar to the Colonials, if a bit more primitive. "Casualties?"
"Two of my guys bought it in the first minute. As they came through we had them in a crossfire. I shouted for them to stand down and drop their weapons, but they shouted back in some language I didn't understand."
Nagala Stepped forward to get out of the main mess. "Who shot first?"
"Couldn't tell you in that mess. Our body cameras will have to tell that."
"Them?"
Sanders motioned the admiral to follow him to the corridor. There was one, just one of these intruders, still alive and handcuffed. 2 others were also there lying on the floor, but... the medics gave up on them.
Nagala eyed the handcuffed survivor who just stared back. He did show signs of lack of sleep as well as other symptoms. "Sanders, contact Picon, let them send a translator here, preferably someone who had time to study the alien languages from the database." He signaled his men to pick the prisoner up. "I'll see if this 'person' can understand basic human signs and facial expressions."
"You want to interrogate him? Here?"
"I do. Also get blood samples from everyone, including our guest. Send them to Picon as well, can't risk any pathogens spreading, can we?"
Edge of Colonial space, 10 minutes later
A lone raptor was doing a patrol of that sector of space. Nothing unusual. Colonials did it all the time. But the serenity of the patrol was cut short. Three basestars jumped behind it and began launching raiders. But something was off. The basestars looked... disorientated. And a few seconds after they jumped in, the raptor jumped out.
All for the better, as the three intruders began getting hammered from behind from a Colonial force twice their size, led by the Cyclops. All their vipers and raptors were already deployed and their guns loaded when the Cylons arrived.
In the CIC, admiral Lennox was actually having a sort of party as he lit his cigar. "Looks like we caught a big one people! To all ships, fire at will!" He had already said that sentence so often this day that the running joke in the CIC was: 'Won't Will have an issue with that'?
He just stared at the dradis. "Like shooting fish in a barrel." His XO remarked. "Almost too easy."
Puffing his cigar, Lennox remarked. "I take easy over a fair fight any day of the week. Only a fool fights fair fights." Nagala's plan to use the locator beacons against the Cylons worked like a charm. 4 ambushes, 4 victories, so far. A total of 9 through the colonies.
The tactic was simple but effective. Load a still working beacon on to a raptor and send it out on a patrol route. Remove the other beacons from all friendly ships so the toasters don't know they are there. They see only one signal far out from back-up and think it's easy pickings. But they don't see the net waiting to catch them. Of course there were always survivors that got away, but they were always raiders, never a basestar. And the toasters can't be losing their capital ships like that, not in the shape they were in.
There was only one drawback to this plan. It had an expiration date. Sooner or later, the toasters would figure it out that their beacons were compromised.
As the battle was going according to plan, Lennox didn't even bother to look at the dradis. But his XO, while keeping an eye on it, took this opportunity to ask his CO something that was nagging him. "Sir, there is a rumor going around the ship..."
"There always is one."
"Well sir... Is the Pegasus getting an upgrade?"
Lennox stopped smoking and set his cigar aside. "Yes." Then he got serious. "And that's all I can tell you."
"But why..."
"Why didn't I demand the upgrade?" His XO nodded. "Cain can have first dibs. They'll be full of bugs and problems anyway. But I'll get the 2nd batch, bug free. And besides... Cain and I don't always see eye to eye, but to not have her as an enemy is always a plus." The dradis beeped as the last basestar was destroyed. "Well, looks like all we have to do is to mop up and report back to Nagala." He took his cigar back and turned to the exit of the CIC. "You can handle that."
Kobol, Colonial expedition in abandoned Goa'uld base, 10 minutes later
The marines had arranged a secured room with a table and some chairs where their prisoner was now tied down to one. Nagala sat across him with a dead serious stare.
Since direct questions were not working, he tried the simple way. He pointed at himself. "Nagala." Then he pointed at the prisoner.
He understood that. "Varro."
So he did get it. "Varro. Interesting." He opened a file and put 3 pictures on the table. He pointed to the first one, containing a Goa'uld in their bio lab. "Goa'uld."
Varro nodded. "Goa'uld."
Nagala pointed to the 2nd picture. "Jaffa."
Varro understood again. "Human." Was the third picture as he also pointed to himself and Varro. "Human?"
Varro understood again. He nodded. "Human."
"At least he gets it, sir." An assistant commented.
"Yes, but it's like finger-painting's. This will take a while." A knock on the wall at the entrance caught their attention. "Sanders. I hope that's you with my translator."
Sanders peaked around the corner. "It is sir. Here she is, fresh from Picon. I'll go back to help clean that mess."
Nagala nodded and motioned the linguist to sit down next to him and the soldier that was there made room for her. She sat down and opened her special computer system with all the known translation programs and linguistic databases. "Ready when you are."
"Fine. Now we'll have to get him talking. Hope he's not from Earth." He cleared his throat. "I'm admiral Nagala from the tribes of Kobol. You are?" He pointed at Varro.
"Yes, I know you are Nagala, but who are you people? Why are you here? This place was suppose have been lost and abandoned?"
The translation program began working. "Seems some old form of Kobolian with strange mixes of Goa'uld language and something else… if this is right… he's asking the same you just did, sir."
Nagala had an idea. "Turn your equipment so he can see what the computer writes. Can you do it in reverse, from us to them?"
She huffed. "I can try, but the more he talks, the more we learn."
When she was ready, Nagala tried again. Varro saw the screen and while it was not perfect, he got the idea. "Lt. Varro, Lucian Alliance. I never heard of any tribes of Kobol."
One of the marines remarked in the background. "That's good for us."
Nagala continued. "Why did you attack us?"
"We were sent to survey this gate address. It was not supposed to work as this address was apparently not working for millennia."
"Who sent you?" Nagala demanded to know.
"She'll kill me if I tell you more. I can't."
Nagala saw the genuine fear in his eyes. "This alliance, is it an alliance of Goa'uld?"
Now Varro got confused. "Goa'uld? Why would you have that impression?"
"Well, they are the dominant species of the galaxy."
Varro's confusion grew. "Em, no they are not. Not anymore."
It was Nagalas turn to look perplexed. "Explain."
"Em… how do you not know?"
"Know what!?" He was losing his temper.
"All System Lords died. All but Ba'al."
The room got silent. But Nagala had to know more. "How?"
"The Tau'ri and their allies had killed one System Lord after the next. But… the rest died during an extragalactic invasion."
Extragalactic… that did not sound well. "An invasion from outside the galaxy?"
"Yes. A machine race known as the Replicators."
Now the room was silent as a graveyard. A machine race. Nagala pulled out the last photo. The photo of a modern centurion. "Like this?"
Varro looked at the picture but shook his head. "No… nothing like that. They were enemies of the Asgard. They even supposedly managed to take the form of humans. They took over the entire Goa'uld fleet. Or at least 90% of it."
Nagala began to sweat. "How were they beating the Goa'uld that easily?"
"I don't know for sure… but they could adapt and improve any technology they captured. And Goa'uld weapons were useless against them."
Nagala dreaded the next question. "So… are they in control now?"
"No. Earth, the Tok'ra and the free Jaffa captured a planet… Dakara I think. A weapon of the Ancients is there. They used it with the Stargates to wipe out the Replicators everywhere."
Frak. While Nagala had just averted a heart attack with that news… they used the rings to stop them? "How did they use the rings for that?"
"I don't know how. In the Alliance no one in command tells their underlings much. But it had to have happened on your world as well, unless the gate was buried. The shockwave."
Shockwave. That one word… it changed it all. "How long ago was this?"
"Days? A few weeks? Why?"
Nagala pondered. The time matches. Frak. When they were on the verge of losing to one machine race, the galaxy was in a similar spot. But he needed to now know the state of the galaxy and... who this alliance was. "Who's in charge of the galaxy now?"
Varro didn't know how to answer that one. "Don't really know. The free Jaffa nation is the largest military power... The Tok'ra nation is there as well...and of course the Tau'ri, or Earth and their human allies, the Tollans included."
That was a surprise for Nagala. Based on all they knew, the Tollans didn't care much for the affairs of other human civilizations. "And you? Is this alliance part of a human alliance?"
Now Varro got nervous. And it was showing. He also didn't respond even after a minute.
"Guess the answer is a no, Nagala." It was Sanders, who was leaning at the wall behind the entrance, listening in all the time. He didn't know that Varro was saying as he couldn't see the monitor, but he got the gist of it. "If you ask me, they are not on good terms with Earth."
"Didn't you say you would help with the cleanup?" Nagala asked him why he was there. Even if he liked the fact he was there. Nagala considered himself good at knowing the character of a person in a short time, but Sanders, he was born for interrogations and smelling when someone was trying to BS you, lying or something similar. Like a blood hound.
"Arkhipov knows me too well and said he can handle it, since I would prefer to be here. So he is handling that." He came from behind the corner and went to Nagala's side. "Sir, if there is a power vacuum in the galaxy for now, even if it doesn't last, you and me know what happens in areas where there is no control to maintain order, no matter if a democracy or a dictatorship maintains it."
Nagala knew. "Pirates." Piracy was an old scar of the colonies, but one they dealt with a long time ago. Now smugglers were still a thing, but until recently when he realized that the same smugglers probably contributed, unknowingly, to the Cylon infiltration success, he would have looked passed it. But that was then. And now is now. Once again he and Laura saw eye to eye. All smuggling was now punishable by life imprisonment. They couldn't take any more risks like a nuke might get smuggled somewhere where it doesn't belong. Nagala turned his attention once again to Varro. "Pirates?" It was more a statement than a question and Varro knew it. He nodded his head in shame.
"Pirates, warlords, warmongers, smugglers, slavers, drug dealers... the Alliance exists for almost a millennia, but before they wouldn't have dared to go out and pubic."
Sanders crossed his arms. "But now that the big bad wolfs are done, it's party time for you, right?" Varro didn't get the reference.
Nagala took over again. "Now that the Goa'uld are dead, it's your time to go from the underworld."
"Not mine. The leaders... Commander K..." He stopped himself from saying any more.
Sanders put his hand on Nagala's shoulder. "Sir, he's too scared to say his or her name. I can only guess he was conscripted at gun point. Many pirates do that."
Nagala had to agree. No loyalty in a crime syndicate. But that was an opening as well. "You are afraid of your commander?" Varro nodded. "More people like you over there?"
"What... what do you mean?"
"You tell me what I want to know, I can give you sanctuary in our home."
Varro began considering the offer. "Why should I trust you?"
"Don't know. But tell me this. What do you have to lose?" Nagala stood up. "Something to think about." He motioned to Sanders to leave with him out to the corridor. Once outside, they began brainstorming. "What do you think?"
"Sir... if we can flip him... I can tell he is not like the others. He was the only one who didn't shoot. The only rational one who knew we had the high ground."
Nagala valued Sander's opinion on such matters more than that of anyone else. "I'll return to Picon, once the blood work on our 'guests' comes back and we are not infected with anything. You convince our friend here to spill his guts... but no teeth pulling!" He hissed as he knew how far Sanders went with Cavil. He understood why, but he didn't really like it.
Sanders chuckled. "Don't worry sir. I reserve that honor only for pricks with no conscience ."
Pegasus galaxy, Atlantis, same time
In the observation room of the infirmary the medical personnel, John, Elizabeth and Daniel were waiting. The time had come and they really hoped for answers.
"Wake them please, Dr. Beckett. "Weir ordered her head doctor.
"Right." He nodded to the nurse that was with the elder Elizabeth. "Go ahead lass."
She opened the valve for her IV to let the substance that should wake her into her system. It did not take long as her eyes, while still closed, to begin moving. The monitor also showed her brainwaves changing. Carson opened one eye and checked with his medical light. "Response is normal. Go and wake the other one."
The medical staff at the other bed did the same with the elder Daniel. Carson checked him as well.
Not long after that the older Elizabeth groaned. "Where..." She opened her eyes to see a room she was in many times during her exile on Atlantis. But now it was full of people and equipment not of Lantean origin. and the sun was shining. So the city was on the surface. "It worked." She noticed Carson." Dr. Beckett."
He returned the warm smile. "Hello Elizabeth." He looked up to the observation lounge. "Time to come down."
They did as asked. The older Daniel was now also beginning to move in his bed. He opened his eyes only to squint. "Anyone seen my glasses?"
Carson went to his bed and handed him the item he requested. The younger Daniel, Elizabeth and John entered the lower levels and went in between both beds, observing them. John even had his playful look on his face. "Typical Jackson response?"
Both Elisabeth's observed each other. "Was I really that young once?"
"I think the better question should be if I will ever be that old?" They both smiled and held a low key laugh.
"I guess you'll find out." The older Weir turned to her side to check on her partner in crime. "You fine, Daniel?"
He tried to sit up, but lacked the strength, so his bed was raised to help him. "As fine as a... 5,000 years old man can be."
"5,000? Come back to me when your 10,000. Then you can complain."
A few minutes passed as they gave the two time to get used to the place and people. But they both had questions. Weir started. "It worked, didn't it?"
"It did." Her counterpart said. "More than even you expected, right?"
"Oh, you mean Daniel. Yes, we had some adventures. He was already much older than me, physically speaking, when he arrived."
"I blame Jack." The older Daniel responded in his 'grumpy old man' attitude. "Was his damn idea. Then he and the others got killed and left me to finish his half assed plan. Which reminds me..." He turned to his younger self. "Is she safe? Is she alive?"
The room went silent. The younger Daniel felt it again. The pain. He lowered his head. Before he could verbally respond, the older Daniel already got the message.
"How?"
"Not long ago. The Trust. They were..."
"I know of the Trust." The other Daniel stopped him from explaining. "I know of them. Kinsey's mess. So it happened here as well. Was she... was she taken by Apophis as a host for his queen? Young Daniel shook his head.
"No. Is that what happened to her in... your timeline?"
"Yes. I was unable to save her. Teal'c had to kill her to save me."
Wow. That was an even sadder story he had. "I'm sorry. I know how you feel."
"Yes. You are the only one who does. At least... she had a longer life here."
More time passed. But John began pressuring the younger Daniel and Elizabeth to get to the real reason they were here. "I hate to do this, but we need to know what you know. The changes made to the time line were substantial, as far as I understand. And I don't understand a lot."
The elder weir began coughing as she laughed at first at that response. "Good old John, you never changed."
The older Daniel however did not look excited. "You know that I can't, right?" He asked himself. "You know why."
Before John could react to that, Daniel stopped him. "The 'others'?" The older him nodded. "But why? This does not influence them."
"Does it? They never liked Janus and his time altering technology and we, as in the other SG-1, used it to great success... somewhat. The moment I try to say anything, we'll ascend by force."
Damn, so close and so far away. "Does that crystal you held hold any clues?"
"Not on its own. I couldn't risk it."
Silence followed again. John was pacing back and forth, trying to get an angle.
"So why not ascend once you were done?" The younger weir inquired.
"We wanted to see all of you again. And to tell you to not give up hope."
Daniel squeezed the hand of his older self. "Anything you can give me..."
The older one gulped. "I can feel them, but... Janus lab here, Avalon on Earth and Olympus on Kobol!" He got no further as both he and the older weir disappeared in a light show, leaving their garments behind.
"Crap." Daniel said in a low tone. They were all left with 2 empty medical beds and a lot of questions still hanging in the air.
Caprica, presidential office, 30 minutes later
Laura had just arrived back in her office after a long day. First a press conference. Then a Quorum meeting. Then dealing with the unions. Then getting an update with the local authorities on the post bombardment clean up. Then a military update on the success of the fleet at getting the Cylons into ambushes. And then Balatr's report on the shipyards and iron works that will make the first real Colonial use of prometheon. She basically threw her files on her mess of a desk and went through the side door into the presidential apartment linked directly to her office. It was there for times like this, when the president couldn't go home because of the workload. Closing the door behind her she saw the object of her desire. In the hallway she passed her bathroom, walk-in closet, dining room and bedroom to go directly for the den with the alcohol cabinet. Fully stocked. Removing her high heels with her feet she almost fell into the couch in the otherwise lavishly decorated but small den.
"I finally realize why Adar was always either on edge, drunk or wanted to do me... The stress is killing me." She drank the entire content of the glass and poured herself another shot.
A knock on the wall behind her startled her a bit. "Billy! Please don't do that."
Her first assistant, one of the few she gave permission to visit her without having to ask, sat down next to her. "Tough day?"
"Don't ask." She drank the 2nd round.
"Did Miss Foster not do well? Help you enough?"
"Billy... with what's on my plate, you both couldn't help me enough." She leaned into the couch and stared at the ceiling. "The problem is... things got complicated. This war, the responsibility... all of it is taking a toll on me."
Billy knew what she really meant. "Your disease?"
She took her glasses off and put them on the desk next to the couch. Massaging her forehead, she answered. "That too. But this responsibility..." She began crying. "I only wanted to be a teacher. My ambition got me the post of secretary of education. And I paid a price for that. But this..." She motioned at the presidential apartment. "I never wanted this. Now the future of the Colonies rests on my shoulders."
Billy tried to comfort her. He was there with her when her career began taking off, so he will be here for her as well. "Perhaps you could step down. Hand the responsibility to someone else. Perhaps..."
"Like who? You know Zarek would love nothing more than that. And if a new president will come from any of the more backward thinking colonies... once the truth comes out..."
Billy got confused. "Truth?"
"Oh Billy... I can't tell you that. You are a good person, but knowing and keeping hard truths is not one of your strengths, that's why I asked Tory to go with me on that meeting with Nagala. Sorry, but I can't tell you. Now... if you could..."
Billy nodded, understanding. He stood up and closed the shaders. As he was about to leave, he saw that she was already fast asleep. "Good night, madam president."
Little did Laura know that Nagala would soon have one more problem on her desk.
Kobol, Colonial expedition in abandoned Goa'uld base, same time
Nagala had left after the blood results came clean. No pathogens from the intruders. Sanders was still working on their lone survivor.
And Varro was beginning to play ball. Sanders did not only have the skill to know really fast what type of person he's dealing with, but to also get someone's trust, if he wanted to. And Varro did open up a bit.
Sanders learned of the Lucian Alliance. That there were not only humans in it, but different aliens as well. A loose alliance at best, where one warlord would stab another without blinking. He even got Varro to not only tell him about how the Alliance recruited him, which was repulsive to Sanders to say the least, but he also got a name. Commander Kiva. And she was a rather important person of a small part of this pirate organization. Mostly due to her brutality, tactics and father. What worried Sanders was that if these pirates learned about this place, they would have no qualms invading it. And if no one else in the galaxy knew about it, it would make a rescue from outside far more difficult. So even if the big bad snakes were, for the most part, gone, they still needed to keep their heads low. But that was not Sander's style. Not when he could risk little and get a BIG payoff.
He had Major Adama do two things. First, get the EM mines off the transport ship. They took a few with them when they departed the expedition fleet. You never know. Well now they would be useful.
Second, he had Lee and the pilots that were already here, practice with those ring fighters, as they called them.
Right now Sanders was in the ring room with his own special forces. And they all had the Lucian uniforms on them. The ones they now took off the dead pirates.
Nagala and Arkhipov were there, seeing the preparation. Nagala did not agree with this mission, at first. But when Sanders told him they could risk a few foot soldiers and get one to three Ha'tak's out of it, he saw the potential of this gamble.
Nagala looked Sanders and his men over in their 'new' uniforms. "Remember. If your cover is blown..."
"I'll shoot myself and make it impossible for them to interrogate me. All my men will."
"I was going to say stay safe and retreat... but I guess that works as well."
Behind him over a hundred Colonial marines were already in full combat gear with Arkhipov commanding them. He was back-up, if needed. Otherwise, he follows once green light is given.
The plan was this: Three Ha'tak's in orbit of an abandoned planet. The Lucian leadership doesn't even know they are there. And they get more prisoners and hardware. Plus eliminate the only clue about their ring address the Lucians currently had, since they found it on that planet.
The other good, or bad news, depending o how you looked at it, the Lucians there knew this address, but not the space time coordinates. So if the mission went well, they'd have to find someone who can navigate. So they needed prisoners.
The ring fighters plan was just the back-up for the back-up, if air support was needed.
Arkhipov shook Sanders hand. "Good luck, old friend."
"You too. Just make sure your jarheads shoot straight."
"Said the guy who still owns me a round."
"Gentlemen..." Nagala interrupted this friendly barter. "Your guide has arrived."
It was Varro. He agreed to help them get a foothold on the planet. The people there did indeed know him and that was all Sanders would need. And Sanders, as stated, knew people fast. He saw that Varro saw he would be better off with them. Now communication would be an issue without the bulky computer, but hand signals would have to do.
As Varro stepped next to them, all patched up and on some light painkillers, Sanders stretched out his hand. "Here's to victory and friendship."
While Varro didn't understand him, he accepted the gesture. Then he began dialing. The only problem here was that they were completely in the dark and trusting Varro, since they couldn't risk sending a marine camera thru first. But... he did give them some other addresses, the only ones he knew off, and they did check out. No low level Lucian enforcer knew many addresses. Only the higher ups knew more. This was the way they kept power. Restrict knowledge.
As the connection was established, Varro looked at the three Colonial officers for confirmation. Sanders nodded and stepped next to him. Tapping him on the shoulder for reassurance, they both went first.
Lucian Alliance scavenger fleet, unknown space, same time
As they arrived on the planet, they were greeted by a group of Lucian solders. Varro took the lead and hoped this would work.
"Where the hell have you been Varro!?" It was Kiva's 2nd in command, captain Dannic. "You go there and then for almost an hour NOTHING!? Where is Captain Seron?"
While Dannic was busy shouting at Varro the other soldiers were distracted, as Sanders hoped. Well, all but one. He knew this ruse would not last long, but all he needed was an opening. That one man, the one with the psychotic look, he saw it on this face. He was not distracted nor had fallen for it.
"NOW!" Sanders shouted. All his people used the distraction and revealed their hidden sidearm's with the silencers. Varro hit the floor as his former 'comrades' began falling like dominos. All but the man he knew as Simeon. Simeon reacted just as fast and downed two Colonials and took off.
Sanders looked around. "Give the clear command!" He stood up and began pursuing Simeon. "That fraker is mine!"
The next moment Commander Arkhipov had arrived with the marines. The place was in ruins, like Varro said. An old abandoned base. They would not find anything of use here. But that was the irony. The Lucians came here for the same reasons, now they will provide the spoils for the Colonials. "Defensive perimeter! Snipers, get to the high ground! If you see a lone pirate, take him down!" He motioned the marines to make a hole as the engineers came through with their AA mobile missile defence. If there would be an air battle, they would need all the help they could get. And they hoped their missiles would punch through.
In one of the abandoned side tunnels, Simeon was running as fast as he could as Sanders was hot on his heels. He tried his comm device, but the Colonials were jamming it. Good thing the Lucians didn't have the Goa'uld versions in abundance, so their foot soldiers were given the standard radio ones, which the Colonials could jam. He turned a corner and shot behind him, forcing Sanders to take cover. But now Simeon was in trouble. The only way out was by running past the corridor this pursuer was now covering. He poked his arm around the corner again and shot blindly. As he was about to make his move, a knock-out gas grenade was thrown next to him.
"Clever bastard!"
Simeon now had no choice, he ran across the opening... and got shot in the knee. He fell down and tried to grab his weapon again as it fell out of his hands during the fall. Sanders was quicker and kicked it away.
"You Tau'ri?" He smirked with his evil grin. "I know how you people operate..." He mockingly raised his arms. "I surrender. Take me alive."
Sanders stood above him, but Simeon was also good at reading people. Sanders didn't seem like the person who wanted to take him alive. "Pirates, some of the lowest of the low. And I can see you were born for that job, punk. I don't take prisoners like you." Simeon tried to spin his good leg around to floor Sanders, but he was not stupid as he kept his distance. Sanders didn't waste more time and shot him with the electric stun round. He really wanted to kill him, but the more prisoners they had, the better. And he was also in luck. These ruins muffed the gun shots. "Waste of air, that's what the likes of you are." Two marines appeared behind him. He signalled to them to take this guy in custody. "Once I interrogate him, I'm definitely pulling teeth."
Back at the ring, the Colonials had a foothold. But that's all they had. Varro knew the plan they had. In the end he only agreed that they would spare anyone on the ship that surrendered. He did in fact have some friends there.
The scouting party was already on a small hill overlooking the ruins and they saw a small landed ship next to the main entrance. A landing area. "Commander, we have... 12 targets spotted. Plus a landed ship. Not the cargo transport type, twice as big."
"Copy that." Sanders acknowledged. "Once we're in position, you take them out." He nodded to Varro and pointed at the exit. Varro just nodded and began walking. The ruse was still on, he hoped.
They passed the 12 men that were keeping watch and entered the ship. No one paid them any attention, they blended right in. Once in, Sanders forces spread out and went to work. Just like Varro said, usually on the pilot and support guy remained on the Al'kesh, as they now knew this ship was called.
Sanders pushed the dead pilot aside from the command chair in the cockpit area and saw outside. The guards were on the ground as well, all headshots. He grabbed his laser pointer and signalled the scouts on the hill. A few seconds later his wireless began working again. "Sanders to Arkhipov, we are a go."
"Understood."
Back at the ring the tech guys arrived with the Em mines. The Colonials figured they would work fine on the inside as well. All they needed is to get them in place.
Picon fleet HQ, same time
Nagala may have been busy on Kobol, but that didn't meant that the colonies stopped dead in their tracks. Admiral Galatos, as strong and sturdy as he was, was still nursing his headache he got from that briefing. And now he covered for Nagala's absence.
Currently all was quiet on the board of the entire Cyrannus system. But every experienced commander knew that the calm was always followed by the storm. And how he wished he was wrong.
The alarm rang. Not the general quarters alarm or worse, but something must have happened somewhere in the colonies. The comm officer handed him a report.
"A suicide bombing in the... Picon military hospital Oceania... entire intensive care wing blown apart. Casualties possibly in the hundreds. All Colonial military or family members of military. Suspected a model Five did it by bypassing security by unknown means. Was wearing a suicide west." He crushed the report. "How did we miss one? And why suicide there?" He got a second report not long after. "Another suicide. Model Four suspected. Target was... a boot camp for fresh recruits on Caprica? What are the toasters planning? What..." Then it hit him. Yes, how they missed some of the toaster was an issue. So was the question as to how they managed to bypass security. But there was one far more pressing. "Comm, send a raptor to Lennox. Tell him we have a rat infestation in Helios alpha. Resurrection ship suspected!" The comm officer went to work. Galatos suspected that they would not risk death if they could avoid it. And one of those ships would eliminate that risk. "Frak!" He grabbed the phone for internal communication. "Comm, get me the prisoner complex, Cylon detention wing, this is a priority..."
"Sir, they are already asking for you." His grip on the phone tightened. He dreaded what he was about to hear.
Resurection ship, deep space, minutes later
Her eyes opened. She found herself in water. Or something like water. She tried to breathe, but her reflexes stopped her or her lungs would fill with the liquid she was in. But her other instinct kicked in as well.
She reached the surface and gasped for air. Her hands reached what she assumed was the border of... pool she was in? Using her left hand to wipe the liquid from her face she took her first look around herself. And she was horrified.
"Gods... NO!" 4 centurions were standing at each corner, not responding much, just acknowledging her presence. "Frak! NO!" Her head began to hurt. Images started to appear in her head. "Our home is lost, Saul. We'll be reborn." What was that? a memory? "We'll have to find the other tribes, warn them!" Said... a woman she didn't know. Or did she? "Welcome back, Ellen." A man said as he helped her out of a similar pool she was in right now. She recognised him. Galen. The chief on the Galactica. On a photo her husband showed her. More and more memories returned. "Hello John. Will you help me with Daniel's art. It's getting in the way again... John?" All she remembered last was the doors to the room being closed and her past self falling on the floor, gasping for air. "Don't worry about number Seven, 'mother'. I'll take good care of him." Cavil answered with a perverted sense of pleasure in his voice.
"Having a good time? Or just nostalgic memories?" She turned to the entrance on her left where she saw the person she now knew as John Cavil. He snapped his fingers and a centurion grabbed a robe and approached her. "Get yourself cleaned up. Not that I don't enjoy our reunion, but you have nothing I haven't seen before, 'mother'."
She did just that. After getting in the robe, she noticed a small table with some food and a chair. "For me? You shouldn't have, John."
"I hate that name."
"I know. I also know all you did."
He grabbed an apple from the table and tasted it. "As was planned. Well, not like this, but it was planned eventually."
She sat down and took a bite as well. "Your master plan not going as 'planned'?"
"You could say that." He then threw the apple at the wall, crushing it. "How can you stand this primitive way of getting energy?"
"It has its charms."
"Oh yes. And I've seen those 'charms'. Especially when you got drunk. Well, you and father."
She stopped eating. "Speaking of... where are the others? Saul, Galen, Tory, Sam? I doubt you arranged a private room just for me?"
His expression darkened. "Father is in the expedition fleet. Well, 2 of them are."
"Ah, Saul and Galen."
"Yes. Tory is now with the new Colonial administration. As for Sam..."
"That failed!" A second Cavil raged as he entered the room, also in a robe.
"Welcome back brother." The first Cavil greeted him. "So you managed to commit suicide after all."
"Yes." He stopped next to him, glaring at Ellen. "After I felt the resurrection connection was back up. Wasn't easy. But let me tell you, pulling a sharp piece of broken bone from your OWN arm after the meat bags broke it over and over was no easy task!"
"Ugh..." The first Cavil reacted with disgust. "If I remember one other from our model failed to return or resurrect. Is he..."
"He was in the cell next to mine. I managed to stab him first. He was after all with father Samuel when the plan failed."
"Good. Now that we're all assembled..."
"NOT GOOD!" The second Cavil raged. "Your bomb plot to kill him in that boot camp failed, he's not here! As for our brother, I had him boxed!"
Ellen just kept on eating, rather enjoying the rage fest between her two not favorite sons.
"Why did you have him boxed!?" The first Cavil asked.
"He had radical ideas! How we were wrong to attack the humans in the first place! How Sam opened his eyes! How he was... he was about to tell them EVERYHING! I had to silence him!"
The first Cavil sighed and massaged his face. "The Final Five." Chuckle. "Our parents." Chuckle. "What a fraking JOKE!" He began laughing.
"Good John, good. Laughter is good." Ellen once again entered the conversation.
"Oh, dear mother, you have no idea!" He slapped the content on the table to the floor and eyed her with all his hatred. "The only reason your still alive is that I can't risk losing your knowledge on resurrection. By the way this war is going, we will need a back-up, should the hub be destroyed. And you're it." He stormed out.
"I can see he took it well." The second Cavil responded to the scene.
"Better than I hoped for." She took another bite of the fruit she still held.
"Don't you feel the slightest amount of remorse for what you did?"
"What I did?" She suppressed a laugh. "What I DID?"
He remained calm, for now. "Yes, what you did! We're machines and you turned us into this!"
"But you tend to forget that we gave you what the centurions always wanted. To be equal. To be truly free. Creative. Free will, that's what we gave you."
He began to leave as well. "And you limited us. We were meant for greatness. We were not meant to be EQUAL to the humans! We were meant to eclipse them! And had destiny not intervene, they would now be just a footnote in history! They had dumb luck, nothing else!"
"Dumb luck, destiny, accident, call it what you will, John, you failed. And..." She continued chewing. "Destiny is just another way of the universe expressing herself. Or perhaps a higher power. God?"
He stopped and just shook his head. "Now I know where Leoben got his god crap from! God is just a scapegoat for the primitives who can't explain why the sun goes down at night. That's all."
"And yet you can't explain what happened to your plan. I'd say that was a form of divine intervention."
"Just because I lack an explanation, does not prove your god theory!"
"No it doesn't, but until you can prove something, it's the best thing we got." She continued on eating, exchanging glances with Cavil. He didn't leave yet. "Still here? More threats or insults to throw my way?"
"Let me ask you this as well, 'mother'. You named me after your father?" She nodded. "Did you also craft me in his image? Face, constitution, personality?"
"Why the sudden interest in my past?"
"Trying to figure out where you began failing."
"You mean besides with you? My father was a moral and good man. Everything you are not."
"And yet, you made me that way."
"Wrong." She swallowed and put the food down for a moment. "We gave you free will, you made that choice yourself!"
Now Cavil smirked. "And see what that got you. What that got the centurions. What that almost got the Colonials."
"Evil can take the shape of many forms. I'm just sad that my firstborn turned out to be one."
"Firstborn? Please, stop using such biological terms!" He snapped back into his determine pose. "You 'created' me. Not with the repulsive biological fracking that you and father so liked, which is, I may say, a step forward. You at least didn't crawl out of a swamp."
"You however did crawl out of a resurrection chamber the day you awoke." She pointed the hole in his logic.
"Still better than a swamp." He crossed his arms. "So tell me then where do you think you went wrong?"
"I can only guess... I didn't give you enough attention." He got the repulsive look again. "Oh, don't give me that! Typical firstborn symptom. You don't get all the attention any longer."
"But 'David' did get it. He and your beloved humans!"
"Was that really it!? Was that why you killed him!? Jealousy? For someone raging about not being machine enough, you somehow fell to the most petty of human emotions!"
"We are turning in circles here! Once again, YOU MADE ME THAT WAY!"
"And did you just once thought to talk to me? Ask me for help? For a hug? No, you went right for the nuclear option!"
"It was the most efficient one after all."
She wanted to go back to eating, but... she had one last punch to deal out. "You know what, you blame me, Saul, Sam, Galen, Tory, the Colonials, frak, even the centurions! Everyone but YOU! But for someone who wanted to be the best machine he could be, why didn't you then just reverse what you blame us for doing?! Why after your betrayal, didn't you just build yourself a better full machine body and transferred yourself there?" She waited. And waited. For the first time since this debate began, Cavil had no answer. "You didn't want to, did you? You saw the advantages of this body. You knew what you did with the centurions and it could happen to you as well. You would lack creativity, imagination and free will in that body. And you were stuck in a loophole with your rage and jealousy. You know what... I did fail... at raising you properly. Or to see what a failure 'you' were and... perhaps 'abort' you! How's that for a biological term!" She wanted to end it there but had one final thing to tell him. "Why don't you, for once in your life, TAKE SOME FRAKING RESPONSIBILITY for your own actions!" She was done now venting and began eating again.
She got him and he knew it. Now he didn't want to stick around any longer. He got tired of this and turned around to face toe door again. "Don't bother trying to leave. The centurions won't obey your commands. And... If I find out that you have outlived your usefulness to us... I learned of an interesting new way to interrogate someone. By playing dentist!" He stormed out as well.
"Guess I should enjoy this while I can then." She continued eating. Well, what was still edible at this point.
Lucian Alliance scavenger fleet, unknown space, 10 minutes later
Sanders was ready with his first group of special forces. They managed to secure the planet. One of the engineers brought the bulky translation equipment and put it down in the main cargo hold of the new alien ship they captured. Right now Sanders and Arkhipov were refining the plan with the additional info Varro was giving them.
"So... I take the command Ha'tak and this Kiva person." Sanders said.
"Yep, and I secure Ha'tak beta. Major Mellis takes Gamma. Major Adama is already at the gate with the 4 ring fighters we commandeered." Arkhipov continued the plan. "Mines ready?" He looked at the engineers who were holding the EM mines. They just nodded with smirks on their faces. "Guess we're ready."
Sanders agreed. "Just remember, stay silent for as long as possible. Take prisoners, but not at the expense of our own people or the mission. If you can't capture a ship, pull back. Main engineering is first on all three ships. If we get there undetected, we simultaneously shut them down and take over, if not, we do it piece meal. Also..." He gave his men a stern look. "Pirates have prisoners. But that doesn't mean we just release them. Not all of them are victims, got it!?" The solders nodded. Who is what will be sorted out later. "Also, secondary objective is to capture those that according to our new 'best friend' Varro might join our cause. You all know what he told us. And the last objective, don't, DON'T let them transmit a distress signal. If we can't knock them out all at once, go for the CIC double time and take it over, prisoners be damned!" He checked his weapon, silencer and all. "Ready?" Everyone else did the same. They nodded, their war faces on.
Sanders and his team stepped on the ring platform. Pointing with his index finger at the ceiling, he gave the signal to the tech guy to start the process. The rings shot up and the team disappeared in a flash of light.
Kiva's command ship, unknown planet, low orbit, seconds later
Sanders' team spread out from the platform, stepping over the corpses they just made. Clearly the guards were not expecting this.
"First we secure the hangar and engineering. Then the CIC. Move out." Sanders whispered. He led team One and went to the left of the transporter ring. He knew the schematics of a standard Ha'tak now, thanks to Ma'chello. The differences were pointed out by Varro, since it seemed that the design was adaptable. The interior that is.
Peeking around a corner, he now had to rely on Varros intel, and his honesty, to not trigger an alarm. He saw 2 guards at the entrance of the main engineering. But he knew that Kiva used 3 guards at any important entrance. 2 stationary, 1 on patrol. If he takes the 2 down now, the third one could sound the alarm when he returns. The issue was, however, resolved, when he turned to the corridor in front of him after he heard a thud sound. The sergeant next to him took the third guard down as his patrol seemed to have crossed their path. Good thing the 2 remaining guards didn't hear anything and remained oblivious to everything.
Sanders nodded to his men and they quickly put their targets down. Same was happening more or less on all 3 Ha'tak's. The Lucian's remained in the dark.
"Sanders here, we're in position." He tapped his coded wireless as his team prepared to storm the engineering.
"Same here sir." Was the response he got.
"Good. We go on three. One, two..." They opened the doors to the main engineering from both sides and stormed in. The armed people were put down almost on the spot. The unarmed people were shocked beyond belief as they weren't expecting this. "Clear left!" Sanders called out.
"Not clear right sir!" He heard from the corner of the engineering room. His people secured their part as he peaked around. He saw as one of his people was caught from behind and held by knife to the throat.
"Whoever you people are, you really made the wrong call!" The Lucian solider shouted at them. "Now, weapons down, or your friend here..." His head got hit from the side into with a bullet as blood splattered to the wall behind him. He dropped to the floor, dead. The Colonial solders helped their friend back to their feet. Sanders, after taking the shot and resolving the problem, went to his people.
"You guys OK?" They nodded. "Good... because after this is over, you won't be!" He hissed. "We don't have time for me to ask you what happened here, but you can count we will have that discussion at a later date! And... I expect nothing less from any of you, should I find myself in a similar mess. WE. DO. NOT. Negotiate with pirates!"
"Yes sir!" Was the response. Glad this was cleared, he turned to the real problem. The unarmed people. And the other ships. Varro was already talking to a young woman who was kneeling along the others. Sanders liked that, that man wasted no time.
He tapped his wireless. "Sanders here. Status report."
"Major Mellis here. Gamma engine room secured."
"Arkhipov reporting. Beta secured. But was more crowded than anticipated. Lost one of my guys."
"Confirm. We're a go here. Let's plant the mines and..." He saw Varro waving his hand, motioning Sanders to go to him. He was still talking to the young girl. Guess he just got some more info. "Stand by, plant the mines but don't trigger them yet. We may have a situation." He shut his wireless off and went to Varro while his people began planting the EM mines.
Once he arrived at the main command station where Varro was talking to the woman, all the time guarded by Colonial soldiers, he motioned him to help her on her feet. He did just that. "Varro?"
Varro pointed at the girl. "Ginn."
Ginn. When he finally flipped him on Kobol, he got some info on the people here. Ginn was apparently the brainiac of the bunch. That's good. But with no translation equipment, they were down to reading each other's facial expressions and body language. Varro encouraged her to do something. Sanders kept his weapon ready, just in case. Trust is good, control is better. Ginn nodded and tapped the console. On it a display of the surrounding space was seen, the 3 Ha'tak's included. But in a higher orbit was also an Al'kesh. Varro pointed at that. And Sanders got it. He once again tapped his wireless. "We have a fourth ship in orbit, Al'kesh class." He pointed at the killed Lucian soldiers, then at the display, indicating to Varro to tell him how many people might be on it. Varro held up four fingers, then changed it to eight. "Possible four to eight people on board. Major Adama."
Lee, who was listening to all of this wireless traffic for the time being, answered. "This is Adama. What's the plan, sir?"
"While we get the rest of our people up here so that we can storm the rest of the ship when we get to the black-out phase, you get up here with an additional 20 men. You'll then transport to that Al'kesh and take it."
"On it sir. Can our guide tell us how he missed that one?"
"Perhaps after this. Right now we can't exactly talk. Get moving." As he finished and shut his wireless off, he returned his attention to the screen. He once again pointed to the Al'kesh on it, then to his men. Varro once again understood. He talked to Ginn, supposedly telling her to prep the transporter platform for their new 'friends'. She hesitated at first, but complied.
On the cloaked Al'kesh, there were indeed 8 people on standby. It was Kiva's standard approach to any operation. Leave a cloaked Al'kesh near her main fleet to either support them, retreat to get help or to report to her father, should things go really wrong.
Two guards were in the aft compartment where the ring transporter platform was located, playing some Pirate version of a card game when the platform activated.
"We expecting someone from the command ship?" One of the guards asked in a bored way.
"No idea. Better ask the captain..." The transporter cycle ended and the 2 men were downed on the spot before they could even react. Lee saw the room now secured and he tapped the solders to check the corners. He tapped his wireless. "We're in. Send the others." He stepped off the platform as it triggered again with more colonial marines arriving. He signaled his men. 2 followed him to the cockpit, the rest will cleanse the other parts of the ship. Lee had to agree with Sanders on one thing. The reason this was working so far, was not just that they flipped one of the Lucian's, but because pirates were not loyal to each other and... they really lacked discipline and organization. Lee himself found over a dozen errors in the security of the ships with the personnel alone. He was sure Sanders found way more issues there. But the pirate's loss was their gain.
In the cockpit, the pilot was, as most of the crew, bored from doing nothing for the past few days. But his boredom was cut short. He heard a thud from room behind the cockpit. "Guys, stop fooling around. The commander will have our asses..." As he reached the entrance to the cockpit to check on the rest of his crew, the backside of a weapon hit him in the face, knocking him on the floor. He now had a bloody nose, but unlike the rest of the crew, was still alive. An electric shock dart later and he was out, being restrained. Lee took the pilot chair. It looked similar to a Tel'tak. well, enough for him to get the idea of what was what. alien language or not. and he did take some time to memorize some basic Goa'uld symbols. And he noticed the main difference in this Al'kesh to the older Tel'tak he piloted.
"Guess this must be the stealth mode control unit." He looked at the left most mini console that currently indicated that the system was engaged. He had a quick briefing from Sanders along with all the pilots that would be part of this. Varro's little tale was informative. For what he did know. And that the snakes had a form of light bending cloaking tech they installed on the modern Tel'tak's and Al'kesk freaked the Colonials out. Yes, they could use them against the toasters for reconnaissance, but... they themselves could be scouted out by anyone possessing this tech. Apparently only Apophis had the tech to cloak the bigger ships, but that knowledge died with him. And Nirrti had the same thing, but for a personnel use. Again, the knowledge died with her. Lee didn't know if he should feel glad that it did or not, but he had his job to do. The remaining pilots on the planet were waiting in the now arrived gate fighters and he would use the commandeered Al'kesh for the same purpose as was planned. Part of the modified plan now was also to make sure no one could get on this ship while the 3 big ones were taken over from the inside, so as they practiced, they shut the transporters off. But things rarely go as planned. The ships comm system began blinking and a female voice was heard.
"Triston! What is going on! We had an energy burst from a transporter to your ship and why are your rings now off-line?! Respond and explain yourself!"
Frak and hell. He had to guess this pissed off voice was commander Kiva. Their ruse was about to fail. He didn't understand her nor would he be able to fool her even if he did. He grabbed his wireless. "Sir, I think were about to be made. The ship's secured but a female voice on the ships comm system is saying... something. My guess it's this Kiva person!"
"Understood. Were triggering the mines in 15 seconds. Get into position. We'll have no comm until the effect wears off. Sanders out."
"Acknowledge." Lee began moving the ship out of any residual EM range until the blast's effects was over. moments later he saw how electrical currents arced off of all Three Ha'tak's and their lights went out. "Guess it worked. And we're still OK. I'm moving us closer now." His marine co-pilot nodded. "Call the surface and get our pilots up here now. We can't let any stragglers leave. For all our sake."
Back on the command ship, as they expected, the wireless were out. Like everything not powered by electrical energy. But... nothing was burned out. So still usable, once rebooted. Sanders signaled his men to get to work. He tapped Varro on the shoulder and pointed to the floor, telling him to stay here and explain the situation to the other prisoners. He just nodded. One could really see fear in his face. He just betrayed the person he feared more than anyone and if this won't work, he's a dead man.
Sanders reached the level below the main engineering and approached his people who were in a fire exchange with Lucian solders in the main hangar.
"How does it look?"
"Sir, they have what seems a heavy weapons emplacement at the entrance of the hangar. Staff version. We can't get a shot at the guy behind it."
Sanders took a small pocket mirror from his pocked and used it to peak around the corner. Like they said. A large staff weapon mounted on a tripod. and 10 plus solders with regular weapons as well. He pulled back as a staff shot passed his hand. "We need to get in there ASAP. Flash bangs!"
The solders all nodded and pulled one of the two grenades they had on them. "On 3..." As they threw their grenades down the corridor and pulled back, a flash of intense light followed. "Now, storm the frakers!" Sanders may have barked the order, but he was not staying in the backseat. He was right beside his men. As they began eliminating the enemies at the left and right of the turret, he jumped over it and tackled the Lucian behind it. All the enemies were dazed and blinded, so this was easy. But their victory was short lived. They came under fire on the spot from the middle of the hangar where some desperate Lucians tried to escape via a Tel'tak.
Sanders team did the same and took cover behind some cargo crates and a landed Tel'tak next to the entrance they just cleared. The other entrance was still heavily contested. Guess the other team was not having as much luck as his did. But sanders had an idea. "Rapid fire, no point in saving ammo any longer. Get them to duck and two of you take that turret and turn it around. Time we used their toys against them."
The Colonials coordinated their response and forced the Lucians to take cover. As planned, two of his people turned the heavy staff cannon around and began using it properly, eliminating the cannon at the other entrance. But as the Lucians began reorganizing, one of the two Colonials at the cannon got picked off, while the other took advantage of the cannons armored frame for protection.
It looked good, the other side was now falling to the Colonials as well. But... Sanders saw what he wanted to stop. The hangar doors opened up. He knew from the research they got that any Goa'uld ship still had independent back-ups in a case of a total system failure. Something the Colonials should have done themselves. Would have made the toasters hack attempt much harder. In the case of the Goa'uld, the artificial gravity, life support, emergency lighting and to prevent decompressions, emergency force field generators all kicked in. So the hangar was open, but not exposed. "Use that turret and take the Tel'tak out!" Sanders shouted to the solder at the staff turret. The solder obliged and targeted the Tel'tak the Lucians were using as cover. But one could see there were people inside, ready to launch it. With shields still off-line, the staff turret cut through the cockpit and killed the pilot and made the ship unusable.
Their minor victory was short lived. The other entrance was still not secured and there were several Tel'tak's still in the middle of the hangar, obscured from fire by the Tel'tak they just disabled. And Sanders had no way of stopping them from launching.
He took the risk and made an advance with a small group of his men and took cover at the downed Tel'tak, stepping over the dead Lucians. Now he had a shot at the 2 Tel'tak's who were about to take off, but no weapon to do any damage. He turned back to the entrance they came from and shouted at the solders still there. "Use that console and try to close the hangar entrance, for frak's sake!"
Try as they might, nothing worked. But before either Tel'tak could take off, outside of the hangar the commandeered Al'kesh de-cloaked. Taking no chance, it deployed it's ventral turret and took aim. Several shots later and both Tel'tak's cockpits were destroyed.
"Commander. Need a hand?" It was major , the comm was back! That meant the ships power systems were not far behind.
"What the frak took you so long, major. You on a bathroom break?!" While Sanders was glad for the help, he would not admit it here. "Take the rest of the frakers out so that we can proceed to the CIC!"
Lee didn't hesitate and did as ordered, mowing down a line of Lucians who were still holding it. The rest... realized there was no point to fight any longer, surrendered. They threw their weapons on the ground and their hands on their heads.
The Colonials quickly restrained the survivors and took care of their wounded. Sanders stood at the edge of the atmospheric barrier and saw the other two ships. Taking his binoculars out to take a look at the other two ships, he saw the four captured gate fighters doing the same thing to the hangars of the other two ships.
The power came back up. "Sanders to main engineering. Status?"
"Sir, ship systems getting restored... but our Lucian friends here, this red head the most, made sure the engines and any FTL systems are on the fritz."
"Good, make sure they stay that way. The other two ships?"
"Sir... apparently this girl transmitted the commands to the other two ships as well."
Nice. Varro was right about her. And he was right about Varro. But this ship got power back up faster than predicted! "Men! 10 of you stay here and keep an eye on the prisoners. The rest on me, double time. We need to give our guys in the upper levels a hand!"
As they passed the corridor from where they arrived on the ship, the transporters were already active as more reinforcements were arriving. Nagala did good work in organizing more muscle. Wireless traffic picked up as well. "This is Arkhipov, target beta secured."
Sanders was both happy and not. One target down was a good thing. But... Arkhipov will never shut up that he was faster than him. Guess he owes him 2 rounds now.
Then again, his ship was the command ship, made sense it would be the most populated with trigger happy pirates.
Picon fleet HQ, 20 minutes later
Galatos was now reading through the casualty report in the bombing incidents. His hunch was right. Lennox updated him via raptor. There was a resurrection ship, 2 Talons and a Cerastes class ships in the L3 point in the Helios Alpha system. They remained undetected because of the meagre force that made up the incursion taskforce. Wow. They were scraping the bottom of the barrel with those ships. Galatos of course knew the Colonials had first war era ships in orbital depots, museums or graveyards. Many now being refurbished. He just didn't imagine that the Cylons had them as well. But why were they using them? The other report he had answered that question. The plan to use the Cylon beacons against them worked... until now. They killed 7 basestars in the past hours, but the latest baits they cast out had no bites. The toasters learned. And judging by the losses they were having in the past weeks, they could not hermitage their best ships any longer.
Lennox also succeeded in destroying the resurrection ship and all escorts... but Galatos suspected that the resurrection ship was just a link. The models that committed suicide must have been resurrected elsewhere, using that ship in range only as a relay station. The debris showed little organic bodies on any ship husks... too little for those ships.
"Sir..." An assistant brought Galatos back to reality of the CIC. "To remind you, you'll be needed on Caprica in 1 hour. You don't have much time left."
"Right." He closed the reports and handed them to his assistant to be archived. "Have admiral Bouras cover for me. Anything else?" He left the CIC and went for the nearest lift. He needed to change and put his ceremonial uniform on. He hated it. Made him look like a peacock. His assistant was still with him.
"Em, yes sir. Your raptor is already waiting, but... you will be sharing it."
The entered the lift as the doors closed. "With whom?"
"Em..." The assistant looked really uncomfortable. "Quorum member Tom Zarek. He's on his way to the ceremony as well..."
"What? Why is that ass on Picon military HQ?"
"As a quorum member, he does have administrative privilege to visit and inspect any military installation or base if it is not currently in a war zone."
"Don't cite military protocol to me. I asked WHY is he here." This protocol was a BS thing still lingering in the Colonial military doctrine since the first war. Back then it was used to both bolster morale and to enable coordination between the military and civilian sector. Now... it was a fossil that enabled a convicted CRIMINAL to get access to Picon HQ! The only good thing was that it did NOT give him access to any restricted areas.
Only the president should have this authority to just pop-in unannounced, not... that man.
Nagala now owed Galatos not one, but TWO. Taking charge of Picon HQ was a given, someone had to, but to replace him at the ceremony was NOT a given. And not Zarek... Gods help him.
"Sir... it seemed it was a publicity stunt. He wanted to see what we were doing with the old pieces that we 'found' on Sagittaron. Then he went to meet Bulldog. And... that was mostly it."
The doors opened again as Galatos went for his quarters. "Nothing is as it seems with a person like that. Keep looking for anything unusual." He reached his quarters, entered it and slammed the door behind him.
"Yes... sir." The assistant replied, realizing that this will be a search for a needle in a haystack.
Colonial expedition fleet, 451 light years from the colonies, 10 minutes later
The CIC on the Galactica was buzzing with excitement. They made the basic part of the installation. Yes, the detailed work would still be needed. Dr. Justus had joined them as he was giving Felix and the military tech personnel a hand in the programming part.
The Galactica crew and the personnel of the other ships who were drafted to help with this project, were all on the old ship, waiting for the news. Were they successful? Could they continue to finish it?
"We ready, Dr. Justus?" Bill asked with a bit of impatience. Not that they were in that big of a hurry, but they were in a hurry. The sooner they do this, the faster that captured ship can leave for the colonies and the faster he can begin the planning with the Guardians and rebels. And the most important part of them all, the faster they'll be rid of the good doctor.
"Patience, my good admiral... What do you think?" He addressed Felix.
"Looks good. On paper."
"Exactly. Can't improve it until we test it for real." He turned his attention from the alien display next to Felix's station to the planning table where Saul and Adama were waiting. "We're ready."
Bill nodded and just by looking at Felix gave the command to power the currently only installed part of the shield grid up. Felix nodded in response. "Activating the system."
"Dee, give the fleet the order." Saul gave the comm officer the command for the fleet to keep its distance as they test this, fighters included. Wouldn't want anyone ramming the shield by accident.
The lights in the CIC flickered for a moment, but stabilised soon afterwards.
"Sir, Helo here. I definitely saw something shimmer in front of the ship."
They placed several raptors in proximity of the Galactica to both observe and record their first attempt.
Back at Felix's station, the display began showing a line in front of the Galactica's digital model. The alligator head was now shown as covered.
"Sir, if I can rely on the alien computer, forward shields are powered up."
"Hm..." Bill hummed. This was it. "To what level?"
"Sir, I dare not strain the grid yet. We're holding at 40% of predicted total output."
Bill and Saul eyed each other. "40% sound acceptable to me Bill."
The admiral nodded and took his phone on the planning table. The table itself was also full of cables as Justus also had the 'brilliant' idea to connect the table to the alien computer after they installed one of those fancy 3D projection devices, to bring the planning table to the future as well. Bill... went along with it. "Adama to the Belophron. Commander Bastil, were ready for the 2nd phase of the test."
"Understood sir. We'll start slowly."
The Belophron was positioned with her flank exposed to the Galactica, around a click away. But her dorsal turrets were aiming at the command ship of the expedition force. The first turret fired 2 low yield high explosive shells, aiming at the armored upper part of the alligator head of the Galactica.
Around 50 meters before it would hit the hull, it impacted on the shield perimeter.
In the CIC, the people felt a small impact, but nothing like they would usually. Bill waited to Justus and Felix. "Gentlemen?"
"Looks like we're good sir." Felix reported. "Shields detected the impact, but... held at 40%."
"Admiral..." Justus butted in. "I suggest we both amp the shields up a bit, slowly, as well as increasing the punishment. Also slowly."
Bill agreed. "Do it." He still held his wireless phone. "Bastil, throw something bigger at us."
"Copy that, sir."
The Belophron now fired all of its dorsal guns in one salvo... and again the shield deflected it.
"Sir... forward shield held, again."
"We are now also at 60% of total projected power. No fluctuations detected." Justus kept monitoring the power grid. "I recommend to go to 80%"
"Mr. Gaeta, you heard him." Bill once again activated his wireless. "Bastil, take out the big ammo, missiles included."
In space, as before, the Belophron opened up, now with her port missile launchers. As well as the large high velocity impact shells and AP shells.
This time the CIC shook a bit harder. "Status." Bill asked for the new update.
"Sir, the shield now not only detected an impact, but had issues holding its current strength."
Bill took that bit of info in. So... this was the point where the shields might start to take a beating. "Dr. Justus, can we go to 100%?"
The doctor was observing the energy grid. "Yes sir. But once the other shield emitters get installed, we'll definitely need more than one active alien reactor." They were not only testing the shields step by step, but the reactors and shield generators as well. They only had one of each currently active.
"Then do it." As the front shields were pumped up to their expected 100%, Bill got a call over wireless from the chief.
"Sir... there is now a humming sound coming from the power lines we are currently using. No issue really, but we should watch it to not burn anything out on our first try."
"Understood. We'll end this soon." He switched to Bastil again. "One last salvo, commander."
"Understood sir. After this the only thing bigger in my arsenal are the nukes."
"Yes, but we aren't testing that this time, only once we have the entire shield grid up and running. Also synchronies with the Aurora and Paris, I want all 3 ships to launch a salvo."
"Sir... that's a risk."
"So far the shield held. I need to know what it can take."
Reluctantly, commander Bastil did as ordered. In space all 3 larger Colonial ships fired a broadside at their command ship. The perimeter was now bombarded by fire.
In the CIC, the crew got shaken up more than in the previous tests, but still not as bad as during their past real engagements.
"Sir... no damage bled thru, but... we lost 0,48% shield strength. We're down to 99,52%." Felix updated his CO.
"What?" Saul asked perplexed. "That's all?" Saul was expecting a greater drop.
"Yes, colonel, that's all, it seems." Justus added, still making some calculations. "The shields held remarkably well. Of course... nukes may be another issue."
Bill said nothing during all of this. "Bill, what are you thinking?" Saul asked him.
"How much punishment we could take once we assault the HUB. The numbers so far sound good. But... those are only numbers." He tapped his wireless phone once again. "Commander Bastil, thank you for the test. You can stand down now.." Putting the phone back down, he went to Gaeta's station. "Power the system down. Good work gentlemen." He turned to the rest of the CIC crew. "Today we made good ground. But we are still days away from finishing this. We can all celebrate once all intended systems are working as planned. Still... I'm proud of all of you. Once we return home, whenever this may be, I'm putting you all in for promotions." The crew began cheering a bit. Even Saul was, for once, in a good mood, so he let them. Bill addressed Justus again. "Doctor. I hate to pressure you, but the sooner this is done, the sooner we can assault the HUB and you can go back to the colonies. So... any resource you need that I have, don't hesitate to ask for it."
"Well... admiral. We could do a fifth shift, so they cross over each other. The crews will not like it..."
"I'll talk to the chief. Mr. Gaeta?"
"I can pull some double shifts, if we get it done sooner, sir."
Bill nodded. Good. Good. "Then carry on gentlemen." He returned to the planning table. "Saul, you take over for the time being. I'll see Helo land to get the footage. And..."
"Yeah. Whatever you and Kara have going on. I mean I never saw you so angry with her as you are now."
"It's personal. But... she could have chosen a better time to tell me..."
"Tell you what?"
Bill didn't respond and left the CIC.
"Wow, that bad?" Saul said to himself, left to keep the CIC organized.
Kiva's command ship, unknown planet, low orbit, same time
Ha'tak's, designated beta and gamma were already in Colonial hands. But alpha was proving to be a bitch. Apparently it had triple solders on it than the other two and many of them were loyal fanatics, not the typical pirates you encounter. There were apparently two other reasons for this as well. Beta and gamma would have been used to haul whatever valuables they would have found on the planet. And alpha was filled with prisoners of the Lucians.
The lower decks, including engineering and hangar were theirs, the middle decks were still contested, but the Lucians were more or less contained to the barracks areas. Sanders and his forces were now pushing for the bridge. They were losing valuable time with this. They were one level below the bridge. Two larger main doors were open, but they couldn't proceed as the Lucians held them and were not giving an inch.
The side doors were shut closed, so no flanking was possible. The Colonials, while fast learners, still had little clue on how to open closed Goa'uld doors if the access panels didn't respond. And their explosives wouldn't even dent the prometheon doors.
Sanders, who was on site, knew this could take a while longer, but he had a cunning plan. The upper parts of the Ha'tak's pyramid did have an auxiliary docking hatch. But they couldn't dock the captured Al'kesh there and risk it falling back into Lucian hands if they mess things up. But all Colonial marines had zero-G combat training and their own space suits. So... while Sanders kept them occupied, Arkhipov's forces would get through that air-lock and get them from behind.
Right now the medics were dragging two injured solders from the combat zone as their replacements managed to squeeze in, since the corridors were a bit cramped now.
But the other Colonials did not waste time during all of this. More specialized personnel arrived to inspect the other 2 ships. And the much needed linguists and their equipment as well. So Sanders took advantage of it and told Varro to explain to his people to try to shut everything above the main engineering room off. Easier said than done, as this Kiva was not completely stupid. She did leave her ship vulnerable to an inside job when it came to primary systems, but every part of the ships interior function was routed to the bridge, so they couldn't just turn the life support off there to starve them of oxygen. And the remaining Lucian still had control of the doors as well.
That didn't sit well with Sanders. So he had even the closed doors watched. As they were finally making a push through one of the openings, the side door to sander's left opened up a bit, just enough for...
"Frak, grenade!" One of the solders yelled as a small orb was dropped through the barely opened side door.
A flash of light blinded them all... and more. He could still hear the captain of the squad behind his yelling to get them out of there... and a fire exchange.
Sanders regained conciseness. He had no idea how long he was out, but he did remember what happened.
He managed to look around. He was on the bridge. The solders that were with him in that corridor when they got fraked over... were dead on the floor. Shot in their head. He felt the presence of the man pinning him from behind with a knife to the throat.
"So, the officer finally wakes." It was a female voice. The only woman on the bridge. Frak. Sanders knew he was in for it now.
On the bridge there were about seven Lucians left, Kiva and the ass holding him down included. Kiva gave the post of the control console on the bridge to one of her subordinates and approached him. She inspected him, then pulled a weapon from her holster. It was a Colonial sidearm. Must have take it from one of his men.
"Interesting weapon. Interesting uniform. Who are you!?"
Sanders didn't understand her, nor would he have answered even if he did. Kiva continued. "The silent type? Oh, I broke many silent types before. They couldn't shut up afterwards."
Oh Sanders had a good idea what she was on about. He should know. It was his speech to Cavil!
"Should I put a grin on his face, boss?" It was the ape holding him down. Sanders felt the knife move across his throat.
"No, we still need him alive. Judging by the fact they stopped attacking, he must be valuable."
"Clearly Tau'ri." It was the guy who took control of the bridge console.
"No. Different uniform. Different tactics. And they would have just shot us down, not grab our property. We have a new player in the game." She holstered the weapon back and came inches from sanders face. "Whoever you are, you belong to me now. Tell your people to dock an Al'kesh at the upper docking port and let us leave, or you don't get to see your home ever again."
She held a Colonial wireless comm device in her hand, waving it in front of him. Again, Sanders had a good idea what she wanted. "We don't negotiate with pirates or terrorists, you psycho bitch."
He knew he was a dead man, unless Arkhipov managed to get inside the airlock as planned in time.
"What the hell are these bastards saying!?" The ape holding him raged on as they couldn't understand each other.
Kiva on the other hand didn't need to understand him. "He won't cooperate. I can tell. He's not afraid to die." She put the Colonial wireless back into her pocket. "Ashamed. Men like you are hard to come by. And I will give you your wish of death, after we get out of here. Now..." She punched him into the left side of his abdomen. Right in the kidneys. "I don't have all the time in the world. And neither do you." This time she kneed him in the neither region.
Sanders was tough, but he knew that everyone had a breaking point.
He was formulating a plan when the shooting on the lower level began again. He hoped that this also meant that Arkhipov was in position. To Hades with it. Might as well go down swinging. There are worse ways to die. In an instant he grabbed with his hands the arm of the ape behind him and began twisting the knife out of his hand. He also head butted Kiva as hard as he could. The ape behind him didn't let go of the knife, so he couldn't roll him over himself just like that. Sanders had a crazy idea. He pushed the arm with the knife of the man to his shoulder and... stabbed himself. With the knife now deep in his muscle and tissue, the asshole behind him could not use it to stab anything vital. So he elbowed him in his soft spot and twisted his arm hard enough to break something. Then he flexed forward, holding his captor tightly, until he tumbled on the floor in front of him.
The solders around the bridge began reacting. Only too late, as several of them fell to the floor. Arkhipov had finally arrived. Not part of Sanders initial plan, but he was glad anyway.
Sanders pulled the knife out of his shoulder and stabbed the guy he just threw onto the floor. Right in his thorax, puncturing his heart. "If you want to kill someone, you kill them, not hold a contest who can talk someone to death!"
A hand was stretched out to him. It was his friend Arkhipov. "You look pissed." He helped him back up onto his feet.
"I am!" The room was mostly secured. Kiva tried to get a weapon lying on the floor as she just regained her equilibrium from that head butt, but Sanders was faster. He kicked the weapon out of her reach. "Oh no. Now I'm not done with you, bitch!" He used the momentum and kicked her in the head, knocking her out for good. "Oh, I'm so pulling teeth with you."
The fighting on the lower floors died down. Arkhipov activated his wireless. "Arkhipov to ring. Call Nagala. Ships secured. Repeat, ships secured. But we have casualties."
"Copy that. Forwarding the message."
Arkhipov saw the mess on the bridge. Mostly the colonial bodies the Lucians executed. "Guess you were spared, being an officer and all."
"Yeah, lucky me." Sanders remarked with a really pissed voice.
"Oh shit, your bleeding. Medic!"
"Frak that, I don't have time to bleed." He approached the main console on the bridge Kiva was occupying not long ago. "Frak."
"What?"
Sanders points to the left side of the console. Something was blinking. "If my knowledge of the design of the bridge of this thing is correct, and I hope I'm wrong, that's the comm part of the console."
"But... didn't Varro say they shut down the comm systems. Or did he lie?"
"He didn't. He didn't even know about the Al'kesh we now have. Pirates power is built on restricting information. Bet Kiva told things only on a need to know basis. And you saw the differences between the other two ships and this command ship."
"Yeah... and?"
"Bet this one had a back-up comm system."
"Hard to believe. The FTL comm systems are all rerouted through main engineering. Unless Ma'chello was wrong or they drastically altered the design."
"No... must be short range comm system. And since Varro didn't know about the Al'kesh... If I was a betting man, I'd say there is at least one more cloaked ship in this system, further out. Or should I say, it was. They're probably calling her 'good old dad' and leaving."
Arkhipov tapped his wireless again. "Arkhipov to ring team. Update. There is a high probability the Lucians managed to get a transmission out. Tell Nagala we'll need to move out faster than planned!"
Sanders was during all of this being patched up. "That's enough." The tech guys finally arrived. "Good. Arkhipov, have your men clean this up. Have all their corpses moved to the planet and all their living solders dig up graves. We may be enemies, but we ain't animals. And have the tech guys find out if my fear is confirmed."
"Will do. What about you?"
"Engineering. Have a chat with Varro to see who's willing to flip. Is Adama already landed?" Arkhipov nodded. "Good. Let him handle the prisoners the Lucians had. Lend him a linguist."
Both saluting each other, they went to work.
Planet Langara, 20 minutes later
The 'talks' O'Neill so dreaded were hosted by Langara as both Tollans, Earth and Hebridan all agreed to a more neutral place.
It was the typical political BS.
Jack was having a drink as he was leaning against a glass window in the hall outside the conference room.
"General O'Neill." Jack was greeted by someone he was already expecting.
"Jonas. Long time no see." They shook hands.
"You too. Almost too long. But I know who Dr. Jackson is and what he means to you. How is he? You know..."
Jonas was probing. Like Jack was with Daniel directly. "Difficult. You know how hard it is to lose someone. Is almost as much of a jerk sometimes as I am."
Jonas now leaned the same was jack did. "That why you drinking the hard stuff?"
Jack looked at his glass. "I'll take booze any day if I'm forced to be here. Not on Langara, but... politics."
Jonas chuckled. "Yes, you always were a bit more direct in that field. By the way, my people are asking for... the items."
"Oh, the 304's... hey, you get 3 once they're built. One for each of your countries. But for now your anonymity is your greatest strength. And the Jaffa nation has pledged to help protect vulnerable planets."
"Yes... Ba'al at large and now this rising pirate group is making me nervous."
"Mhm... But you do know that before we can deliver anything, we'll need a common command and control facility for the galaxy. We can't all do our own things if we share a military."
"Or get them stolen?"
Jack's grip tightened. "That... happened only once before!"
"Still... the Prometheus is unaccounted for."
"The first Prometheus... her replacement, a 304, is already in action. And believe me you, Daniel gave us the name and description of that woman. Vala... something. I'm half tempted to hire Aris Boch by placing a bounty on her head."
"Guess it would sting if that had happened to me." Jonas now took a long sip of his drink.
"Laugh it up, Jonas. Laugh it up. The only good news I can think of is that Carter said something about the ship locking up and her nav system shutting down if someone tried to input any data without the proper clearances. So if that worked... she should be adrift somewhere out there."
"Did it?"
"No idea. The 2nd phase of the failsafe would be an emergency tracking beacon so we could find it again, but that apparently got shut down within an hour. Not enough time for our eggheads to locate it."
"Hmm... too bad. Oh..." They both put their glasses down. They were finished anyway. Woolsey and some other delegates had returned.
"Mr. Quinn, glad you could join us. Langara's representative asked for you to be present as well." Quinn nodded and went inside. "Jack, I know how much you hate this... be let's go back in. The break is over."
"Yay..." Jack grumbled and he reluctantly returned to his 'hell'.
Unknown planet, low orbit, same time
Nagala stepped through the active ring. Ring activity flared up ever since the mission was complete. One reason was of course to get the dead and injured colonials back home ASAP. Then there were the people needed to man the captured ships for the trip home. No way anyone would allow the captured Lucians, cooperative or not, stay on those ships where they could do real damage if still loyal to the pirate organization. The un-cooperative ones were still digging graves for their fallen comrades on the planet. Well, those that were not KO. Kiva was first to be shipped to Kobol and from there to Picon. She was person of interest nr. Two on Nagala's list. And judging from what he heard what happened, he'll let Sanders have his way.
The real nr. One person of interest were the Lucian tech people. This Ginn above all else. Nagala not long ago joked he'd even settle for a ship's cook to be captured. Well, he probably got a cook or two from this raid as well, but a tech expert was far better.
He turned to the major in charge of the planetary part of the OP. "Keep an eye on the ring. If Sanders fears are confirmed, we could get company." The major nodded, still redeploying the defense force. Nagala began walking out of these ruins, a Colonial captain walking with him. "Status."
"Sir, all 3 Ha'tak's secured. On top of that 2 Al'kesh and 7 Tel'tak's secured plus 9 squadrons of death gliders."
"Their status?"
"3 of the 7 Tel'tak's damaged, badly, during the firefighting. Both Al'kesh fully intact. The Ha'tak's took some interior damage during our assault, but seems nothing critical."
"Good. Casualties." He asked this as they reached the end of the ruins and saw the landed Al'kesh. In the background he saw the Lucian prisoners still digging graves while some were already buried. They began staring at the Colonial admiral, realizing that this must be a high ranking officer. The Colonial solders smacked them back to work.
"Em... 212 dead and 77 injured for the pirates, with a total of 407 prisoners. 71 of which might cooperate, according to that man."
"Varro proved himself. Yes, I don't trust him, but he earned the benefit of the doubt. For now he hasn't shown any signs that I can't believe what he says. Anyway, our casualties."
They reached the landed Al'kesh and stepped on the transporter platform. "52 dead, 117 injured, 7 of which are still in critical condition."
They arrived on the command Ha'tak. Nagala was greeted by Arkhipov. "Sir, welcome on board."
"Good to be here." He observed the platform he just stepped off. "Frak, not long and we'll get used to this crap."
"Yeah, scares me too."
"Anyway, commander, lead me to Sanders."
"Right this way, sir."
As they began to walk, Nagala remembered the captain still walking beside him. "Sorry, got caught up. 52 dead?" The captain confirmed it. "Frak. I hate this. Having to tell someone their loved ones died and not be able to tell them how or why."
"Risk of black-ops." Arkhipov commented.
"Still doesn't make it easier. What about the prisoners the Lucians had?"
"33 in total. Mostly farmers or miners who refused to work." The captain continued reading the report.
"Good. So if they want, they can stay with us, even if it will take a while to integrate them."
"There... was a person different than all of them." Arkhipov remarked. "Definitely NOT a farmer. You perhaps even saw her when you were reaching the landed ship on the planet. A gagged black-haired woman."
Nagala did recall seeing someone like that. "Since I know this Kiva person was on the gurney with a nasty head injury and there were few female prisoners in the bunch, yes... I saw her. Why was she gagged?"
"She wouldn't shut up. Even flirted with my men. Frak if I know what she was talking about, she's Sanders problem now."
They reached main engineering. Sanders was still talking with Varro while Lee was observing the map of local space as this young girl showed him. Nagala joined them, even stopping them from saluting, it was getting on his nerves as of lately. "Carry on." The linguists and their computers were already doing their job, so talking was easier now. "Lt. Varro. Based on... what transpired today, you, in my eyes, earned a new home."
"Em... thank you, admiral. But I really don't feel like celebrating right now."
"Understandable. While you may have despised some of the people here, your CO's mostly, some were your friends, right?" He nodded. "Never easy to do the right thing if your friends are in the way." Nagala sighed. "Down to business. I believe you didn't know about the cloaked ships. What's done is done. But we need to get moving ASAP."
"Sir..." Sanders pointed at the map major Adama was inspecting. "Already way ahead of you."
They joined Lee, who was questioning Ginn about the nav systems. "Major?" Nagala inquired.
"Sir... we're here." He pointed at the center dot. "And here... is Kobol." He pointed at a star much lower on the map.
"How far?"
"If... this computer is correct... 3244 Ly."
"Further than Kobol is from Cyrannus system." Sanders whispered to Nagala. "Might take a while to get them there."
Nagala stroked his chin. He eyed Ginn. "Young lady. Varro assured me you and your tech personnel had no love for this alliance." She was still a bit scarred, so she just nodded. "No need to fear me. You can speak up." Varro answered instead of her.
"Admiral. You have to forgive her. But under Kiva... or most Lucian commanders, you usually don't speak unless specifically asked for something. The consequences..."
Nagala could imagine. He tried to reassure them. "I can assure you we are not some rag tag lawless group who steals, pillages and rapes. If you do right by us, we'll do right by you. We have a saying back home. Or more specifically one of our worlds has. 'Blood and honor'. If you don't have the latter, you won't have the other for long either. We keep our words. Or at least try to. No threats will be made towards you in any way that were made by this... Kiva person." He paused for a moment. "The worst that can happen to you, if you betray us or lied to this point, is humane prison. If you on the other hand cooperate with us, at some point, citizenship, regular pay, safety, perhaps even a home and family."
Many people in the room of Lucian origin lost most of that at one point in their lives when they were conscripted at gun point. Few were born into it.
Ginn finally found her voice. "What do you want to know?"
"Is major Adama's calculation correct?" She turned to the screen and makes some calculations in her head. Then she nods. "Good. How long would it take these ships to get there at full FTL speed?" This time she turns to the console and begins putting the data. A number in Goa'uld appears on the screen.
"Around five and a half days."
"At full burn?" Nagala remembered the speeds the transport ship was making to Kobol when he agreed to admiral Adama's plan but they were pushing that thing to beat Cavil there.
She nodded again.
"Curious. I thought that FLT tech would have improved over time? Frak the old cargo ships we found were faster than this." Sanders asked what every Colonial was thinking. "That's not an improvement but a downgrade."
"Lucians mostly have outdated ships. And Goa'uld hyperdrive technology didn't develop much in the past few hundred years." Varro tried to explain.
Ginn, who was now much more relaxed, was pondering something. "You found the ships?" The Colonial officers nodded. "Which Goa'uld did they belong to?"
Sanders, Nagala and Lee looked clueless at each other, until Lee remembered. "In his notes Ma'chello said he escaped from Ares, so it has to be his Tel'tak."
Ginn turned back to the console. Seconds later several symbols showed up on the main display. She pointed at the 7th one in the upper row. "Was this symbol on the hull?"
Lee and Sanders inspected the symbols. "Yep. I think that's the one." Sanders confirmed Ginn's suspicion. "That's Ares symbol?" She nodded. "Sir... the ones we found on that derelict had them as well. So..."
"We got ships and parts from Ares." Nagala realized as well. "I do have to ask what's the point of this, young lady?"
"Ares was notorious for pushing Goa'uld technology beyond its capabilities. Shields, weapons, hyperdrives... his ships were far more capable than any other System lords at the time, but at a cost. They would need far more time for maintenance and regularly had to have their parts replaced as the older ones burned out. The other System lords didn't do this cause they saw it as a waste of economic power. Yes, short term his ships were better, long term it cost him."
That sparked an idea in Lee's mind. "Sir... perhaps that's why the hyperdrive part on that first transport failed first. It had to have been in a poor state to begin with."
"Agreed. Young lady... What's the current FTL speed of the Lucian ships?"
Ginn eyed Varro, as if asking him if she should divulge that info. He nodded. "Em... it's based on Sokar tech. At full speed, any of our ships can do 648 Ly per day. Give or take."
"Sir..." Lee was now crunching the math. "That's around 0,45 Ly per minute. That transport we arrived in could do 0,71 with that overdrive or whatever it was."
"Yes... and we won't be using it again. I won't risk you or anyone else get stuck in empty space if the engine should die during transit."
"Understood, sir." Lee understood the reasoning. "I do wonder. Would the Tel'tak we found also have its other systems pushed?"
"Doubtful. It's not a military ship."
Sanders remembered the expedition fleet. "We also found spare parts. If they were from Ares stock, would they..."
"No... Ares usually pushed them to breaking point after they were installed. No need to break them before you use them."
Made sense to Nagala, but he wanted to shelve this for a later date. He had one more pressing question before they wrap this up. "And these machines. Replicators? Didn't you say the upgraded any tech they captured?" Nagala continued with the questioning. Ginn answered that one.
"Yes, but some technologies, once upgraded, required the Replicators themselves to interphaze with the upgraded system to either power it or control it. Once they were disabled, the upgrades in those systems, like hyperdrives, died with them."
Nagala was in a way disappointed but also relieved. He also got curious. "How do you know that exactly?"
"Lucian spy network is vast. They stole this small bit of information from Earth."
"Based on this info, how long would it take for Kiva's father or any other Lucian to respond?" Arkhipov asked the security question.
"The base we departed from is 4 days from here. But they usually don't go at full speed. They'll attack through the gate first." Varro answered.
"Right. So... Miss Ginn. Please see to it this ships and the others have their tracking devices destroyed. We may be new at this, but we have some idea what to look for ourselves. So... we will know if something is not right. After this you and your people will be taken through the ring. I will ask you on the planet we met Varro first to take a look at that transport we mentioned." He waited for the info to sink in. Then Nagala continued. "Once done and all our people that will take this prize to Kobol are onboard, we depart this place in every way possible. The prisoners and... cooperating party will go to Kobol and then to Picon. We remove all clues to who we are and where were going. Arkhipov, you light a fire under the asses of everyone down there, our and theirs." The commander smirked at that. He'll love this. "Major Adama, see to it that those ring fighters make it back to Kobol via the ring. Then you have a mission for the tomb of Athena. We delayed it for long enough. Sanders. You and me are needed back on Picon. Some... disturbing things happened while we were here."
Tauron, mountain retirement colony, same time
Reminiscing about the past was one of the things old people did. And Augustus Cain was no different. The weather was good, so they moved outside to the porch. Neither of them was in the mood to watch and broadcasts, including the ceremony on Caprica.
"In the end we will come through, Helen. We always did."
She finished her drink and poured herself the next round. "So say we all." She was given permission to talk about some things concerning military actions, including the real reason the expedition fleet was sent out into the unknown. That was the small secret. and sooner or later it would leak. Her father also knew how to keep secrets. But the alien part was off the table.
"You know, my daughter." He lit himself a fresh cigar. "Once this debacle is over and Billy Adama finds Kobol... I'd like to see the home of the gods with my own eyes before I die. Perhaps even be buried there." He puffed and grinned. "That's a way to go."
Helen had a curious look. "Billy?"
"Heh. I met him when he was a squirt on the Galactica. 11th year of the first war I think. Commander Nash and me were leading a taskforce to push their fuel lines to the brink in the gamma offensive. Nash told me how he was a bit arrogant when he first arrived on the Galactica, but seasoning beat that out of him. He became one fine officer in the end. As did Nagala... even Artemis, gods have mercy on her soul." He put the cigar down and gave a proud smile. "You as well. Even if you never did take my teaching to heart to not try to force a situation with brute force if your losses are too great." He squeezed her hand.
"Sorry to say, dad, I never had your restraint. But... I did kept the family tradition going."
Augustus now laughed out loud. "My goal back then was not really to command the Pegasus specifically you know. It was just the posting I got as a major. And it went from there on out."
"And I got her replacement. So..." She heard a high pitched sound. "Raptor incoming."
She was right. They both stood up and saw a military raptor land on the landing spot usually reserved for medical VTOL craft.
"Guess your leave is over."
"Guess it is, dad. Let's see what they want."
As they reached the front door and went outside, they saw a colonial officer approach them. She saluted. "Sir, sorry to cut your break short, but admiral Galatos ordered that you return."
"Something happen?"
"Several things. And Nagala is also returning."
Helen was not happy, but orders were orders. "I'll get my stuff then..."
"Sir, we'll send another raptor for those. We need to go now." Helen was now even less happy but didn't argue. Turning to her father, she sighed.
"Sorry, dad." She hugged him, for the first time in a long time showing her emotions.
"Sir..." The officer interrupted the moment. "Retired admiral Augustus Cain is also 'asked' to accompany us."
"What?" Now Helen was on the fences. "Why would my father need to come?"
"It's not an order, but a request. And Galatos and Nagala believe he'll like it as well."
Before Helen could argue, her father went back, gave his servant robot some instructions, took his walking cane and locked his house up. "Let's go."
"Father!"
"Helen, let me have this little excitement. Whatever it is, it'll be good to see the fleet again." He was already halfway to the landed raptor before his daughter or the officer could react.
Helen eyed the officer. "Well, congratulations. You managed to give my father a spring into his step like I haven't seen in years."
Caprica, Caprica city outskirt first war memorial, 20 minutes later
The memorial was large. There were military people present, security was tight and the media were recording everything. Behind the representatives of the colonies, military and the current presidential office were the 12 flags of all the colonies. Behind them was a burning flame representing the Colonial spirit. Today it burned extra bright as to also remember all that died not so long ago.
Over ten thousand people were present for the ceremony as the representative of the gods held a long speech, reciting the sacred scrolls.
"And in the end let us be grateful for the Lord's mercy and guidance. Let them show us the paths available to us and let us have the wisdom to choose correctly. For free will was the final gift of the gods. And now in our time of need we must show compassion for our fellow man. All that were lost we must mourn for. And all that was destroyed we must rebuild." Elosha closed the scroll in her hand and stepped away from the microphone.
Galatos stepped forward, all dressed up in his ceremonial uniform. In his mind he looked like a peacock trying to impress a mate. He hated this thing. "Thank you priestess. My apologies to all, but fleet admiral Nagala is indisposed at the moment. War demands sacrifices of all of us. But let us not forget, we are all standing tall and strong. Our enemies not only failed, but they only strengthened our resolve. Believe in each other. Believe in our military. And we will win thru, no matter how long it takes. SO SAY WE ALL!"
Everyone stood up and repeated. "SO SAY WE ALL!"
Galatos returned to his seat. Laura was sitting next to him. The other Quorum members were further away. As the ceremony was being concluded by an orchestra playing the Colonial anthem, Laura leaned to Galatos. "Where is Nagala really?"
He whispered back. "Kobol."
Laura hid her shock, but didn't ask any further questions. The ring after all changed everything. But it did not change her fatigue. She had barely the strength to be here, let alone go to Picon for an update.
Kobol, Colonial military garrison stationed at abandoned Goa'uld base, 10 minutes later
Arkhipov and his men were moving all the prisoners through the active ring to Picon. They covered the DHD to prevent anyone seeing the symbols that were lit up. You can never be too careful. Just like on the other side where the ring and the entire sector of Picon HQ was currently quarantined.
Sanders, now properly bandaged up, was in the back of Kobol's ring room with Nagala. "So, we're in a mess now sir."
"Yes we are. Just pisses me off that this Kiva destroyed all of her stuff on the bridge before we captured it."
"Including her data crystal." Sanders cursed. "Now only Kiva knows any usable ring addresses."
"Earth included." Nagala concluded. No Lucian that was cooperating knew much. They didn't even know the address of Lucia. Seems that the Lucian leadership was not completely stupid. Nagala, even if it would kill civilians, had the idea, even if only briefly, to send a nuke through the ring to Lucia.
Now he could only hope Sanders could break Kiva. If she was as crazy and sadistic as they both feared she was, it would not be an easy task. The only good news was while neither Varro or Ginn knew about these things, Ginn did have some nav knowledge. On the star map she showed them where more or less Earth and Lucia were. Lucia was around 12000 Ly from the planet where they captured the three Ha'tak's. Earth... over 57000 Ly. Half across the galaxy! They would need years to get there with their own jump drives. Or months via hyperdrive.
And the bad news kept on coming. "Sanders..."
"Yes sir?"
"You will get to interrogate Kiva. But..."
"Sir...?"
Nagala paced around a bit. He only got the news via wireless from HQ minutes ago. It was not a war or battle emergency... so he didn't rush back. "Lennox was successful. Toasters took the bait on several occasions. But... one resurrection ship slipped thru."
"Frak." Sanders could only guess what that meant. "The prisoners 'killed' themselves?"
Nagala nodded. "The Cavil you interrogated killed the other One and himself. The Fours and Fives did more or less the same."
"And the rest?"
"No, they didn't bother."
"So... what do we do with them now? They're not of much use to us now."
"I have a plan for that." Before Nagala could continue, Lee and his pilots returned from the hangar in the lower decks of the pyramid. They were escorting Ginn.
"Sir... as our new 'expert' here suspected. The engines were boosted. She undid all the boosts from every ship that had them here. Our people were also taking notes. They should be able to do the same back home."
"Good. And the engine status?"
"In need of repairs. It will still run... But according to her, if still used, there was a 44% chance it would die during transit."
The translators with their bulky equipment were still in the hangar packing up, so Lee had to summarize what they learned.
"Good. Then...Sanders, escort her to Picon. She's to get top security, above all other prisoners. Then join me in my office. Others should be arriving soon. There's a mess back home I need to deal with. Once Arkhipov finishes here and colonel Drakos dials back here for the last time to confirm they are ready to depart that place with our prize, I leave for Picon as well. Arkhipov will get the arrow ready, but wait for the CO of this base to arrive to plan that expedition."
Picon fleet HQ, moments later
The officer landing bay was full of activity. The elevator just lowered to the main deck as a raptor was dragged by a towing vehicle to a parking spot.
Both Cain's were already there, disembarking their own raptor. "I've missed this place." Augustus said with excitement. And many people were noticing his presence. Some even dropped what they were doing and saluted him.
"Guess you were recognized."
He saluted back with pure delight. "Don't know what they would salute a retired old man for."
"You mean a living legend?"
"Legends tend to be overrated, daughter."
The towed raptor came to a halt as it's occupant also disembarked. "Cain." It was Lennox. "And here I was hoping to get some time far away from you since you took your vacation."
"Guess Nagala needs at least once competent flag officer here. And it was not a vacation!"
"I can see you two still get along like oil and water. Like in the academy days." Augustus intervened. He saw this before. Far too often. While these two respected each other, they did not really tolerate each other.
"Sir... It's been a while." Lennox did as all others and showed the retired admiral the respect he deserved.
"It has." Augustus then smelled it in the air. "Scorpia Sting brand?"
Lennox grinned. Yep, the old man still had a taste for cigars. He had one not too long ago. Opening his breast pocket, he took two out and handed them to a Cain he liked. "Enjoy, sir."
Augustus took a sniff. "I can never get them."
"They are even harder to get now with the war going on."
"Ehm... if you two are finished fraternizing, I can only guess that since the station is in condition two, something is going on and we should go to Nagala's office."
Her father was not surprised at that outburst. "Impatient as always, Helen. But perhaps your right."
Nagala's office, 15 minutes later
The assistant had let the officers and guests into Nagala's office, even if he was still not there. She also prepared a summary of what had transpired with the ring and Kobol. To say that the military personnel were in for a shock was an understatement. That and the awkwardness once they realized they had a war veteran with them as well.
"Is this fine?" Helen asked the assistant, nodding to her father. He wasn't cleared as far as she knew.
"It's OK. Nagala knows he can keep secrets."
Relieved, Helen passed her copy of the summary to her father. "If you're interested. But... there are things in there you may not like to know."
"Always trying to protect me. A child should not have to protect a parent." He took the report and began reading it. They all sat at the small table with Nagala's desk to the left and the entrance to the right.
"Frak, I hope this is all true." Lennox smirked. "We really need a foothold out there."
"I'm more interested in those ships." Helena Cain remarked. "Hope they depart for Kobol soon."
"I hope they won't get tracked by those... Lucians." Admiral Bouras said. "We don't need more problems at our door step than we already have. Speaking of that." He eyed Lennox. "How's the hunt progressing?"
"The fish aren't biting anymore. The toasters figured out we knew about the beacons."
"And apparently while you were playing around, they sneaked a resurrection ship passed our perimeter and got the prisoners we had out." Cain immediately shot him down.
"We can't all have dumb luck by blind jumping, like some in here." Lennox returned the favor.
Helen wanted to retort, but her father, still reading, grabbing her hand. She turned to him. He was still reading, but the message came thru. Shut up.
"What bothers me more is the... shockwave." Admiral Rosi said with fear in his voice.
"You mean the part about machines more advanced than the Cylons invading the entire fraking galaxy?" Admiral Rhode responded, also having a hard time to stay calm. "Can't believe it that Nagala and Sanders were right. We only had really good timing and luck."
"I'd take that than the alternative any day of the week." Lennox reminded her of what could have been otherwise.
The doors opened. Everyone but Augustus Cain stood up, expecting Nagala. It was not him.
"Sorry for the interruption. But the boss asked for us." It was three officers. One was already known to most in the room, thanks to his appearance on the news lately.
Helen smirked. "Bulldog. Tired of being in the spotlight?"
"In a way." He was already reassigned at his own request, but meeting Zarek today sealed the deal. That man oozed slime." I... asked to be sent back to the front. I just never expected..." He noticed The older Cain. "Em... wow. I can't..."
The other two officers had the same reaction. Helen lightly elbowed her father. "You might want to say something." She got annoyed. "More fans for you."
He stopped reading to look up who came. His shock from reading of what was out there turned to a genuine smile again. "I've seen you before, son. Lt. Novacek, right?"
They shook hands. "Wow, THE Cain knows who I am?" He now grinned like an idiot.
Augustus then saw his rank. "Oh, major now. Look at you? Where you posted, son?"
Now the man to Bulldog's right got a bit nervous. Bulldog answered. "Pegasus."
Augustus turned to his daughter. "Helen, you never told me you got him."
"I didn't. I mean Adama stole Hoshi from me so I tried to 'return' the favor..."
"It wasn't Adama. Nagala reassigned him before the expedition left. Your ship was in poor shape so no battle for a while and he needed some experienced people here and there." Admiral Sophos informed Cain.
Cain made herself def to that and continued to eye Bulldog. "So you on my ship now?"
"Em... no? Did no one tell you?"
"Tell me what? I just came from visiting my father. I know frak!"
Admiral Lychus cleared her throat. "It's not yet public. Nagala will send reinforcements to the expedition fleet."
"OK?" No one was following what that had anything to do with this.
"One Sobek, the Inferno, one Atlas, the Mercy and three... Jupiter class battlestars."
Helena's light bulb went up before anyone else. "My father's Pegasus!" Helena Cain was not a fan of this plan.
Lychus nodded. She also knew how Helen would react. Augustus on the other hand loved it. "You're getting my old ship out of that military museum?"
"Yes, sir. Her, the Cerberus and Prometheus. Besides the Galactica, they were the only Jupiter's that were in pristine condition due to being in a museum and not a scrap yard. So we got them into a fighting condition rather easily and fast. And..." She nods to the man to Bulldogs right. " Commander Faustus was given command of her and this taskforce."
The elder Cain remembered that name. "By the gods. Can't believe I didn't recognize you."
"Good to see you again sir." Faustus responded as they both shook hands. "Never thought I'd get my first command in your ship."
"Well, you were just a pipsqueak I had to break in during the war. And I think you'll do her proud."
Faustus smiled at the old times. "And guess who I got for my XO." He points at Bulldog. "I needed someone who was already past the red line. And now I'm stuck with this smartass." He didn't mean it in a bad way and most noticed it.
About a minute later as most of the commotion died down, Lennox asked who the 3rd newcomer was.
The man introduced himself. "General Atkins, commander of the 3rd colonial marine division."
"While I'm impressed the CO of the 'Spartans' is here. Why are you here? Jarheads can't fly." Cain asked.
"Apparently I'm getting Kobol to defend until your fleets finally get there. Hopefully in this century. Maybe find that illusive 2nd gear. You do know you have them, right?" Yep, fleet and marine core had to throw jabs at each other.
"I still can't believe it. Kobol." That word shook Augustus out of his reminiscing of the old times. He went back to reading.
The door opened again. Baltar. "I apologies for my lateness... Oh, Nagala isn't here yet either?"
He couldn't even close the door properly ad Sanders and Nagala entered. "No, but you only managed to beat me by this much. Everyone please be seated." He noticed Augustus. He too went to shake his hand. "Thank you for coming."
"When an old student asks me to come, how could I refuse?"
"Unfortunately we don't have time for niceties right now. I hope you understand that everything you read in there is classified."
"Jason, I kept all the military secrets in my head since the first war. You don't have to worry about anything."
Nagala also took his seat. "I have to ask your forgiveness for being late, but Sanders and I now know what a pincushion feels like."
"Yes, damn doctors." Sanders caressed his arm.
"To business. You all read the report or are still reading it. As of..." He checked the clock. "Three minutes ago I got the conformation that the captured ships departed that planet. The remaining Colonial forces there are now cleaning up any and all trails and clues we might have left for these pirates to find. If all goes as planned, they shouldn't find anything. Now... during this, Commander Arkhipov and Major Adama are preparing to find the tomb of Athena." Some questions were asked and Nagala answered them quickly.
"Now comes the reasons as to why you are all here." He started with Augustus Cain. "You know your old ship is already reactivated?" He confirmed it with a nod. "Good. I would ask you to see them off. I think the crews will like it if a 'living' legend gives them some parting words. And I think you would like to see your old ship again."
"I'd like that, Jason. I'd like that a lot."
"I would also ask you for some help."
"Anything these old bones can do for the colonies, just ask away."
"Moral boosting. I think admiral Lychus would put you to good use."
Augustus smile dropped a bit. "I knew I couldn't command any longer, but I guess this is for a good cause as well."
"Thank you for being so understanding, 'sir'." Nagala was the commander and chief, but he, like many in the room, just couldn't stop calling Augustus sir, since at one time he did outrank them all. " Commander Faustus, you are also getting a secondary and tertiary task."
"I had a feeling this would be so. I saw the inventory list of the reserve storage facilities. Construction material?"
"You'll drop them off in that system that the expedition fleet found Ma'chello's base on. We can use the ring, but you'll deliver things too big for the ring. I decided to establish an outpost there. Dradis control and a logistics centre, once we have a corridor to Kobol. And that place is suppose to have prometheon deposits as well."
Everyone understood that logic. "And the other mission?"
Nagala paused for a moment, knowing how most will react to this, the female Cain of all. "Since the models Four, Five and One are gone from our prison facility, the other models are not really of any use to us. And I won't have them just killed, not when Bill managed to get their models to cooperate with us out there."
"I'm not liking where this is going." Faustus already complained.
"Neither do I." Helena Cain agreed.
"Nor I." One of the few times Lennox agreed with her.
"I know it's not a popular decision... but the remaining models are going with you in the brig. Back to their fleet. A gesture of good will on my side."
"Sir... the crew will really not like that." Faustus pointed out. "I'll have to increase security in the brig..."
"Do whatever it takes. Get your people to understand how important it is they don't do stupid things!" Nagala roared. That ended the complaints. "Good. The models Two, Three and Eight are going with you back to their people, like it or not. Besides, we get rid of a political problem here with them gone." He turned to Augustus Cain. "Sir, you, commander Faustus and major Novacek should go right now. The last raptors meant for the support expedition fleet are waiting in hangar 3. The prisoners were already delivered. Once you get there, a camera team is on the old Pegasus. They will depart back with you after the ceremony while the fleet ventures into deep space."
"And what should I say, do?" Augustus asked. He didn't want to say anything inappropriate in front of the press.
"Your speeches during the first war and years after it are still taught in the academy. I'm sure anything you say will be eaten by both the press and the crew."
"How much time are they still here?"
Nagala knew why Augustus asked that. "You'll have a few hours to have a stroll around your old ship, no worries." The 3 men all looked like that was it. No further questions were asked. Nagala stood up and saluted them. "God's speed, gentlemen."
Returning the salute, they began leaving Nagala's office. Once gone and the doors closed again, Nagala turned to the remaining people. "That was the easy part." He activated the table controls and turned the screen behind him on. "You all remember the young priestess that held the boring part of the briefing not so long ago?" Yes, they all remembered the shy and scared girl. "Well..." A live feed from the infirmary appeared. Livia was lying on a bed with more tubes stuck into her body that they could count. "We had a serious security breach while I was on Kobol and Galatos departed for Caprica. And these two corpses tried to assassinate her." The image changed to the morgue where two corpses were being examined. Their heads were partially blown off with brain matter oozing to the table.
"Who are they?" Was the question most had.
Nagala nodded to admiral Bouras who took over. "Two no name construction workers. Or so we thought." A video of a security feed was shown. "They arrived with the morning repair crew shift. I had every person's background checked. Nothing. Whoever they were working for, they were apparently never used for anything. Or... since their target is still alive, they were novices."
"Meaning whoever ordered the hit on the girl has influence and resources." Sanders concluded. "And then they killed them as well."
"Yes... how were they killed?" Cain asked. "Did they blow their heads off?"
Bouras continued. A new recording was shown. In the corridor that led to the guest quarters level. The same 2 men appeared. But now in uniform, including the wireless earpieces most security personnel used. "Frakers had credible security clearance to get passed the checkpoints. We now know they were fake, but gods damn..." He calmed himself. This was a stain on his record and honor. "I think the earpieces had a micro-explosive in them. A meter away they are harmless, but at point blank range next to your head..."
"Boom... and if you're lucky and survive, you're a vegetable for the rest of your life." Sanders concluded. "If not... a slab of meat on a table."
"Why kill them?" Lennox pondered. "I never understood that with assassins."
"First rule of assassinations, kill the assassin." Sanders shed light on the issue. "Dead men can't be interrogated."
Bouras continued. "Yes. The theory is they entered her quarters and did the deed. They must have thought she was dead and wirelessly contacted whoever gave them the equipment. Then... their usefulness was at an end."
"Any idea who the mystery person is?" Admiral Rosi asked. "If we have a security breach, R&D is the most important area right now."
Nagala responded. "It is, that's why Baltar is here. But first things first." The screen now showed a recording of a raptor landing. "This happened a few hours ago. 'Quorum member Zarek' ... arrived unannounced to do an 'inspection'." This really left a bad taste in Nagala's mouth, having to address that man like that. "As you can see, he came with 2 other people. But when he left around an hour ago with Galatos for the ceremony, only one of the 2 men was with him."
Once again Bouras took over. "We did an ID check. Whoever he is, he's like a ghost. But we do know this..." The screen showed a recording of the 2 would-be assassins entering a restroom. Not long after that man also entered. About a minute later he also left before them. "Notice something? He's briefcase is missing. He left it there."
"So... he got the uniforms and equipment onto the station. Including the earpieces. Diplomatic core and their damn immunity!" Sanders seethed. He too was insulted by this lack of professionalism by the security staff. "Where's he now?"
"Again, nowhere to be found." Bouras conceded defeat to the mystery man. "He's probably long gone. And he used that incident as cover on top of all things." He eyed Baltar who nodded.
"Yes. Apparently this assassination was not the only thing they were after." Baltar began. "Our mainframe was hacked."
Nagala already knew it, but everyone else was disturbed even more now. Baltar on the other hand... wasn't. "Indeed they got... something. But far less than what they could have gotten if I hadn't become paranoid after my CNP was used against us."
"Care to elaborate, doctor?" Sanders asked what he meant with that.
"Anything related to the alien tech and the ring is now restricted to the R&D section of HQ. I had all the communication pathways from and to that location cut. You need now a physical presence in the R&D section and download a copy to a data storage unit to get it out. No wireless or cable connection can do that now. That's the good news. The bad news. In order to plan the battlestar upgrades, we needed more processing power. So outside the main R&D section consoles can still be hacked. I gave access to the team currently working on digitally designing the battlestar upgrades that I had made and they were utilizing those stations. The alien part is not yet being actively done that way. So... whoever they are, they have the knowledge on how prometheon can be refined into armor, superconductivity and my plans for the fleet. Nothing beyond that."
Sanders gave a sigh of relief. "Frak. I... good work, Baltar." Yes, Sanders just complimented Baltar. Even Nagala had to double check he heard right. Sanders, after calming down, continued with his train of thought. "Sir I think it's rather obvious who's behind this. At least when it comes to the assassination attempt. It's Spiros' club of religious zealots. They may be in the underground now but that doesn't mean that they are gone. And if I remember correctly that old bastard has a brother somewhere."
Nagala had to agree with that statement. Religious people like that don't forget or forgive. "Based on that I think we can also agree that the high mother was murdered by the same people for the same reason." It made sense to everyone in the room.
Baltar however saw an issue there. "Excuse me but I clearly do not see those religious people having any professional assassins on their payroll. Clearly someone else has to be involved in this."
Everyone else had the same question on their mind, except for Nagala, Sanders and Bouras. Bouras spoke first. "Them?"
Sanders nodded in confirmation. "Them."
Cain asked what they meant with 'Them'.
"The Ha'la'tha." Sanders elaborated. "They were already a thorn in our side during the first war. They had a great influence in all the labor organizations and syndicates during the construction of Picon HQ, as well as during the construction of most Colonial ships. There must have been some workers that were part of that group. Why do you think that besides time pressure so many ships were built with substandard materials and so many corners were cut? Because they put part of the money that should have been put into construction into their own pockets. We also knew years ago that they built in back doors into our own computer systems here in HQ so they could hack our R&D and steal anything that they could use for their own benefits and sell it on the black market. Now they're never went so far to actively sabotage our military. They knew if they do that they would aid the enemy and if we lose the war they lose the war and if we lose the war we are dead and no money in the colonies would be useful to them if they are dead. We thought we got all the leaks sealed but I guess there was another back door somewhere and whoever that guy was that survived and got away, he use that back door to steal your research."
Nagala agreed with that assessment. "I can only guess why they stole this information. They must have been interested in why we bought all the deposits in the colonies that contain prometheon. Now they'll going to try to get their hands on whatever we didn't buy so that they can, once it becomes common knowledge how useful this stuff is, profit off of it. Money is after all the only thing these people are interested in. Well that and power."
Bouras added. "We can also bet that Spiros brother must have hired these people to do the assassination. I never thought that the religious nut jobs and the crime syndicates would be working together on this."
Lennox added to the conversation. "We can bet they will only cooperate until they see it as useful. Sooner or later one of the two sides is going to backstab the other, the only question is who's going to be first."
Nagala formulated a plan. "Sanders, as of this moment you are on the case. I don't care what you have to do but get these bastards out of the shadows and into our prison cells. You can still have Kiva and interrogate her but this is your new priority. I will distribute every other duty you currently have to other people. I believe admiral Bouras has the staff necessary to be able to handle all your current assignments." He turns to the Admiral in question. "I also want you to double security detail here in HQ as well as in every other critical facility that is now involved in the alien research. That includes the ring security as well as the security of our researchers like Baltar here. I don't want these people to walk around and think that they are better than us. The Cylons already did that."
Everyone agreed with the statement and understood the admirals reasoning, so they continued. "Now I think it's time to brief you all and what's happened out there on that planet where we got our newest assets so to speak."
Galactica, training room, same time
Grunts and the sound of hitting could be heard from the training room. Bill had retired for the day and let Saul handle the CIC. He needed to blow off some steam. Currently he was taking his frustration out on a punching bag. He himself was wearing the standard issue boxing gloves as he began punishing the inanimate object in front of him. He was alone. Everyone else was either sleeping, as it was night on the ship, or was working the night shift of the crews in charge of the upgrade.
Bill was furious. For some strange reason, his son was... more acceptable than he usually was. For a while he brushed it off. He thought it was the shock of losing his mother and the war. But now he knew why. Kara, while good at many things, had shitty timing. Apparently she told Lee the 'truth' why Zak died. All these years Lee thought that his father was responsible for Zak not failing his flight test. Lee knew Zak didn't have the skills and disposition needed for a pilot. But he still passed. Somehow. For years Lee blamed him, his own father. But... now they knew. Kara, Zak's instructor, let him pass. Because she loved him. She let her emotions cloud her judgment. She too knew Zak was a bad pilot and should have washed out. Her mistake cost Zak his life. She told Lee days ago. Before they found the alien ship. He grilled her about leaving her nuggets in a training operation, even if she did stumble on the alien base that way. Lee said that she was never that incompetent with Zak. Boy was he wrong. She spilled the beans. Told him what really happened. That she was too afraid to tell anyone. Lee was... angry. Shocked. Felt betrayed. But... he did understand her in a way. After all, he made a terrible mistake once as well. He loved a woman, but left her for the military life. And apparently she was with his child.
After the bombs fell, he tried to search for her, when he had the time for it. He found nothing. If she was still alive, he could not search for her any longer. His military duties came first. Based on that, he was willing to forgive Kara. After all. To err is human. But he didn't tell his father. He told Kara in not so many words: "Grow a spine and tell him yourself. If he sees you like a daughter, he'll forgive you. How long that will take is another matter."
So now there was wireless silence between them. She told him after the Cylon diplomacy mission.
He hit the sack again. But now he was not alone anymore. "Sir."
It was Starbuck. In training gear herself. "Captain." He didn't turn to face her. It was an official response.
She put her gloves on as well. "Want to train with someone who can hit back?" Again, he didn't really response. "You know, sir. You want to take your rage out on me, do it. Here I am." She finished to put her gloves on and put her mouthpiece in. She indicated she was ready.
Bill stopped. He was already sweating from the exercise. "You won't go away until I do, captain?"
"You do know me well, sir."
"I thought I did." He took his own mouth protection and turned to face her. "I guess I had enough of a warm up."
They both hit each other's gloves to indicate they were ready. "Just don't go easy on me cause I'm a woman."
"And you not go easy because I'm old or your CO. Or I'll let Saul have his way."
Kara's response was a fast jab to his face, startling him. "Wouldn't dream of it, sir."
Bill knew that attitude all too well. It was on now. Bill knew, she had youth, so a match of durability was out of the question. So, if she wanted to play, he'll play. His response was fast counter, which she blocked, only to get a fast hook to her right cheek, flooring her. "What's the matter? The great Starbuck quitting already?" He knew that mocking her and making her angry would also make her sloppy.
Kara was fast on her feet again. This was just the beginning.
Unknown location, uncharted nebula, 10 minutes later
A heavy raider blinked into existence and passed several basestars and they opened the defensive perimeter around the massive ship they were guarding. Inside, several Cavils were waiting to finally land. With them was a restrained Ellen.
As the raider finally landed and the landing doors opened, the centurion inside grabbed her by the arm and began pushing her out. "Welcome home, mother." The lead Cavil mocked her. "I do believe you remember this place. We made some much needed upgrades while you were away."
"Made it more ugly." Was her response.
"Enough idle chat." Another Cavil responded. "Get her to the brig. There she'll have plenty of time to think about where her loyalties lie."
As she was dragged away, the cavils walked from the hangar, their target was the CIC. "You heard?" The third cavil asked.
"Of what?" The lead one responded.
"The meat bags know about the beacons."
"Yes, a disturbing development." The 2nd one responded. "I called off the harassment campaign and recalled every military ship to the fallback position."
"Good. They didn't learn it from me or the others during our interrogation. Which leaves us with the most likely reason." The lead Cavil began raising his voice with displeasure. "The models that survived our ambush must have sold us out."
Nagala's office, 5 minutes later
They ended the part where the recordings of the operation that got them three Ha'tak's from a pirate group. None of the officers in the room had any sympathy for pirates, no matter where they came from. "And the CO of this group?" Cain asked Nagala.
"Kiva. Apparently she's an even bigger..." Nagala bit his tongue. He almost went there.
"Bitch. You can say it. I know what many junior officers think of me. A reputation I established with intent."
Nagala knew that while she liked the fact she was considered a real no BS officer, it did bother her that that word circled around her. "Anyway, Sanders will try to break her."
"Oh, I will, sir. Still owe her for my men she murdered."
"Cool it. We need answers and coordinates. And she is a human, so the law of what we can and can't do to her does apply."
Sanders leaned back into his seat. He hated that his hands were more tied down than before. "Yes... Sir." He reluctantly responded.
"So..." Nagala handed out files to the admirals currently present. " Bouras, as we discussed. Also, we need to find any and all remaining Cylon models in our colonies. The next highest priority." Bouras nodded at the given assignment.
"Lychus, you as well. Once Augustus Cain returns, use him. We could use some good PR right now, since we CAN'T tell them the classified stuff." She also understood what was needed to be done. "Sophos, work with Lychus to coordinate the recruitment planning."
"Sir... I may have an idea that would benefit both mine and Lychus department." Nagala was all ears. "Samuel Anders, he left the sports to be part of the military. He was spared the recent bombing attack, but we could also use him for the PR and recruitment needs."
Nagala turned to Lychus, who confirmed that she liked the idea. "Make it happen then. Next. Rhode, get the battlestars scheduled for the refit to the dry-dock and strip them of their armor. If the yardmaster and dock managers give you trouble, stretch your muscle. We need them ready once the prometheon gets done. Also... get the old Tartarus facility back up and running." That got Nagala confused looks. The Tartarus facility was an off the books penal colony of the Colonial military. It was placed on the largest moon of the gas giant Ragnar. Intended for the military only, it was used during the first war for deserters. As well as smugglers, pirates and gang members in extreme cases. Anyone who was too dangerous to be put in the general prison population. It was shut down decades ago, once the Quorum found out about it, but now it would be handy again. It was basically a no way out prison. The main installation was a dome build into a crater of the moon, big enough to house several thousand prisoners. And the facility was self contained. No guards. No cages. No cells. But also no space suits. No way of leaving without one. There were only 3 specifically designed hatches. One was a airlock meant for the outside, which would be suicide without a suit. The second one was build into an elevator that only activated once a raptor with fresh prisoners landed on the outside hangar. The new prisoners then had to move from the raptor to the lift. If they didn't, the raptor pilots, who wore space suits, could threatened them to open the hangar to space. So, either move and live, or stay and die. Plus this was a custom made raptor. The pilot area was sealed off from the rear and the pilots entered through the front window which could then seal itself off. The rear on the other hand could be vented during transit. Again, if the prisoners would not cooperate.
The last hatch was two reinforced doors, one after the other. They led to the infirmary. Usually there were some prisoners with medical skills, so the prisoners could handle themselves. On the off chance that was not the case, a raptor could land in the same hangar where new prisoners were delivered and bring a doctor to the place. The doctor and escorts would access the medical area through a special access corridor the prisoners had no way of getting to. They would get to the medical facility from the other side, then control access through the two doors leading to the medical facility. Only one prisoner at a time could go in or out. In any case, no prisoner could take anything from the infirmary. The doors would not open if any contraband was with them. And the prisoner inside could wait forever. But that usage was rare.
The facility was powered by a fission reactor in a control facility several kilometers away. Again, no way for the prisoners to get there without a space suit. The facility also provided oxygen, heat and water for the prisoners as well recycle their fifth. It was all done through a connection line running underground. And the connection line was so small, no prisoner could fit into the sewage system, even if they tried. The control facility was manned by five engineers and ten security personnel during the old times. They would monitor the situations and see to regular deliveries of food to the prisoners, which would be dropped the same way as fresh prisoners. If, after the lift dropped to the lower levels, some inmates had the 'brilliant' idea to try to hitch a ride to the hangar, they could wait till they were blue. The lift would detect the extra weight and not move. Until they did, they could starve to death for all the solders outside could care for. As for clothing, they were given fresh clothes, each prisoner two complete pieces and they had to get along with that for two weeks. Then they would get fresh ones delivered with their food while they dumped the old ones through a small hatch leading to a connection line a delivery ship would attach to get the dirty laundry to a military outpost. Again, exposed to vacuum. The Colonials used the simple way of ensuring that ANY escape attempt meant death with this prison. And manning it required minimum personnel. Also, it was designed to be as hard to spot as possible. No wireless emissions. Only if you knew where it was could you navigate directly to it. Any non scheduled arrivals were met with a defensive formation of automated turrets. Only specific passwords would get you the clear. The Colonials took no risks with this place.
On top of all that, even if it was never used during the prisons operational time, the entire place can be gassed with an air born KO substance.
"You want to send the Lucian prisoners there?" Admiral Rhode asked Nagala. "Sir... that place hasn't had any personnel on it for years. Who knows what shape it's in."
"Then you best put that on the top of your to do list. That place needs to be refurbished and updated with our latest tech. Security also has to be better."
"Why, no one ever escaped from there..."
"So let's keep it that way. These people came from outside the colonies, they may have knowledge that could help them to escape that place. Contact the original designers or the military office who had them designed. In any way, just make it happen! Any of the Lucians who didn't cooperate, after we interrogate them and get the professional opinions of the interrogators and psychologist, will go there, if our people don't see any other choice. Only Kiva stays here. We need to know what's in her head."
"You mean besides a bag of crazy cats?" Lennox smirked.
"Yes, besides that. Now, Lennox, thanks' for volunteering to be next. Your next assignment, since the main Cylon force disappeared after we used their beacons against them, will be to go into the same direction the expedition fleet went to. You will map out that space close to us and secure any fuel deposits of any kind. Places suitable for bases or mining operations. We can't venture into Cylon space until Cain is ready, but we can secure our back. Use Adama's info. Rosi?"
"Sir?"
"Our new 'guests', especially the ones cooperating, are our new top priority. Use them in the most efficient way to get the most information, knowledge and experience out of them." Nagala the eyed Baltar. "As for you, doctor. You will be in charge of overseeing any operation that will involve the information we can gather from these people. That said, I don't think there is a single person in this room that doesn't know about your great preference and desire for female companionship." Yes indeed everyone in the room you that Baltar had specific interest in the opposite gender, more than usual male at least. "So what I'm going to ask you now is that you remain professional with these prisoners. They are prisoners for the moment, but that might change, especially if they continue to cooperate. The reason why I'm addressing you and no one else in this room with this issue is because the head scientist, or engineer however you want to call her, is with the exception of hair color, exactly your type. However, unlike the typical women that you associated with, her life wasn't exactly good and kind. According to my new friend Varro, the commander of this small group of pirates is particularly nasty. That included regular threats of torture or rape. And while I assured her nothing of the sort will happen in the colonies, I would like to avoid any sexual harassment complaints against you." Baltar was a bit embarrassed at that blunt statement. He himself would agree it was warranted, but still... no tact.
"Understood, admiral."
Satisfied with the response and making Baltar understand to NOT play around, he turned to the last two people he hasn't addressed yet. "Cain. Until your ship is ready, you have two choices. Either remain in Helios Gama and do the administrative duties, or... take a vacation. In all honesty, your father is more useful to me at the moment until your ship is up and running again."
Cain began biting her lip. "I'll take the vacation then, sir." Administrative duties. She detested them, even more than off time.
"Fine. General Atkins. For the moment, you can't take your entire division to Kobol, we simply don't have the space for everyone there. So pick only the best."
"I read the report. Wouldn't want my men to be exposed to that radiation either, if we made a camp outside. But what about the main continent. That 'city of the gods' site could be secured."
"Until we have a fleet presence, it's out of the question. We don't know where Cavil's fleet is and when their ETA for Kobol is. I won't risk your men. In 6 days, that will be another matter." Nagala stood up and began unbuttoning his uniform. He really wanted to get out of it. He doesn't even remember when he was out of it in the past few days."So if that's all..."
"One more thing, admiral." It was Baltar. He held a research file in his hand.
Nagala stopped with what he was doing. "Yes, doctor?"
Without saying anything, he handed him the report he brought with himself. Nagala opened it and began reading it. "Interesting. You sure?"
"Only with the simulation programs. Can't be sure till we build and test it."
"Hm... And the alien data didn't help?"
"Sir, there is no jump drive in the alien database mentioned. They couldn't known how replacing titanium and all the other elements we use to build and fuel our jump drives with prometheon in all its forms would improve its performance. And I can say for the moment using liquid fuel prometheon is not something I can even simulate. Those are the simulation results of a pure prometheon built jump drives with our current fuel."
Nagala closed the folder. "Decrease jump charge time to 27 minutes and increase jump range to just above two Ly? Not bad at all, doctor."
Baltar did feel proud of this. "And that's not even counting the info we got on the Cylon variation. That would improve it further. Then if we can start making prometheon fuel and test it..."
"I get it." Nagala handed him the folder back. "Tell dr. Amulius that this was good work. Now if all of you don't mind." He ushered them to leave since the meeting now, finally, was over.
"Not you, Sanders."
As they were left alone and Nagala took his uniform off, they began their eye to eye talk. "You take the rest of the day off. For tomorrow, you'll have your hands full."
"I got that much, Jason." He looked uncomfortable, but needed to know. "Will she live?"
Nagala hated this question too. "Doctors couldn't say. The two assassins hit her seven times, punctured her left lung wing two times, her left kidney had to be removed, her liver was bleeding heavily... they also nicked her main aorta, but fortunately they missed the really vital organ. She did loose so much blood that they don't know if there will be permanent brain damage, even if she wakes up." He was now standing next to the mirror in his office, inspecting his appearance. He really looked tired. "Her best chance for survival right now is the same one the president has." He saw in the mirror that Sanders understood what that meant. "Anything else bothering you?"
"Yes, actually. You never mentioned what we will do about Zarek? He was obviously the one who got that assassin here..."
"And now you are asking yourself why I don't bring down the hammer on him?" Nagala had just splashed his face with water and was drying himself.
"Well... yes."
"Sanders. You may be good at what you do, but stay out of politics or the judicial system." Sanders looked a bit lost at that. "If we go storming to the Quorum and try to arrest Zarek with the meager evidence we have, any half decent private defender will tear our case apart."
"Sir, this is about Colonial security, we can override any judicial BS..."
"For every Tom and Jane in the Colonies, but NOT the Quorum, the presidential office or the religious orders, they are exempt from that. So... unless you find anything more than just a man on a video who Zarek can claim he didn't know was really an assassin, we don't go there any further. The ONLY alternative would be martial law and I will be damned to go down in history as the military leader who trampled on colonial freedom during a war when it was completely unnecessary."
Nagala finished refreshing himself and returned behind his main desk.
"So that's it? We just let that slimy SOB go?"
"I never said that. But we can't rush this. I can only guess Zarek is now being used by Spyros' religious group or the Ha'la'tha. Or both."
Sanders was getting the picture Nagala was painting. "So the question remains now, who busted him out the legal way?"
"Exactly. We will keep an eye on him. I doubt they are done with him, so neither are we." Nagala stopped and took a deep breath.
"The stress is getting to you, Jason."
"You think?" He poured himself a drink. "You know what really worries me?" Sanders' facial expression told him everything. "The ring. Prometheon. Alien tech... it will all culminate as it always did in the colonies." His tone changed to that of a defeated person. "And then history will repeat itself. A blood soaked gold rush, that's what it's going to be. Who can get what first. Claim first. Economic, military or religious, take your pick. And gods know how many toes we'll step on out there doing that. And... if we start to act as we are the human civilization to end all human civilizations... the other humans out there will not like that. We'll get isolated and as stubborn as we always were, things will escalate. I do not fear the Cylons anymore. Nor do I really fear these Goa'uld. I fear..." He paused for a moment. "I fear us. Human nature. We already made ourselves an enemy of a pseudo human civilization out there today. I fear how Earth and its allies might react to us once we make contact. If we come across as arrogant. I fear a war between humans. Us and them. And so far... Earth has a better track record of beating the odds than we do." Sanders was, for the first time in a long time, left speeches. Nagala gathered his thoughts. "Now, go get some rest. I still have one thing to do. Hopefully Galatos will be back soon to relieve me again."
Galactica, training room, same time
Helo wandered through the hallway. He had a towel wrapped around his neck and was in his training gear. He thought he might get some exercise in, now that the training room was not used. It usually wasn't at this time. And most of the crew was really busy with the retrofit.
When he arrived and opened the door to enter, he was greeted with a train wreck of a room. Weights knocked off, lockers on their sides and most other equipment was just lying on the floor. He turned around the corner where the sparring corner was and heard heavy panting. He did not expect these two here.
"Admiral? Kara?" He kneeled down to Kara, who was sitting on the floor, her kneed pulled to her chest. He pulled her head to face him. "Frak." She had a blue eye and several other bruises he could see.
"Hey, Karl. Got any booze?"
Yep, she was alright. "Frak." He turned to the old man who was sitting on a chair about 2 meters away at the ring perimeter. He had a bloody lip and also smaller burses all around. "Sir? You all right?"
Adama just undid one of his gloves and then took his mouth protector out. "In a way, captain. Help me up." Helo grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up to a standing position. "Was hell of a workout." Bill tried to be both ironic and funny. Karl didn't find it funny. Kara however did.
"Yeah. Better than I thought." Helo helped her up as well. She began undoing her gloves as well. "So, sir... where do we stand now?"
Bill went to a standing locker and put his gloves and mouth protector back in. "I think we resolved more today than a high paid shrink on Caprica could accomplish in a year." They both began laughing louder.
"And it's cheaper!" She retorted, holding her sides.
The laughter died down. They got a bit more serious now. "Kara... in a way you'll always be the daughter I never had. I... understand why you did what you did. I truly do. But what disappointed me more than anything was the fact that you didn't think I was worthy of being told the truth."
"Sir... I..." She got no further as he hugged her.
"Yeah. I know."
"I thought... I was scared..."
"Hmmm, the great Starbuck scared? That's a first."
She whipped the few tears that her eyes managed to drop. "Yeah, well. Don't get used to it, sir."
They let go of each other again. "Now if the both of you will excuse me, I have a date with Cottle." He began moving towards the exit. "I think you bruised a rib."
Once he left, Helo remained with a fish out of water look. "Kara? What did you do?"
"What? Why does everyone assume when something bad happens that it's automatically my fault!?"
"Cause it usually IS? What made the old man so pissed you two had to wreck my favourite place on the ship?"
She huffed. "Help me get this place cleaned up. I'll tell you during that."
"Really? You should see the doc as well. I don't like that eye of yours."
She pushed a locker back to the vertical position. "Can wait. I had far worse in the many bar brawls in my youth." She began pulling the 2dn locker up as Karl joined her. "But I tell you, old man or not, he packs a punch."
Picon fleet HQ, prisoner complex, minutes later
The Lucians were separated into the 2 groups as Nagala wanted. The 'cooperating' group and then 'frak them' group. The cooperating group was in a what would classify as a minimum security part of the complex. They could wander around, had access to the Colonial entertainment, medical care, clothing and food. And... the tech people managed to modify a earpiece usually used in combination with the holo-bands to be a semi translation device. Both sides needed to use them for the process to work. And for now they could only work on Picon with the wireless uplink. The main entrance to the recreation and leisure room opened as several Colonial guards entered. They were all carrying... boxes? Varro was the first to react, as the others named him their 'leader'. They all knew they were taking a risk with this, but a better life was worth it. Varro approached them as they began putting the boxes on the unused table when Sanders arrived from where the guards just came and were returning to. He took the earpiece in his hand and pointed to it, telling Varro to use his as well. "So, we can finally talk without a linguist being between us or us needing our hands to talk?"
"Em.. yes. It's strange, but nice. Sanders, is it?"
"Mhm."
"What will happen to us now?"
"Today you rest. Tomorrow you tell us everything. And then we'll see."
"What about the others?" Ginn and many others in the room put their earpieces on as well to listen in.
"They won't be in a nice place. But first our 'experts will evaluate them. As for your commander..." He could see Ginn flinch at that. "She's in for a world of hurt. I get to beat out of her whatever was on that crystal."
"You should know that her father is a real monster. Even if you managed to make the escape without any traces, he won't stop until he finds you. And he is not the forgiving type."
Sanders understood the fear he was seeing. "You let me worry about that. Anyway. While you and me aren't friends, I do hope this is a start at least." He opened a box and pulled out glasses. "Something from me for you guys." He then took several bottles out and opened one. "Caprica Spirits. Best ambrosia on the planet if you ask me." He poured himself a glass and another for Varro. He handed it to him. "To the start of a friendship... and a better life." He downed the entire content. Varro hesitated, taking a sniff first. But after the first taste, he did the same as Sanders. Sanders peaked behind Varo to the other Lucians. "Don't worry. I don't bite. And I brought enough for everyone. Ambrosia, beer, even some vine. On me."
They also hesitated for a short time, but Varro told them it was good. A few minutes later they all began relaxing a bit as the chatter began.
"You know. You asked me about my family. What about yours?" Varro decided to turn the table on sanders now.
"Not much to tell. Father was in the navy so I almost never got to see him. Mother was... not the nicest person on the planet, to sum it up. Didn't have much of an extended family. My neighborhood was my family more or less, with all the trouble that came with it. I would have ended up in jail myself if Nagala hadn't been there for me. I owe him more than you could imagine."
"It's nice to have real friends, isn't it?" Varro sounded almost jealous.
"Yes it is." They filled their glasses again. "Yes it is indeed."
For the first time in a long time, Varro felt... optimistic about what may come.
Caprica, industrial sector, outskirts of Illuminus city, same time
In a rundown part of the industrial sector, a well dressed man walked into an alley. no one would suspect a man like that would go town a gutter like that.
He reached a side tool leading to what appeared like an abandoned warehouse. He slammed on the iron door once. "Password?"
"Blood for blood and money is gold. Now open up before I spill yours!"
The door opened. 4 guards, heavily armed were at the entrance. "He's waiting for you."
The guest went passed them. They shut the door behind him and followed. He arrived in the middle of the mostly empty warehouse.
There was an artificial light source illuminating the table there. As well as a man having dinner. "Your late."
"Well some of us don't have the luxury of stuffing our face. We have to work for a living."
The man put the fork down and took his red wine filled glass. "If you weren't who you are, you'd be dead for that remark." He took a sip, then put his toothpick back into his mouth.
"Really. You do know that doesn't make you anymore intimidating or cool. It's just disgusting and unhygienic, Phelan."
"And being a smartass is not a good look for a master assassin and hacker. You got the goods?" The man put his hand into his jacked. The guards got nervous. "Easy boys. Were all friends here." Phelan calmed them down.
The man pulled a small data drive out of his jacket and threw it to Phelan. "There. What the families wanted."
"Yes... but that girl is still alive." He inspected the drive.
"Not my problem. My mission was done as planned. I can't help it if you send 2 fresh out of Ha'la'tha's training academy for dimwits to do a man's job."
Phelan put the drive into his pocket. "The families won't see it that way."
His guards became itchy again, gripping their still holstered weapons. "If you wanted to kill me, you should have brought more men with you. And more brains. The four at the door, the two with you, four on the roof... I can take half of them out before you even twitch."
"And the other half?"
He pulled his jacked to the side. A small device was blinking, attached to his chest. "Dead-man's sensor."
Phelan looked him over. "No way you carry any suicide explosives on you, my guys would have noticed it."
"Oh, I'm sure they would, like the two morons who 'killed' that priestess. I'm all about planning. I knew in advance where this meeting would take place. So I 'prepped' it." He tapped the device. Several smaller red dots began blinking in the corners of the warehouse, easy to spot now, since it was mostly dark. "So..."
Phelan didn't look worried, but his increased sweating betrayed him. "The rumors about you are true, 'Ajax'. Although having a code name like the Leonis drink brand is a bit stupid."
"Everyone's a critic. Now, do we continue this standoff and the puddles at the feet of your men keep growing or do we do business?"
"We do business. No matter if they failed..." He motioned his men to stand down. "That girl will probably never walk again. Or regain consciousness. Those two men were my failure, I'll take the heat for it."
"I do need to know. Why did you not send me for that mission and someone else for the info theft?"
"I would, if I had anyone as good as you with code breaking. All our guys died when the toasters hit Picon HQ. It took us years to implant them. All that work, just gone. And as good as you are, you can't be in two places at once."
Ajax calmed down as well and turned the bombs off. "So, now what?"
Phelan snapped his fingers and the guard on his left went to the table next to him and put a briefcase on it. Opening it, he turned the content to Ajax. "If I can count... a million cubits?"
"Yes. An advanced payment."
Ajax closed the briefcase and took it. "The target?"
"No target yet. But when the time comes, Spiros."
"He's dead. If you want me to shoot a corpse, find someone else."
Phelan began eating again, taking a big bite out of the stake on his plate. "It is not common knowledge, but he has a brother. Who do you think hired us to take care of that girl. Who's cubits paid for you?"
Ajax's brain began realizing what this was about. "Those traitors to the religious order?"
"Yes, them."
"Then it's a good thing you didn't hire me to kill the target. Not that I would have done it anyway."
"Why?"
"I take the marks you give me cause you are, technically, not a traitor to our colonies. That man is. I don't do targets requested by traitors."
Phelan stopped eating. "An assassin with a moral code? Stupidest thing I ever heard of."
"Oh, I have four rules I live by in my line of work. It's what keeps me sane. The first rule you already know."
"The other three?"
"No killing children. No killing servants of the gods..."
"Ah, that explains why you wouldn't have killed her. But Spiros is one as well. You won't kill him?"
"He's a traitor, so he falls under rule four. I do traitors for free." He dropped that suitcase to the floor. "You can keep your cubits for this."
He began walking to the entrance, not even bothering to acknowledge the guards or Phelan any longer.
As he left and Phelan began chewing again, he restrained a laugh. "A pro bono hitman? Now that IS funny."
His main guars finally found his voice. "Boss, you just letting him go?"
"Do I look like I have a death wish? Now get those explosives that you idiots missed, out of here!"
"Boss, they looked like part of a security system..."
"Why do you think I have you here for! You are the security system!" They went to work, knowing not to say anything more. "Too bad I don't pay them by the brain cell. They'd be really cheap then."
Pegasus galaxy, Atlantis, 10 minutes later
Rodney, Narim and several scientists from both Tollana and Earth were working in a small hexagonal room of clearly ancient design. There were several access corridors leading from and to the room that were also in use. Everyone was doing something, usually trying to replace something, fix something or link it to a diagnostic tool. They were also all floating. Their workspace was the main power room in one of the orbital ship-killer satellites.
Right now Rodney and Narim were at a crossroads. "I tell you it's this power regulator, it needs to be bypassed!"
"And I tell you, dr. McKay, we can't do that. Bypass that and when you power it up it will blow every power line on this satellite!" Narim protested.
"Hey! I have more experience with Ancient tech than any Tollan! I say the lines will hold!"
"And my calculations clearly show they won't!" He hands him his PDA with his work on it. Rodney in a dismissive way takes it and begins crunching the numbers himself. "You see, here you did... Oh no, never mind. But here... damn. OK, that's fine as well." He went over it five more times until he admitted defeat. "Fine. So if we can't bypass it, what do we do? That's the main one. And we don't have spares, since the other satellites will need theirs."
"The solution is rather simple, doctor." Narim retorted sarcastically himself, trying to make Rodney feel like a student being lectured by the professor. "See these?" He points to the satellites internal plan.
"Yes? Your pointing at the sub-light engines on this thing?"
"Usually reserved to alter orbits, yes."
"So what? They're destroyed, that's why we had to tow the damn thing into orbit with our 304's!"
"Yes..." Narim can't believe that for as smart for an Earther McKay way... and condescending from time to time, he didn't see it. "The core power distribution system for the engines is still intact. So if the engines are useless... we can plunder the needed components from there. Including the power regulator."
"They are not identical! Not meant for the same system! The one you propose we use will burn out!"
"No it won't! It was designed to use a ZPM, just like the weapons system! And unless you have a better idea, I say we risk it!"
Grumbling that he was outdone, Rodney tapped his comm link. "Radek, is the control uplink from Atlantis and this satellite up and running?"
"Yes, Rodney. Like I said 2 hours ago. It will be done in ONE. And it is."
"Good work, dr. Zelenka. We need you to..." Narim was cut off by Rodney.
"Yeah, yeah. We don't encourage him. Radek, program the power distribution system to accept the regulator from the engines once we install it in the main firing chamber..."
"Rodney. It's already there. Narim's people had it moved while you two were arguing. I can power the satellite up from here now if you wish."
Rodney looked both shocked and pissed. "You two conspired behind my back!"
"I told Narim you would not listen! So I told him to go ahead. He showed me the numbers, they are perfect!"
"Well, I wouldn't call them perfect..."
"Rodney, forget about your ego here for... God. Sorry, Narim."
"No problem, dr. Zelenka, it's nice to work with at least one professional. Please proceed with the power up sequence." He turned to Rodney. "Dr. McKay. For a human from Earth, you may be a genius by your planet's modest standards, but I have to say you make Omoc look like a people person! I already regret not taking Sam's advice!"
The satellite began coming back to life. The targeting monitor was activated as Narim wet to that station. Rodney was still in a bit of a shock at this backlash. "If you want to be useful, dr. McKay, go to the shields and test them."
This time, he didn't argue and did as asked. "Fine, dr. Grodin, keep an eye on the ZPM output."
"Will do." They had already installed one of the few ZPM's they had on hand. So using a surplus one right now made sense.
"So..." Rodney tapped the activation key for the defensive grid. "Shields... powering up. Point defense grid is up. Defensive sensors up."
Narim did the same for the offensive systems. "Main firing chamber charging. Targeting scanners are up and running."
"Shields at 50% and rising. Also, they seem to be the Lantean preferred type during this war. No bubble, but hull tight."
"Main firing chamber is charged. Now... Narim to Atlantis. Dr. Weir, do we have permission to test this weapon?"
"I am glad your arrival and help is bearing fruit. Proceed with the test."
Rodney pushed himself from his console and glided to the weapons station. "Shields are up to full capacity, we can turn them off after this. They work as intended."
"Good." Narim activated the manual targeting system. "This one, right?" He was aiming at a large asteroid in the local ring.
"Yeah, it will do nicely."
Narim pushed the fire button. In Ancient, the countdown began. Once it reached zero after 5 seconds, in space the satellite they were on fired it's primary weapon. On their targeting sensors, they saw how the beam cut through the target and broke it apart. "I'd call that a successful test."
Everyone in the control room cheered. Except for Rodney, who was still feeling a bit humbled. "Yeah, it worked. Now all she needs is a bit of spit and polish."
"Now let's power her down to conserve energy."
"On it."
Meanwhile back in Atlantis in the gate room a similar scenario was happening. Weir was congratulating Rakek and his team while John and Ford were just observing the asteroid... or what was left of it.
"Nice, that's one nice big stick."
"Now all we need are the others, right colonel?"
"A few of these and we can hold the bloodsuckers off, Ford. And finally someone telling McKay to shove it."
"Colonel Sheppard, please come in."
John activated his comm unit. "Yes, what is it?"
"Sir, we have a situation in the main infirmary. Our guest is awake... and he's not happy!"
John and Ford turned to the nearest corridor leading to a transporter. "By the way, what did Narim mean about colonel Carter's suggestion?" Ford asked if John knew.
"Lemons."
As they arrived outside the infirmary, a guard was tossed out the door. "Aaaaggghhh!"
Ford checked on the guard while Sheppard entered the infirmary. Yep, Chewi was up and running. And he was not a happy camper. Currently he was holing another guard in a chocking position. "Where am I!? Who are you people!?" He was also wearing what was left of his restraints on his arms and legs.
"Guess Chewie is up and angry." Sheppard put his weapon down and spread his arms, indicating he meant no harm. "Your among friend here. No need to harm anyone... or break a neck."
Yeah, didn't help. Ronon still held his hostage. "Where am I!?"
"The city of the Ancients. Atlantis."
"Ancients?"
"Or ancestors? However you call them? The gate builder?" Ronon didn't budge. "Look. You were running at our team so we put you to sleep for a while. We treated your wounds, patched your clothing up... Hell we even got that tracker out of you."
That got a reaction. Ronon put the weapon in his right hand into his left hand but still held the guard with that hand as well. Using his free hand he scratched himself on his back. Fresh scars, that's what he felt. His hand returned forward again. "Show me!"
Carson took a medical tray from the back of the room and went to him with the tray in hand. Ronon saw the cursed device. He still remembered how it looked the day the Wraith put it into him. "Now what? You want me to serve you as thanks?"
"No, nothing like that big guy. We just want to talk."
"Talk?"
"Yes, you know, 2 people getting to know each other."
"Why would I want to get to know any of you?"
"Look..." Sheppard sighed. This was really tedious. What did this guy go through? "We hate the Wraith, you hate the Wraith, everyone hates the Wraith. We could use a guy like you."
"If I and the tracker are here, they'll find you."
"They already know. A fleet is on its way. We're getting ready for them."
"You'll lose. My people fought them... and look what that got them, what that got me."
"Geez, with that attitude, no wonder you lost."
Ronon was not amused. "You want to repeat that!?" He now aimed the stolen weapon at Sheppard. The guards reacted on the spot.
"Whoa, whoa, guys. No need to get trigger happy. Look, I have a bad habit to try to defuse a situation with humor."
"You suck at it."
"Yeah, everyone's a critic these days. Anyway." Sheppard showed him the door. "You let the nice man go and I'll show you this place. This is the city of Atlantis, it withstood a siege by the Wraith for years. I think we have an actual shot at taking them. Come on, what do you have to lose? And I think by the sounds your stomach is making you could use some dinner as well."
Ronon began calming down a bit. "Where's my stuff?"
"Well, besides that fancy weapon of yours, the rest was more or less garbage. Listen you hear me out over some food. If you still want to go after that, you get your weapon back and we give you a fresh supply of things that aren't garbage. Deal?"
Ronon thought about it for a moment. Looking around the room, the odds were not in his favor. He released the solder, dropping him like a sack of potatoes. "Fine. But I'm keeping this." He put the stolen sidearm behind his belt. "Until I get mine back, you don't get yours back."
The marines and guards wanted to protest, but Sheppard agreed to his terms. "Fine. Now... follow me. And tell me what you fancy to eat?"
During all of this in the lower levels of Atlantis, Sam was busy helping the Tollan scientist with the installation of the large matter phasing generator. The device was already in its designated location and secured tightly, but the connection, both for power and processing, were still lying all around the floor.
Sam was at a wall panel testing some circuits that were directly linked to the shield grid. "Radek, how's this?"
"Better. Perhaps exchange control crystal 2B and 2D." Sam did as asked. "Much better. Only thing we need now is a jumper's stealth mode generator down there and we can test if we can both cloak and phase shift the city."
"I'm surprised the stealth mode generator was so easily accepted." Sam closed the panel back up and went to the main console that was no directly hooked up to the Tollan generator.
"Well, those systems are both of Ancient design, this thing not so much."
She kneeled to get access to an open panel on the console and checked the optical wires. "Yes. Let's hope this system will accept both of them at once. I know that cloak and shields are mutually exclusive, so the chances are rather slim we can get these non-related systems to work together at the same time." She stood back up and checked the data. "By the way, how's the satellite going?"
"Rodney is being himself, so you know how much of a help that is..."
"I mean the progress on the weapon."
"Oh, first test was successful."
"Really?"
"And it's nice to work for a man that actually appreciates your work."
"Yes. I totally agree. Did he need to use the lemon?"
"No. Only math and planning."
Lucian Alliance harvest world Morilla, same time
SG-1 was hiding in the bushes at the forest edge. Mitchell and Jolan were overlooking the large field of crops at the lower level. They were at the edge of a hill that overlooked the fields. In the distance they also saw the rather primitive village whose inhabitants were forced to work at gun point. Those holding the guns were now known to Earth and its allies as the pirate group known as Lucian alliance.
"You sure your people can handle this?" Mitchell asked Jolan as he inspected the fields with his binoculars.
"You doubt me?"
"No, but we need to deal with this before it spreads." He looked even further into the distance where the now guarded gate was. Their first part of the mission was on another planet. Information gathering. Their Sodan shadows always with them.
The info they gained there got them to this planet. A world now converted from simple peaceful farmers to forced drug manufacturers.
In the back, Anise and Orina were using both Tok'ra and Tollan equipment to analyze in the field a corn like plant. "This kassa plant is indeed nutritious..." Anise remarked. "But I doubt the Lucians are growing it for that reason."
"Agreed." Orina concurred. "It has some molecules that can be, with refining, converted into a highly addictive narcotic."
Anise switched to Freya. "Interesting. They must intend to use this as a control agent."
"How do you figure?"
"The Goa'uld did the same. With races they couldn't infest or convert. Like the Ilempiri race. Make a planet addicted and then supply them with the drug as long as they comply."
Orina had a look of disgust on her face. "That makes the Lucians no better than the System lords in my eyes."
Mitchell crawled back to them, leaving Jolan to keep guard. "So? What's the verdict?"
Both women agreed with the findings. "We need to burn it."
"Sounds like a plan to me." He crawled back to Jolan. "Your boys have a green light."
Jolan tapped his wrist device. It was after all not just a Sodan cloak. "Begin."
In the fields you could actually see the fully grown plants that were ready for harvest, begin to be pushed to the side in some places, only for seconds later to return to their original shape. Like someone was moving through them, but no one was seen moving. No one was seen there at all. "Damn that's cool." Mitchell smirked. The Lucians won't see this coming. "Then your guys will have to deal with the solders as well so that we can make your escape."
"Won't be an issue." Jolan replied calmly. These pirates didn't worry him. His warriors were planting incendiary devices in the fields. once done and they get to a safe distance, they burn them. It will be a start... and a warning.
Or so they thought. The Lucians had a single Ha'tak in orbit to help with the harvest and oversee that nothing went wrong. But even in space, Murphy's law can strike. SG-1 and their shadows arrived when there were still no Lucians solders here. The Lucian leadership thought this planet was not known to anyone outside, so no need for a military garrison.
Sneaking in was the easy part. Once the chaos begins, they'd need to get out fast. But the chaos began faster than planned and not from their part.
Plasma staff fire began coming from the sky, in a chaotic manner. nothing specifically was targeted. Like a battle in orbit was causing the planet to get into crossfire.
"OK, what the hell?" Mitchell hissed. "Jolan, stay and tell your guys to hurry up!" He crawled back to the female members of the team. "Orina, can you..."
"Way ahead of you." She was altering her scanner she brought with her and put a eyepiece to her left temporal side. Looking into the sky, she began receiving data. "The Lucian Ha'tak is getting attacked by 3 unknown Ha'tak's. It's already retreating. And..."
"And what?" Mitchell urged her to continue.
"Several Al'kesh are already descending... according to the vector, they are heading here."
"Shit." He tapped his short range comm device. "Dauntless, come in?"
A few seconds passed. "Colonel Mitchell. Captain Tyrrell here. Didn't expect you from calling. Something amiss?" The rather cheerful female voice inquired.
"You could say that. We have Goa'uld company. They are after something on the planet. Request you leave your hiding spot for a possible pick-up."
"Affirmative, colonel. We're on our way. Try to stay alive. Would look bad on my record if I let SG-1 die on my first command."
"Copy." He shut the comm device off. Thank god for Tollan tachyon communicators. "Once Jolan's people are done and we set the fields ablaze, we try to get to the gate. Any questions?"
"I have none." Orina replied in her usual emotionless manner.
"Neither do I." Anise relied as she was already packing her equipment up.
"Colonel!" It was Jolan. Something was up.
Joining him at the hill edge, Mitchell saw what bothered Jolan. 2 Al'kesh were hovering over the stargate. Mitchell took his binoculars out again. "Your people done?"
"Yes, they are clear of the fields."
"Then tell them to get back to us. Something tell me we ain't going home the way we came here."
Both Al'kesh were using their turrets to keep the Lucian solders at bay. Both also opened their cargo bay doors.
"What are they up to?" Mitchell wondered.
"I have never seen any Goa'uld tactic like this." He took Mitchells binoculars and took a closer look at the Jaffa in the Al'kesh. "Ba'al!"
"You sure?"
"I recognize all the Jaffa markings. They are Ba'al Jaffa."
The 2 scientist were now beside them. The fire from the sky ended. That meant that either the Lucian ship fled or... was destroyed.
Jolan saw now into the cargo bay of both Al'kesh. A sort of grappling hook contraption was installed there. The Jaffa on the 2 ships fired cables to both the stargate and the DHD. Several of them. They must have been magnetic, as they stuck to them like glue. Then they began lifting them from the ground as a machine on both Al'kesh did the lifting. In under a minute, both the stargate and DHD were in the cargo areas of both ships. Once that was done, the doors closed and they lifted up.
"Why would Ba'al take the stargate?" Mitchell asked no one in particular.
"A Goa'uld of his cunning has his reasons." Anise responded. Then Freya took over. "We will need to inform the Tok'ra council."
Mitchell tapped his comm device again. "Dauntless, your status?"
"Still 2 minutes out. Were using sub light only as we are still cloaked. We get there via hyperspace, we'll get detected."
"You'll need to de-cloak anyway to transport us, just do it!"
Hesitating for a few seconds, the captain agreed. "Be ready once we arrive!"
"Roger that. Jolan, do it!" The other Sodan had arrived and de-cloaked as Jolan triggered the incendiary bombs. The fields were now burning, destroying the entire crop of the Lucian warlords. The villagers were trying to put the flames out in sheer desperation, knowing what the Lucians will do. Yes, they were not to blame, but a pirate cares little for the fine print. You'll be punished anyway.
Seconds later they disappear in a flash of light.
On the Dauntless bridge, a carbon copy of any 304 by now, the team and the Sodan solders materialized and saw how the 3 Ba'al Ha'tak's were already engaging the Tau'ri ship.
"Shields holding, but we are badly outnumbered, captain." The tactical officer reported.
"Good. Helm, we're done our job, get us back home."
In space, the 304 did a 90 degree turn and disengaged the Ha'tak's, accelerating into hyperspace.
"Not a bad pick up if I do say so myself, right, Mitchell?" The captain saluted him. He returned the gesture.
"Not bad at all. We need to contact HQ. Ba'al is back."
Earth, Area 51, same time
Area 51, the world's most well known secret. For any Roswell conspiracy nut. In reality it was the place where critical parts for the 304 line were made. As well as many other components, weapons and alien technology analysis.
A place where scientist who were not good enough for the SG program were directed to or those who didn't want to be part of the SG program.
In a large assembly bay, a machine conveyor belt had assembled the outer structure of a 304 weapons turret. It was being welded together around the interior systems and cannons. Several Tollan engineers were overseeing the final touch, coordinating and evaluating the Earth personnel. Of course the critical components came from the Tollan temporary base, but now that they were moving back home, they were teaching others how to assemble the bulk of their ion cannons themselves.
One Earth scientist was currently having a talk with the Tollan chief engineer and dr. Lee. Even if the 2 scientist didn't take dr. Lee seriously. For them he was a reject of a scientist.
"So we add a power cupping here and here..."
"And add the improved power accelerator here..."
"Strengthen the ionization chamber to get a better particle flow..."
"Remove this now redundant matter ionizer..."
"And we can improve performance by 77% and get a better piercing power!" The Tollan engineer was impressed. "For a human from Earth... this is a real show of scientific genius. The next gen ion cannons will definitely have these upgrades!"
The man didn't smile much. "Yes, for such an arrogant people you are easily impressed."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I once asked for your help. Not yours, but that of your people! Imagine if you hadn't rejected me. Your world might have resisted Anubis by itself."
The Tollan woman looked at dr. Lee for an explanation. Lee was not really in a position to say, but the Pentagon made a deal with this man that anyone he wanted to inform about his identity, he could, his call.
"That's... Ma'chello."
Every Tollan in the room stopped working and eyed the man. Did they hear him right?
"Impossible." The chief engineer retorted. "Ma'chello was an old man, too old to still be alive!"
Flashback, years ago
In the SGC Hammond was having a talk on the 'red' phone.
In the briefing room, SG-1, dr. Fraiser and a representative from the Pentagon were having a discussion.
"It's immoral!" The medical doctor still raged as almost no one in the room was paying attention to her. Only Daniel also had this doubts. "We can't trade one life for another!"
"Doctor, your passion is understandable, but this man is willing to work with us, for us! To give us his life's work! This is far too important to overlook!"
"And for that you're willing to sacrifice someone to switch bodies!?"
The general returned. He wanted to be happy, but restrained himself to not upset Janet any further. "The president has green light the deal."
Janet stormed out after hearing that. "I'll go talk with her." Daniel also left.
"So... who's the person doing the deed?" O'Neill asked the obvious question.
"I'll get his files soon, but... I doubt dr. Fraiser will protest after she sees the file. A man sentenced to death by injection. No chance of parole. So he's a dead man walking anyway."
"I hate to ask..." Sam wanted to know something that was bothering her about this deal as well. "Did that man sign anything that lets us legally do this?"
The Pentagon representative took over. "No. He doesn't get to do that. He's marked for death and he will die, just not as planned. Why waste a good body."
The room went silent. "Who's telling Ma'chello?" O'Neill asked in his usual annoying way.
Flashback end. Earth, Area 51
"You Tollans always thought that you were the smartest out there. That no one could invent anything that could trump your genius. And look how far you have fallen. How far further you would have if it weren't for the charity of the same people that gave me a second chance."
The Tollans knew about the body switching technology. It was in a secure vault in Area 51. "Who's body do you use now?"
"None of your business. But I can assure you, this body has done far more good for the galaxy than the previous owner did evil."
Most of the Tollans went back to work. "It was not your genius that we didn't trust, it was your lack of morals." The chief engineer responded.
"Desperate times breed desperate measures. I do wonder what your leaders would have done if it weren't for Earth's help? Would you abandon your principles if your world was burning? It's easy being a saint in paradise, but I was a man trying to survive in a hellhole and I had to do what was necessary to do so and save my people!" He shoved his PAD into her arms. "I'm done here." He stormed out, not wanting to continue this discussion. He owed Earth, but... sometimes he did want to go to a different world. Too bad Tollana is also arrogant.
Earth however did hold its other promise. What was left of his people were evacuated to the beta site planet. A world of billions, reduced to a few hundred thousand. At least something.
Support expedition fleet, Jupiter class battlestar Pegasus, 20 minutes later
The raptor had finally landed. During the approach, Augustus admired his old ship. She was in a better shape than ever. At least from what he could remember.
As the elevator lowered itself to the main flight deck and was towed into position, a crowd of many civilians was already present, trying to get a glimpse of who had just arrived.
"Damn reporters." Commander Faustus contained his displeasure of seeing this circus in his flight pod. "Major, can you handle them, I have a ship to prep?"
"On it, sir. I've gotten used to them." He turned to Cain. "Your help would be appreciated, sir."
"Anything I can do."
As soon as they stepped off the raptor wing, microphones were almost showed into their faces. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have my duties, so I'll let major Novacek and Augustus Cain take all your questions. But you'll have to keep it brief. We depart in a few hours and you'll be have to be off my ship at that time." The commander then went to pass through the line of reporters who were all almost trampling each other to get to the older Cain.
He tried to calm them down with his charm while Novacek just watched the 'master' at work. Old war dog or not, he was really good at this. He had them eating out of his hands. He went from reporter to reporter, answering only one question each.
"Admiral, how do you feel being on your old ship again?"
"Great. Good to see the old girl in a fighting form again! And I'm flattered that you address me by my old rank, but I am retired." They all had a laugh at that remark. The man was oozing charm.
"Do you think it is a good idea to send these ships out there?"
"I do believe that Bill Adama is a great officer, but as things are developing out there, he could use a hand."
"Speaking of Adama, since we only recently got informed about the secret mission, can you elaborate anything on that?"
"No, sorry. Retired or not, I still remember military protocol. And... dementia, you know..." Yep, defusing a tricky question with humor.
"Do you think the expedition fleet will be grateful for the support?"
"I am sure of it, young man!"
"Does it bother you that you aren't leading this expedition?"
"Oh, I wouldn't say bother, I would say envy! I envy Adama for the chance to see things no Colonial had seen. Who knows what stellar phenomenon he will find. And perhaps what Cylon secrets as well!"
"So it does bother you?"
"Sir, I'm too old for a great adventure. Adventures are for young people. Young and dumb. Not old and senile..." Again, melting them away.
"Are you intending to see the ship off?"
It was a young woman. A redhead. Just his type. Now he really made his charm play. Old or not, he still had it. "Well, young lady. I do intend to have a tour of the old girl, nostalgia has a grip on me. Would you... mind to accompany me? I can give an exclusive tour." Bulldog had to pinch himself. That man... was a master indeed. On more than one field of combat.
"Oh... wow. I would be honored."
She took him by the arm and her cameraman was right behind her. The guards managed to keep some order as they were beginning to leave the flight pod. "Major, take it from here!" Cain yelled back to Bulldog, restraining his excitement. "So, Miss... darn, I don't even know your name?"
"Oh, Airla Sarris, Colonial News Network. I was sent here to report on a small story. Imagine my shock when we all saw you of all people!"
"Oh my dear..." He clasped her palm. "You make an old man smile again. But I don't see the fuss. 'Young reporter takes old man sightseeing in battlestar' doesn't sound that interesting as a story title." Even the cameraman had to laugh at that one. Cain knew how to play his 'legend' status up, by playing it down."So, where shall we start?"
In the mean time commander Faustus arrived at the brig. The guards at duty let him pass as he entered the holding area with the cells. The officer responsible for them was already there. "Were they told?" Faustus asked him. The officer shook his head. "Great. Seems HQ left me that 'honor'." The prisoners were mostly ignoring him, as if they had given up. He whistled to get their attention. "To all skin jobs. I have something to tell you that you might be interested in."
Only D'Anna bothered to respond as she came up to the bars of her cell. "And what would that be, human?"
"You're going home."
That got the attention of the others. "Care to elaborate?" D'Anna pressed on.
"Because the 'useful' prisoners bailed on us and your models cooperating with us out there, HQ in their 'wisdom' decided to return you to the other Cylons of your model. And to get you out of our hair. And I got the privilege to taxi you there, among other things."
"I was beginning to wonder why we were dragged to this old fossil of a ship."
Faustus smirked at that remark. "Remember, toaster girl. Insult me all you want, but... don't insult the old girl. Do you even know which ship you're on?"
"Ask me if I care. It's a Jupiter class or older. Big. Fraking. Deal."
"Hmm... it's the old bane of your 'fossil' predecessors. You know, the real walking appliances that you once were. Not that you are any improvement as far as I can see. You seen one digital whore, you've seen them all." No real love between these two. "Back to my point. The old Pegasus, that's where you're on. And the old commander is inspecting her as we speak. You know, the old Cain, the man you send fleets after and couldn't kill. Talk about machine efficiently. Or lack of it."
D'Anna was seething. She could trade insults with this human all day, but had no stomach for it since she was in the inferior position here. "So your taking us home? Then just get on with it and stop acting all superior."
"My orders are to get you there, but I don't have to like them. And... my XO is someone your model knows all too well. I'm sure Bulldog will 'visit' you too."
"Please, don't send me there. I... I..." It was Boomer. She was in tears and still in a bit of a denial. "I don't want to go there. The colonies are my home!"
Faustus was already halfway out the door. "Not my problem, toaster girl. I really don't give a frak about your whining."
Kobol, Colonial expedition in abandoned Goa'uld base, same time
Lee had the arrow ready to go in the hangar. Until they managed to get raptors through the ring, which could take a while since they were too big to fit through, they had to use the now 'de-pimped' Tel'tak's.
The arrow was secured away in a suitcase in the cockpit. Lee returned to commander Arkhipov. They were waiting for the new boss. But the ring did activate, but not from Picon. It was the pirate planet as Colonial solders began running through, clearly in shock and running from something.
The marines in the base took a defensive position. Arkhipov approached the officer that came thru. "What the frak is going on!? You were suppose to finish combing the place to not leave anything behind!"
"We tried sir... but that supposed Al'kesh commander Sanders suspected, well it was THERE! Just appeared hovering above the ruins and hammering us hard!" Ho pointed to the 2 solders that were being carried through, one actually missing a leg and bleeding heavily.
Arkhipov reacted on the spot. "Get the medics here! Once everyone is through, dial Picon! This thing just went fubar!"
More and more Colonials came through, until they were all through. All having signs of a shell-shocked trooper. The last 5 came through... only 2 of them were carried. Once they were done, the Colonials on Kobol got under fire.
Plasma staff shots were beginning to hit the wall behind them. Arkhipov, who was taking cover behind the DHD, slammed the red gem in the middle to shut the ring off. silence. And heavy breathing and crying for help. Lee reacted first and called for the medical teams that they can enter. Arkhipov was leaning over one of the two wounded soldiers. He lowered his head and closed his eyes with his fingers. He turned to Lee who just shook his head as he was inspecting the other solder.
Arkhipov and Lee got us, as did most of the others. "Damn! What if they left something behind that could lead to us?" Lee asked the question bothering him the most.
"No, major. That's not the issue. A weapon here or uniform there won't tell them anything. What has me worried... if the pilot cleared the roof leading to the ring, and based on the weapons fire we were subjected to, I have to assume he did. If he did, did he get a clear view of the dialing device. When active, the symbols to where you go are glowing after all."
Lee realized the problem. "With only 7 glowing and you can eliminate one as the point of origin..."
"A 6 symbol combination is a lot easier than 38. Let's hope they for being pirates aren't trained to do that."
"You would train someone for that?" Lee understood the value of such info, but he didn't see it as a priority.
"First thing I'd do. I bet the snakes trained their pilots to do so. Even the foot soldiers. Knowledge is power after all. If an enemy could escape through the ring the only way to follow him is to know where he goes and seeing the symbols is one way. I can only hope that in the chaos and smoke he didn't see them or couldn't see them." He began dialing Picon. "Get the living ready first. They'll need real surgery to survive!"
Capture Lucian Ha'tak force, Pel'tak of Kiva's wrath, en route, same time
Commander Drakos was standing at the nav console of the command Ha'tak that they captured, the blue tunnel of hyperspace in front of him. Something the Colonials will have to get used to sooner or later. Hopefully sooner, as things were standing.
He had to work fast, since they couldn't take a chance that Sanders was just paranoid. 50 personnel per ship. Food and water, some medicine, hygiene equipment and some entertainment. Half of the people were engineers or scientist that were inspecting the ships. They would need the knowledge to replicate the systems ASAP for the foreseeable future.
Drakos just hoped that once they did arrive at Kobol, Kobol would still be there.
Picon fleet HQ, 20 minutes later
The update had reached all officers who knew about the new reality. General Atkins had just departed for Kobol.
Now, with more casualties to account for, neither Sanders or Nagala, while both tired, were in the mood for sleeping.
Sanders stood outside the interrogation room where a heavily restrained and patched up Kiva was sitting behind a table. He was observing her through the one way window. The room was sound proof as well but you could see she was shouting at the 2 guards in the room.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Boss?"
"You can't follow orders?"
"Heh, a few more days and the same will apply for you, from the doctors."
Nagala joined Sanders. "This her?"
"Oh yeah. The head bitch." He took the earpiece and inserted it into his left ear. "Don't talk me out of it."
"I won't. As long as you don't go too far."
"I won't. And believe me, I'm really holding myself back right now."
"I know." Nagala inserted his own earpiece.
"Boss?"
"I'm doing the same thing, but with the mystery guest."
"Ah, the no screaming but won't shut up woman."
"No, she's been quiet for a while now." He went to the corner leading to his interrogation room. "Good luck."
"Won't need it. Time for this woman to see how it's on the receiving end."
Sanders entered the room and signaled the two guards with just a head shake to the door to leave. They did just that.
Sanders didn't sit down. He just closed the door and stared at her.
"Well, look who's here. The man I own a castration for my nose." Silence. "Guess you were somewhat important." Silence. "Ballsy move, I'll give you that. Whoever you people are, you approached this the wrong way. We could be powerful allies." Still silence, but Sanders began walking around the table and her chair she was restrained to. "You people are well trained. Good instincts. At least more than what I can say for most of my people." He continued to circle her like a vulture. "I can make you rich. Really rich, if you can get me out of here." The change of tactics was not effective. The silence was defining. Kiva continued, bribing, intimidating, even a diplomatic approach was tried. Sanders didn't respond to anything. Finally after a few minutes, she saw how this was getting her nowhere, so she did the one thing she always did when she hit a brick wall. "Once my father finds out who you people are and where you are, I can assure you, he'll burn your world to the ground!" That got a reaction. Just not the one she hoped for. Her head was spinning and blood was dripping out of her nose, which hurt like hell again. Sanders had slammed her head on the table with force.
"Daddy ain't here for you to hide behind his skirt, daddy's girl."
She regained her equilibrium and saw how was standing at her left side. "So the mystery man can speak. Impressive, your reaction. You don't lose any time. Here's a suggestion: When interrogating someone, don't start with the head. A dizzy captive can't concentrate well and answer questions."
"For the moment I'm not interested in asking or answering questions. For the moment I'm making you aware of the situation you're in. I know your kind. I can imagine what you did out there to innocent people." Then he grabbed her by the throat with just one hand and began squeezing. She couldn't breathe. "Problem? Oh, right, you never did such things yourself, you had slaves, brainwashed or intimidated solders to do the dirty work for you. I'm not like that." He whispered into her hear, then let go of her throat as she coughed loudly and gasped for air.
"Remember, I have a good memory. I'll remember this."
"I bet you used this line on people you broke in as well. And what you remember IS what I am interested in." He finally sat down on the other side of the table. "Let's start with Earth."
During this Nagala had entered his interrogation room, but asked the guards to stay. The woman, while not gagged any longer, was silent. She actually looked bored. By being les restrained as Kiva, she could use her hands, somewhat. She was playing with her hair.
Sitting across her, Nagala began. "Hello, miss. I'm admiral Nagala, commanding officer of the military of the 12 tribes of Kobol. I..."
"Kobol? Haven't heard that name in a while." Was her response. But, wait a minute. She talked in almost perfect Colonial standard, with a few smaller mistakes here and there that the translator compensating for.
"You understand us?"
"Needed a while to listen what you were saying, but yes."
"How?"
"Oh, darling, don't get me wrong, It's not technically me, it's the memories I retained from Quetesh."
Quetesh! She was mentioned in Ma'chello's notes. Nagala knew the doctors did a scan of everyone's brain and neck section, so she wasn't a host. "Quetesh? How do you know that name?"
"I was her host once. And let me tell you, it was not a pleasure."
Nagala needed time to realize what she just said. He needed to change tactics.
"Darling, I know I'm startling gorgeous, but men only stay that silent after the act."
Nagala regained his composure. "Miss, you were Quetesh host?"
"Yes, I already told you. And she and Athena were always doing stupid stuff, plotting and scheming. Athena also wouldn't shut up about how leaving Kobol was a disgrace for her family and how her greatest work escaped from her." She then looked him over. "Nice to see that the slaves there managed to do something productive."
Nagala ignored that last part. This woman had info on Athena! "Miss... can you help me with some questions?" He really wanted to know what Hok'tar meant.
"Darling..." She leaned forward, showing her cleavage a bit. "I would love to." Nagala almost yelled internally. Finally some answers. "For a price." That... shocked him. She was bargaining?
"Pardon me? You have a price?"
"Not for that, you old perv." The way she responded told everyone she was still playing with them. "But yes, information does cost as well. So, I take refined naquadah, gold, silver, gems..."
"Hold it, hold it." Nagala was in awe. This woman had some nerve! But this was better than nothing. "Let's start at the beginning. You are?"
"Oh, of course, how rude of me. Vala. Vala Mal Doran, darling."
Unknown planet, former Lucian raiding site, same time
The Al'kesh finally landed and the place was swarming with Lucian solders that had arrived via stargeta. The crew of the Al'kesh was standing at attention and... trembling.
The gate deactivated as a force of elite guards escorted 2 people to the Al'kesh crew.
The man wearing a rather extravagant getup, stopped next to the pilot and looked at him with no rage or any other emotion. But his stare was paralyzing. "Pilot. Tell me. What's wrong with this picture?" He motioned him to look behind himself to where the original landed Al'kesh was.
"Eh... I don't understand the question, my lord."
"Oh, sorry. Was I not begin clear enough." He walked pass him to the opening to the ruins that the Al'kesh had blasted as the invaders were retreating. The man kneeled down and picked up a Colonial wireless. "What's wrong... let me enlighten you. My daughter left for this place with three Ha'tak's and a small army. Do you see any of them?"
They knew that the answer was no, but it was not the answer that man wanted to hear.
"Anyone?" He continued. "Then let me enlighten you again. All of your lives mean nothing to me. You are disposable. My daughter and niece however are not." He looked behind the Al'kesh crew who had turned with him as he walked, so the man's escort was behind him now. A second later, the head pilot was stabbed through the chest with a sword. "As I said. Expendable." The woman that came with him, pulled the sword from the corpse on the ground and stood there, waiting for his next move.
The remaining 4 crew members were pissing themselves. He continued. "You stood there and did NOTHING when these invaders took MY property! Kidnapped MY daughter!" He finally showed his emotions.
Three of the four men fell to the ground next, beheaded by the same woman.
The last one fell to his knees. "Please my lord. It was her standing orders. Without us you would have never known this transpired..."
The man slowly shook his index finger and silenced him on the spot. "I always knew my daughter was too soft with her underlings. Tell me, should you get promoted for doing the minimum amount of what was expected from you?" The man shook his head. "Well, at least some semblance of intelligence in that head. One last thing. Did you see the gate address they retreated to?"
"It must have been the address we found here that Kiva send some solders to!"
The man was already looking back at the landing area and not the last Al'kesh pilot. "Do you know of it? Did you see it?"
The pilot gulped. He didn't. And the man holding his life in his hands knew it as the last pilot fell to the ground seconds later, also dead.
"I do not tolerate failure. Something I learned from the Goa'uld during my years of imprisonment." He addressed all the people in the ruins. "Search everything. I want to know who did this and why!" He turned to the landed Al'kesh. "Tear it apart if you have to, but find out where MY ships went! Extrapolate the course if you have to!"
They went to work without hesitation. All but his personal guards and the woman that came with him. She finally spoke. "Uncle, what is your plan?"
He didn't show his rage to her. "Problems arose back home. I am begin recalled to Lucia. Both the Jaffa, Tok'ra, Tau'ri and Ba'al all decided at the same time to test our resolve, so I can't deal with this personally." He began moving to the gate. "I will give you command of my 4th fleet. Seven Ha'tak. Use them to find my daughter. Once you do, do not attack the ones who did this. Contact me. I want to handle that myself."
"Understood, warlord Masim." She replied with respect in her voice.
"My dear niece Selena, I told you to address me only as uncle. You and my daughter are all that is left of my sister and wife. You need not fear me." His voice changed from rage to tenderness. "You two are the only ones who can say that."
Bryan Cranston = Lucian Alliance warlord Masim
Summer Glau = Masim's 2nd in command and niece, commander Selena
David Morse = Ha'la'tha assassin and specialist 'Ajax'
Tom Sizemore = General Atkins
David Roberts (The Australian actor) = Commander Faustus
Gary Sinise = Ma'chello
Why didn't Ba'al just beam the gates? Here Anubis never captured Thor, so other snakes lack beam transporters.
