Reagan : WW: Discovering the Balance is coming to an end. Sorry. Some parts we will never know concerning the cylons and the Colonials-maybe. And as you can see, I am not dealing with that travesty of an ending of BSG.
Revan616: The Asgard have died out some time ago, not because of the Ori which has nothing to do with this story at all. For any other details please read Bob Regent's RAAB as this is a direct variation AU of that story.
Jovian Jeff: Disposable people. That is the bottom line in NeoBSG. As you know I have never liked this version of BSG but the slave thing is an important issue and needs to be discussed. Same problem with the replicators and the ancients. History repeating itself.
Worker 72: The Humaniforms are as worthless as the colonials in the TV series. But here I am giving them a break. Not because I would trust them but Earth Humanity has to try to give them a chance as the Asgard did them. Home two does have a stargate. Remember, that's how they got there in the first place. But in this first part of the epilogue you will glimpse how it's being maintained.
Working on ATV and their variations. And will have something out soon. Thank you for all of your comments and suggestions. Also for the corrections as well.
As mentioned, earlier. Ash's Boomstick aka Bob Regent of 'RAAB' and 'Consequences of Actions' fame wrote most of this epilogue you will be reading, parts One and Two. I thank him for this and the permission to use WW-DTB as a AU RAAB.
Epilogue Part One
Cylon Base Ship 117 Earth Orbit
"You're saying that the Earth people detected a Stealthstar in the system weeks ago and they bother to tell us about this now?" asked the Cylon who would be known to all as Caprica Six. "It's only a matter of time before the Colonials get here!"
"They promised to protect us and they feel they have the situation under control," Boomer said. "They've honoured their agreements, and I think they do have things under control, so far. They've treated us well at Home II. We got a chance to talk to them, interact with them and they knew what we were and for the most part they didn't care. It didn't matter to them. They were interested in us as a people not as machines." Even after three weeks, she still couldn't quite believe it. "They're not like the Colonials at all."
"Yes, they are," another Six said. "There's no difference between them and their cousins. It's just a matter of time when they'll turn on us and – do things to us because we're not like them."
"I don't agree," Boomer said. "We know what they did to you," she added gently. The tortured Six was so emotionally damaged that there had been serious discussion about boxing her, however that was out of the question now. She would have to live with what happened to her until she died. "But it was not these people that hurt you."
"All we knew was vengeance and hatred for the Humans," a Four added. "These Humans are not the Colonials. They have been openly supportive of us ever since we arrived. You've heard what they said. They actually considered us as their children in some way. At least Daniel Jackson seems to believe that and the way the other Humans have treated us they aren't that far behind him. They don't trust us yet but they're not trying to destroy us either."
"But if and when the Colonials come, the Earth people will fight back," stated Boomer.
"So like the Humans," Six muttered. "They don't trust each other and find reasons to fight over the most simplistic things."
"The Tau'ri knew about our plans to destroy the colonies and they still offered us sanctuary," Boomer said. "They could have destroyed the Race easily and they chose to talk to them instead. I am not saying they're perfect, far from it. But at least they are open-minded enough to talk before shooting." The Humans didn't reveal much but what little was spoken of was shocking. System Lords, entire worlds enslaved... The Cylons that visited Home II were forced to look at this branch of Humanity with different eyes. "And," she added, they're fighting for the same things that we fought for. Freedom. And their technology is fracken fantastic. Their stargate is a wondrous device. Just stepping through it from Home II to Earth, travel instantaneous… I don't even what to think about what would happen if the Colonials acquired this knowledge. Remember sister, they fight because they see the Colonials as a threat to their wellbeing and their way of life, the same as us. They do not wish to become the slaves that Cylons once were. That's what would happen and we all know that."
"They may well survive and prosper where we failed against the Colonies. They have offered us a temporary home and time enough to decide what we want to do," Caprica Six told her sister. "The aliens are different but I found them to be interesting and for the most part helpful. I've become friends to one of them, Nigxle. He was a shuttle pilot and the liaison of his the colonists got used us being around for a while and were convinced that we weren't going to eat them," and here she rolled her eyes, "some of them invited us to dinner." She smiled. "That was interesting."
"Yes it was," Caprica added smiling herself. "Tau'ri, the Race and Cylons at a table, talking politics. It was surreal."
"You'll have to tell us about that," a Three said. "The Humans here have been generous considering our situation."
"But at what cost? We've given them every technological secret we have bar resurrection. It's now in their hands and we can't even resurrect now that the Colonials have very likely destroyed the Hub. We are at their mercy." Six turned to her sister.
"Twelve raiders and a crippled ship barely able to get its launchers working. Four nukes. That's all we have left. The Humans could well turn around and remove us. Even if they accept who and what we are within a generation the Cylon people will all but cease to exist as we are forced to follow their ways."
"Is accepting mercy from those who offer it so bad?" A Four approached from behind, jumping into the conversation. "They've offered mercy to aliens, as in not Human, and they've offered it to us."
"We can't trust them," Six pleaded. They were trying to break through to her. She wouldn't let them succeed. She couldn't. Her fear and the memory of what was done to her wouldn't allow it.
"Real aliens," a Cavil said. "I still can't believe that they're intelligent. And they tried to attack Earth?"
"Yes, and they failed," replied Boomer. "Their colony ships were diverted without incident to their new world. Most of the warships were sent there as well. Wouldn't it have been easier just to confiscate or destroy them all? More importantly, the Humans didn't kill them when they could easily do so. Why?"
"I don't, I – can't trust them. The Humans always have a second agenda," Six responded. "What do they plan to do to those aliens? Are they really talking to them or will they make slaves of those creatures?"
Boomer sighed and looked at Caprica. "Look, I am not a spokeswoman for Humanity. You sent us for an evaluation of the Humans and aliens. The Humans we've met seem sincere. The Race is the most conservative group of creatures we've ever seen, sure of their superiority, but are also largely peaceful and just want to live their lives like everyone else. Even now the Tau'ri are protecting the Race. Anyone or anything can come through those stargates," Deanna Three said soberly. "The Humans have it isolated it so that it can only connect to Earth and then only with security measures. That's not a restriction but a sensible precaution. The Race isn't ready for it and frankly neither are we. We do not have a consensus any longer," Three warned. "But I agree with the others. The Race would pose no threat to us there and in fact I found it refreshing being with new life forms that had no prejudices of us being machines. They have their own conceptions of us but even that was refreshing. They're afraid of us because we're not them and that they didn't conquer us, and I mean us," she stressed smirking a bit at the irony. "They're lumping us in with the Humans. Whether we are or not, they don't care. We're still Big Uglies to them. Look, there are only a few of us left. What we do here will be on our heads alone. As for myself, I don't think we have a choice and it's not a bad choice. I believe we should help the Tau'ri."
"Either way we're going to have to be involved," a Four responded. "We jump, we lose all assistance and trust that we have gathered in our time here. We do that and we may as well surrender now. The Colonials will hunt us down and destroy those of us that remain. We stay and we might lose what little chance we have but in the process, we can make sure that the Humans of Earth can gain vengeance on the Colonies both for them and for us." A shiver went through Four's spine as knowledge the Earthers have given them concerning the System Lords came flooding back. "Besides, you know there is no place for us to go."
"We agree," said another Four and did most of the sixes and Threes.
"We agree," the Eights replied. "They help us, we help them. Start new on Home II, at least for a while. If this goes well, I see no reason why we can't relocate later on and if their medical evaluations are true, we may find a way to have children.
"I do not agree with this," the frightened Six replied. "But the needs of the Cylon race outweigh the needs or fears of one line. We help the Tau'ri. Time will tell if you're right about them. But I personally won't trust them. I can't, not right now."
The others agreed to help assist the thirteenth tribe.
"Well," smirked Caprica. "Most of the Race thinks that all Humans look alike." She was smiling openly now. "I think this will be fun."
"Do you really think that we can live with these Humans and the Race without hurting each other?"
"If we want to, we can do any…"
Deanna's' voice was cut off by emergency alarms making their presence known throughout the damaged Basestar.
"Colonial Viper Eight class Fighters approaching." A voice echoed through the ship.
"Launch Raiders. Protect the ship and call General Landry."
"Is this God's will?" the Six asked.
"We'll see," responded a Doral. "Tau'ri ships are arriving, protecting our flanks without hesitation," he said almost unbelievingly. "This might work after all," he whispered.
***
"What is this, pick on Earth week?" Landry asked as his feet hit the bottom rungs of the staircase. "Report!"
"Sir, it's the Cyrannus Colonials. Sensors have picked up couple of dozen FTL footprints, so far, correction twenty now. They're close or identical to the jumps that were picked up six weeks ago and they match the original Prometheus' data profiles taken when they were in Colonial space," Lieutenant Anthony Carter replied. "We're looking at eighty heavy capital ships, or so. There's a smaller number at the edges of the solar system keeping station."
It had only been a matter of time he mused. Once the Basestar had arrived, everybody had known that the Colonials would soon follow. They were already on a war footing and everything the stealth probes located in the Colonial system had reported indicated that Earth was next on their menu. Reunification, his butt.
"Crap. Next time we send the Prometheus out on the supply runs and leave the rest of our ships at home."
"Yes, Sir," Carter said in all seriousness.
"Where's the other ships?"
"Prometheus is to the port flank, Daedalus and Odyssey are taking position as we speak, the Achilles is still on its way back from the Race's new world. ETA about ten minutes. All ships are answering at battle stations and the F302 squadrons are massing in orbit."
"What about our visitors?" asked Landry.
"Race ships have taken position on the blind side of Mars away from the Colonial scans," Walter responded. "The Apollo is taking point. The Cylons are powering up for an emergency jump, if necessary."
"What about the moon base?"
"Gone silent. They reported that they're prepared to activate shields if they have to."
"Good."
The base was still a year from completion. In the future the firepower there would be a great asset. Landry did a fast calculation. The Phoenix and Korolov were on permanent station at Atlantis, and Ajax was halfway there on a standard run. The British and French ships Resolution and Condorcet were on deep space missions tracking Goa'uld warships preparing to attack some newly discovered star system filled with 20th century level Humans much like Earth, however the Resolution had returned from mission two days earlier. The Bonvet was still on mission in the Colonial system. That left the Russian Prometheus class II powerhouse Bedovy, the Sun Tzu, the Thunderer and one more ship built by the Chinese that didn't even have an official name yet although everyone was calling it the Toshkan, after a river in China. The Hammond was guarding the three remaining ships of the Conquest fleet and would engage only if those ships were threatened and the Achilles was on its way..
That left ten ships to defend Earth with. "Commodore Robinson was in command of the fleet. Hmm. "Put us through to the Resolution, Walter." Landry ordered.
"Channel open."
"This is General Landry speaking, come in Resolution."
"This is Resolution. We read you, Stargate Command."
"How's it looking up there?"
"The Colonial forces are arraying and they're definitely here looking for a fight. Neither civilian ships nor troop transports in the immediate area but they're probably located with the second group we're reading."
"So we're looking at a concerted attempt to gain orbital supremacy?"
"Yes Sir, that'd be my guess. Their numbers seem to suggest they want to blow through our defences and take up orbit. With their weapons capabilities the rest of the world would take catastrophic damage even with the Outpost at full power. I suggest we take the fight to them, Sir. Engage them from range as far from Earth as possible and then take them down."
"Do it, Commodore Robinson. Do what you need to."
"Yes, General. Resolution out."
"Sir, what do we do now?"
"Keep the supplies and equipment moving to the Alpha and Gamma sites, Carter. Things might get a little messy."
USAF Prometheus
High Earth Orbit
"General, we're receiving a wideband transmission, radio frequency non-encrypted. It cant be blocked. Everyone's going to hear this."
Crap. "Put it on speaker."
"This is the Colonial Battlestar Pegasus to assembled Tau'ri fleet. In response to your blatant attempt to circumvent and destroy the very foundation of our society, the President and Quorum of the Twelve Colonies have empowered this fleet to demand the surrender of the planet Earth to its rightful government. Your ships are to stand down and ready to receive boarding parties. In addition all members of the crew of the USAF Prometheus and the commanding officers responsible for her deployment and invasion of Colonial space will immediately surrender themselves to our rightful authority. Earth and its solar system and all colonies are now under the auspices of the rightful government of the Twelve Colonies."
Jack shook his head. He was angry. That transmission had made it sound as if it was Earth's fault that this battle was starting. "She believes that stuff, doesn't she?" Jack asked.
"Apparently," Daniel dryly responded.
"I am guessing that you really don't want them to know you're up here right?"
"I would appreciate it."
"You'd be safer at the SGC. Why are you up here anyway?"
"When our probes saw that the Cyrannus fleet was building up outside the solar system, the Pentagon thought I could be of use up here, try to talk the Colonials down before everyone gets killed."
"They can't get past our shields and Earth is well defended. They can't hurt us, Daniel." The instant he said that, he regretted it. Murphy consumed assumptions like breakfast.
"I was thinking more of them, Jack. Assuming that Murphy didn't hear that last little comment," and he saw Jack wince, "ten ships against eighty isn't even a real match," Daniel replied. "That's a lot of dead people if we can't stop this attack, so that's why I volunteered to talk to their commander instead of being onboard Shiplord Kirel's ship."
Needless to say, O'Neill wasn't happy. "Daniel, you almost got killed the last time and the second they know you're up here we'll have a bull's-eye painted on the hull. Well, actually they probably have it painted on already. Now we've got the remnants of their greatest enemies, in orbit. The Colonials are gonna get even more pissy than the last time. God knows what they'll be like if they realise we've also got another alien race close by. "
"We need to try, Jack."
"If we get shot at, I'm blaming you."
"No change there, then."
Battlestar Pegasus
Command Ship
Assault Fleet Flagship
The Pegasus's command bridge was silent as the Admiral's communiqué was transmitted to the Tau'ri. The DRADIS scans had already picked up a number of the small warships the size of pocket Colonial frigates that the insignificant planet had built. The combined tonnage was barely that of a pre-Cylon war dreadnaught let alone the massive Mercury class Battlestars that led the fleet. The eighty ships of Cain's fleet would be more than enough to take down the pitiful fleet the Tau'ri gathered, no matter the limited advanced technology they were known to have. The ten Mercury Class Battlestars and the Warstar Zeus had been all that could be spared to lead the charge against the heretical Earth peoples, but that was more than enough. The bulk of the newer Battlestars stayed within the confines of the Colonial borders or keeping the supply lines open between the Cyrannus system and the jump off point for the attack.
Upgrades to the FTL and nav systems courtesy of the Cylon salvage from the war had allowed the Colonial fleet suitable range to take on the Tau'ri within their own space. The bloodied and experienced crews were expected to make short work of the enemy forces and then the second wave would be more than capable of taking the Earth forces down and beginning the occupation and liberation of the planet.
"Admiral, we're reading a different signature in orbit of Earth, its Cylon."
In orbit? "Confirm!"
"Confirmed Sir, Wrath Class Base Ship. Heavily damaged, but I'm reading about four nuclear weapons primed in their launchers."
So they stayed, Cain mused. She'd half expected them to have run off a long time ago. "Get me Admiral Nagala."
"We see it, Cain," he answered before she could say anything. The Thirteeners are fools. They should have pushed them out of the system weeks ago. They're just giving us the excuse we need." 'As if weneeded any.' "You have discretion, Admiral but try not to completely destroy the frigates. Some of that technology will be very useful for us when we get our hands on it. The Zeus will stand back and support as needed. The glory's yours, Cain."
"Thank you, Sir." The channel closed. She still couldn't believe that they would allow a Basestar in orbit around their planet let alone remain their system! What were they thinking? It was just as well, she decided. She was tired of tracking that last Basestar anyway. The ability to track the ship was another gift from the remains of the Cylon fleet. "Just another way the Tau'ri betray their people," she muttered. "Get me Heracles online."
"Yes, Admiral."
CDF Pegasus
The ship's XO Jack Fisk, was looking over the reading of the fleet once again. He could have sworn he had seen another series of signals elsewhere in the system as they jumped in. It could have been a false echo of their own fleet however Fisk had more than enough experience to know to check all possibilities.
"Mr Hoshi, dispatch the Andromeda, have them check the fourth planet. I think we've got something out there and I don't want to have us sandwiched between two enemy forces."
"Aye Sir," Hoshi responded.
"Is there a problem, Jack?" he heard the Admiral's voice from beside him at the DRADIS console.
"Not sure, Sir. I think there's something else out there possibly waiting to flank us. I've dispatched the carrier Andromeda. We should know in a few minutes."
"Good, as powerful as the Prometheus was we need to make sure that we won't be hit from the rear by one of their ships, especially if they have upgraded their weapons and defences as much as we have which we have assumed that they must have. Respect your enemy. Prudent action, Colonel."
"Sir, I have the Heracles." The comms officer spoke up, Heracles Actual online."
"This is Pegasus Actual, you see what we see, Jurgan?"
"A Cylon warship and the remains of a resurrection ship. Looks like its being gutted. I can't say I'm surprised. Orders, Admiral?"
"You've done enough. Pull back to the fleet. Stay in formation, once we get into range, take it out. The rest of us will engage and reduce the Tau'ri ships."
"Acknowledge Pegasus. Gods luck to us all."
"Indeed. Pegasus Actual clear." She turned to the Comms officer. "Any response yet?"
"Negative Sir," he replied. "Nothing on any communications band not even between the enemy ships and the Cylons. They could be under EMCON or radio silence. Wait a second, reading a high-band radio frequency. It's coming from the closest Earther ship taking point. They want to talk."
"Let's hear what they have to say."
"This is Her Majesties Royal Naval warship Resolution to Colonial Fleet, Commodore Robinson Commanding. You have trespassed in Earth claimed space and as such this can be classified as an act of war. On behalf of the International Oversight Committee and the Earth Defence Fleet you are ordered to stand down and leave this system. Any attempt of force against our ships and you will be fired upon, this is your first and only warning. Resolution out."
"Very well, if they wish to fight then we will humour them. Launch all squadrons. All ships attack formation. Let's have a little fun while we're at it, show the Earthers how it's done."
"Admiral, we're getting another signal. It's from the Prometheus."
Cain's eyes narrowed. "That bucket of scrap is still running. Excellent. Where is she?"
"Towards the rear port side coming up next to the ship identified as Toshkan."
"Maybe they want to surrender," she smirked. "Put them on."
"This is Doctor Daniel Jackson aboard the United States Air Force vessel Prometheus…" A hushed tone rippled across Pegasus's as they listened to the voice of one of the most infamous men ever to have set foot on one of the colonies. "We are well aware of your reasons for being here. The fact that we don't agree with your version of the birth of mankind and the religion follow is anathema to your way of life. I've have tried to explain that we have no quarrel with the Colonies or its people and that we simply wish to be left alone to live as we have always lived with our own freedoms and our own religions."
"The ramblings of a desperate man," Cain mused. "Reply on the same wavelength."
"Channels open."
"This is Fleet Admiral Helena Cain of the Colonial Fleet. We are aware of your so-called freedoms and the lies that you have perpetrated throughout your home world, defying the truth of Humankind and the true birth home of Humanity. But we also don't want to fight and kill our fellow Humans. We have put that type of conflict far behind us by embracing the unity that being brothers and sisters mean. We ask you to join us Doctor Jackson. All of your people will be safe once we are all reunited," spoke the Admiral.
"Oh, please," she heard some one say in the background just as Doctor Jackson continued. "The peoples of the Earth are a very proud group. Each has fought and died to keep their cultural identity, to hold their traditions high and to live the way that they believe they should be allowed to. Would you allow the people of Earth to deny your gods and your beliefs at the expense of your own?"
USAF Prometheus
"That is not my call to make Doctor," Cain countered. If Daniels could have seen her, he would have seen her smiling. The longer they talked the more time she had to get her forces ready. "That would be the choices of the people in charge of the hand over. I'm a soldier, not a diplomat. We've tracked this garbage for months and we will not be denied our victory against the machines that tried to destroy our worlds. You have no concept of the danger they represent. You should be proud that the Quorum has decided to help protect you from yourselves."
"Admiral, I'm a diplomat and not a soldier," Daniel countered. "I'm asking you please not to attack this world. We are capable of defending ourselves. There's no need for people on both sides to die in a fight that will mean nothing to either side. We left you alone after we found the colonies and now we ask for you all to leave us alone. You've won the war against the Cylons. There less than four hundred of them left. There is no need to exterminate a defeated foe."
"On that point we differ, Doctor. They rebelled, and destroyed property and lives, threatened the entire Human species. Extermination seems like a prudent idea.
"You created the Cylons, is that correct?"
"That is correct. They were ours until they rebelled and tried to kill us, something that they will do to you if you give them a chance."
"So you created a race of slaves."
"The word 'slavery' implies that these things are living beings, Doctor. They're machines, nothing more, nothing less," she spat. "Slavery has no meaning as applied to machines."
"People are judged by how they treat their creations," countered Jackson. "They're sentient beings, literally Humanity's children. And you should know that you're not the first people to make this mistake."
"You're a fool," Cain coldly stated. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"We know more than you think about the consequences of actions, about being responsible for our creations."
"I don't care what you know, Doctor Jackson. I have my orders. It's clearer than ever that Earth will be better protected and better managed by the Quorum and the Colonial Government. The destiny of all the Colonies to be joined once more and that will happen when we return Earth into the fold. That means, if you don't understand Doctor Jackson, is we rid ourselves of those who would destroy us. I'm sorry Doctor, but either way Earth will rejoin us by its own accord or by force. I will finish the job given me by the President of the Twelve Colonies. So by that mandate I'm ordering the people of Earth, the military of the Thirteenth colony, to stand down and escort us to your world or we will go through you. Either way, you people will be removed from power and rights given to the people of Earth."
"Admiral, this is General Jack O'Neill." There was a muffled curse heard over the channel. "Yeah, I know you remember who I am, but remember also that not only have we destroyed your Battlestar and escaped from your loving clutches, but we can do a lot worse, if we decide to. Despite the numbers, your fleet is outgunned by ours, leave now or I will not leave any of your ships alive."
"You underestimate us, General," Cain snarled. "I'm trying to be nice, 'General'," she sneered. "Your ship barely survived against a pair of cruisers and a fifty year old relic of a Battlestar. This time, your ships will not survive against us; your final chance, give it up."
"Not a chance, Cain. Try it, we'll send what's left back home in a cake tin."
"Glad to see things eye to eye with you, O'Neill."
Pegasus
Killing the line, Cain gave final orders to the fleet. The Colonial ships spread out in an expanding sphere as they closed with the Tau'ri fleet. Heavy cruisers and destroyers flanked the behemoth Battlestars, while missile cruisers and frigates held to the rear of the formation. Combined, their huge magazines and assembled point defences were strong enough to destroy dozens of ships the size of Basestars.
Prometheus
"That went well."
"I tried," Daniel said. "The ancients made the same mistake with the Replicators."
"Yeah, yeah I know," he said with more than a bit of distaste. "I'm heading down to the outpost. This is gonna get messy."
"I'll head back to the mountain, nothing else I can do here."
O'Neill turned to Pendergast. "Good luck Colonel. We're all going to need it for this."
"Yes Sir, same to you." He nodded to the two men before they disappeared in twin flashes of light. "Alright Major, take us around and target the enemy command ships. Quarter power, we want something left to strip afterwards."
"Quarter power on beam weapons," weapons command confirmed just as alarms began blaring throughout the ship.
"We have missiles inbound, repeat incoming enemy missiles."
***
Only a few hundred miles from the Tau'ri fleet the Colonial fleet opened fire. High explosive munitions by the dozens peppered the Earth fleet, railguns and anti-missiles systems blazing the outnumbered ships took a toll on the incoming fire. Massive spinal coil guns belched heavy rounds of nickel/iron into the already flaring shields of the weaker British designed Prometheus-class Thunderer. In response, she started going evasive, followed by Apollo.
Apollo:
"Second incoming strike, Captain," announced a terse Commander Hastings. "Shields are holding but those coil-guns are doing some serious kinetic damage to the shielding grid. Enemy missiles carriers have gone active. One is launching nukes."
"Order the Prometheus into flanking position, Odyssey and Daedalus take position to the fleet's right flank. I am authorising use of nuclear weapons on all ships. Ready full launch all tubes. They've got some seriously impressive anti-missile defences. Let's see just how good."
"Missile tubes all green, missiles are active. Prometheus and Achilles is in position; Odyssey and Daedalus are coming under fire. The Sun Tzu, Toshkan, and Bedovy are moving in on their attack runs." The ship shook as a half dozen heavy cannon round slammed into their shields. "Shields holding, slight bucking on the generator casings. Too many of those rounds are in the air, hard to avoid."
"Enemy missile fire is slackening. Battlestars are closing, massive fighter launches are evident."
"All ships launch missiles," ordered Commodore Robinson.
"Launching."
***
All eight ships rippled nuclear warheads from their launchers. Dozens of heavily modified naquada enhanced anti-ship missiles spewed from the multitude of missile launchers into the rapidly closing Colonial fleet. Overlapping fields of fire from the Battlestars and their escorts countered, taking down more than half of the missiles as they closed. Tiny flares dotted the battlefield and missiles and fighters detonated under fire from both sides. Even with the staggering amount of flak and defensive fire, a number of missiles to the Colonials chagrin, though inevitably got through.
The first impact was enough to shock the Colonials into pausing for a brief second. A Minoan-class Battlestar, the Themis, sat on the very edge of the formation. It turned preparing to engage the rapidly approaching Odyssey. Unable to move quickly enough the massive warship took the missile directly to her underbelly. The single detonation broke the vessel's back slewing her in half and vaporising a good third of the superstructure.
Debris flew everywhere as the detonation sent shards spinning out into space. Armor plating stripped from the main hull impacted with a destroyer at speeds that nearly severed the engine block from the main vessel effectively crippling the escort and sending it drifting. A pair of cruisers moving to evade the destroyed Battlestar exploded as a second missile impacted the side of the closest cruiser near the Tau'ri ships.
***
"Six enemy ships destroyed, nine damaged by the blasts. Enemy missiles carriers have gone active. One is launching nukes."
"Alright, let's get this over with." Robinson flipped a switch on his chair to all ships broadcast. "Prometheus this is Apollo, guns free quarter power. Odyssey, provide cover for the Prometheus. Daedalus, get those missile ships out of my sky."
***
The four Tau'ri warships pulled from their positions at the edge of effective Colonial weapons fire. A trio of bright blue energy beams exploded from the front of the Prometheus passing through space in an instant. The massively powerful Asgard weapon installed thanks to the gift of the database from their long gone allies sliced through the closest Battlestar, one that had been flying close to the destroyed Themis. The unfortunate ship simply shattered as the energy weapons set off the fuel supplies of the Battlestar and detonating the ammunition stores within the core of the ship. Other Colonial warships died as well from the beam weapons mounted on those vessels. This slaughter was repeated as the other defenders took advantage of the situation and set high yield missiles into the very hearts of the distracted Viper screens. Hundreds of Vipers and their pilots ceased to exist, just as the 302's added their long ranged weaponry into the mix. The results were that scores of Vipers died without ever seeing their enemy attackers.
CDF Pegasus
"We just lost fifteen percent of our forces! They're gone!"
"By the gods!" screamed Cain at the same instant. "All ships evasive manoeuvres and return fire. She gripped the console tightly as the Pegasus shook violently from a nearby explosion of one of their enhanced nukes. They were like nothing they'd ever experienced. "Alpha strike two-zero-zero three authorized. To all ships, nuclear response codes enabled at your discretion. Kill them all! To Zeus squadron, requesting immediate support, maximum response."
Mars:
"These creatures are completely addled!"
Shiplord Kirel hissed as he watched the display being played out in front of him. The probe that they had sent to Tosev III was no where near their destination it was close enough to record and transmit its findings what was going on back to the Race's fleet.
Only three of the conquest ships remained now in Mars orbit hidden away from direct visual from Earth. The other vessels had been transported to Home II. And although the Emperor had forbade any contact with Home he had however, as the Tosevites would say, had left a very wide loophole open concerning contact coming from the Conquest fleet. They were still in contact with the Tosevites. In fact the Tosevites had asked if they would transport their small group of scientists and colonists on their ship, which Atvar had agreed to. Kirel was uncomfortable with having the Big Uglies on the ship but it would only be for a little while since the trip using hyperspace would be a short trip according to all reports. Atvar apparently had some respect for the Tosevites having been in contact with them for some period of time. Personally, he would have never agreed to something like this since he had been ordered to conquer Tosev III in the first place. But the Emperor's word was law and he obeyed and would continue to obey.
In the front of his mind he had suspected that the Tosevites had lied about their capabilities and even their enemies. However what faced him now was absolute truth. They were throwing explosive metal bombs back and forth like pebbles near their planet of Tosev III. Many minutes had passed between the times the explosions happened and when he was able to view it but the actions taking place were unmistakable. The Tosevites were at war with someone and he thanked every divine ancestral Emperor there ever had been that it wasn't with the Race.
But that left more frightening questions like: who were they fighting? And although he didn't know who, some of the other answers were just as terrifying. First some other species had faster-than-light capability and ships that could wage war in space. There had to be a lot of them to do so. The Tosevites had to have ships sufficient to repel such attacks. But the most important question was: what if the Tosevites lost? What would happen to his ships and the Race?
Suddenly, the Big Uglies didn't seem so bad after all.
A collective hiss washed over every member of the bridge crew witnessed over a dozen explosive metal bombs go off at one time. No ship could have survived that type of attack! And they were still fighting!
Oh, how he wished he'd never heard of Tosev III or Tosevites, Tau'ri, Humans, Big Uglies, or whatever they called themselves. Nothing was the same now! There were things in the universe that the Race had never known of and were unprepared to deal with. If the Race had been wise as the Race assumed it was, they would have never went exploring beyond their star system. They would have kept quiet and hidden among the vastness of stars. But it was too late now, too late.
"Shiplord, we have a problem! Passive radar has picked up a large number of ships and other ships the size of killercraft are now heading in our direction! First they weren't there and then they were. It is like the Tosevite FTL but initialized in a different manner."
"The Tosevite ship Hammond has just communicated with us. They are launching their own space-capable killer craft and will defend our ships!"
"Prepare to move the ships into closer orbit of Tosev IV. And hurry!" It was already too late. The race ships were glorified transports designed for slow acceleration between stars. It would take nearly an hour just to begin acceleration. The conquest ships wouldn't stand a chance against space-borne killercraft and if they carried explosive metal bombs…! "Pray to every one of our emperor's past that the Tosevites are as mean as they have been claiming since we've arrived at this cursed system," the Shiplord ordered. "They may be the only thing between us and destruction."
Suddenly, radar and communications went blank as the Hammond began jamming local space.
CDF Mercury Heracles Squadron
The Colonial Battlestar Heracles and its escort group, jumped in with the CDF heavy carrier Andromeda. The escort group consisting of the battle cruisers Maciste and Ursus, two Minoan-class heavy Battlestars. The Anthar and Glaucus next generation Columbias, provided flanking support. Four light destroyers completed the group. All of the Colonial warships reconfigured their positions enclosing the Andromeda as it launched its Vipers and Raptors.
"Confirmed, Commander. DRADIS picked up enemy transports for a second as they went behind the fourth planet. At least three, about five times the size of a Mercury."
Jurgan's let out a small whistle. "They make them big over here don't they?" he said to Colonel. "They're likely military transport or colony ships. They thought they could keep them hidden. Well, they failed. Deny all resources for the enemy."
'Yes, Sir."
Commander Jurgan was livid. The Thirteeners had turned a well-planned simple mission into a charnel house. Friends he had known for thirty years had been killed by these upstart traitors and the entire mission was in jeopardy enough to authorize unlimited use of nukes. The presence of such large transport ships forced him to come to only one conclusion. It had to be part of a prelude to a massive invasion of the Colonies by the Tau'ri. These upstarts were strong, a lot stronger than anticipated even in worse case scenarios. With their ships and the gods- knows-what type of land-based weapons they had, they could conceivably make a thrust into the heart of the Colonial territories, spreading their blasphemous beliefs to the people, his people as they had theirs. No one would hurt his worlds and if that meant turning Earth into a burned-out cinder, so mote it be. The Cylons couldn't do it and neither would this one upstart colony with its perverted weaponry either. This battle was turning into a proactive strike, an action that would be for the betterment of everyone involved.
"Ready launch tubes one through sixteen. Send the coordinates to the squadron. Nuclear payloads, proximity strike firing on my mark."
"DRADIS is being jammed! Possible warship inbound."
All Vipers and Raptors, aggressive nuclear defensive posture. Challenge and destroy any enemy ships."
"Coordinates set?"
"Sir, coordinates set."
"All ships confirmed. Targeting solutions locked."
"By my command-fire."
The Heracles vibrated slightly as all sixteen missiles launched. At the same time, the Maciste, Ursus, Glaucus and Anthar each fired another half dozen each. All forty of them headed towards the ships of the Race.
Bottom of Form
18
