Episode 10:

Shipping Delays

Intersun Transport Colonial Eve, Colonial Survivor Fleet 'Kobol':

Twenty-two Days, Nine Hours, Twelve Minutes ATA

Cathy was sitting quietly at her desk while she waited for her daughter to enter. Cathy looked down at the small clock that adorned the desk in front of her. Even though it had been four days since the Cylons had last been seen, the Fleet was still on high alert. "Just coming!" Cathy heard Betty call from the main passenger section along the corridor from her. A moment later, a rather stressed looking Betty came running into the room.

"Where've you been?" Cathy asked playfully as Betty prepared to brief her mother. Betty stood still for a second while she caught her breath.

"Finalising your next trip," Betty said as she presented her mother with a schedule for the week. Cathy took it and quickly skimmed through the list.

"Why am I going to open the first animal farm on the botanical cruiser Eclipse? Shouldn't the Chairman do that?" Cathy asked as she put the schedule on her desk.

"She should yes, but it seems she caught up on the Hyperion at the moment. I don't think she'll be going anywhere very quickly," Betty replied.

"What could she be possibly doing over there?" Cathy mused as she peeked through the small windows in the roof at the side of the room and saw a section of the Hyperion's hull through it.

Battlestar Hyperion War Room, Colonial Survivor Fleet 'Kobol':

Twenty-two Days, Nine Hours, Thirteen Minutes ATA

"Madam Chairman, I don't think we can..." John was trying to say as both Commander Kurl and Chairman Linear kept trying to interrupt his briefing.

"Why not? I think what the Commander says is definitely our best course of action," Chairman Linear told John. John, after being forced into this meeting by the Chairman, was now being turned on by his own command officers.

"We're going to have to make sure the Cylons aren't following us. And I don't mean leaving the Cyrannus or Zeus behind after every jump to keep an eye on things. We need to go back and deal with them before they can mass anything against us," Commander Kurl insisted. John sighed and rubbed his eyes. He knew that he was too tired from the long nights to be able to fight both the Chairman and the Commander of the Eos.

"Okay fine. I know what you want madam Chairman and I'll see to it that plans are made," John said finally.

"Thank you Admiral, but I suggest we do it now," Chairman Linear said. John quickly looked between the Chairman, Commanders Linear and McGill and the models of the Fleet on the table in front of him.

"Of course Chairman. We'll begin now," John said, faking a smile. "I'll just call Lieutenant Jartell... oh, I mean Ensign Long," John walked over to the phone at the side of the room, subtly shaking his head at his all too common mistake among his current and former Tactical Officers. He picked up the phone and was put straight through to Hermes back in CIC.

"Combat, Yo. What can I do for you?" Hermes asked John once he got through.

"Hermes it's the Admiral. Can you call Ensign Long down here please?" John said to Hermes.

"Of course Admiral. He'll be down in just a moment," Hermes replied.

"Thank you Hermes," John said as he put the phone back into its berth. John turned back to the small gathering behind him and waited for Jake Long's arrival.

A couple of minutes later, the door behind John was opened from the outside by the two marines guarding the door. "Admiral," Ensign Long said as he stopped in front of John and snapped into a salute. John automatically saluted back and led Ensign Long towards the table.

"So what do you need me to do Admiral?" Jake Long asked as they stepped up to the table in the centre of the War Room.

"We're going to be planning an attack and I need someone to help me think. I'd normally do this with LC Jartell, but she's behind you, watching the proceedings," John told Ensign Long. The room was silent for a minute until Commander Kurl decided to break the silence.

"So do we have an estimate as to how many Basestars are going to be out there, Lieutenant?" Commander Kurl asked.

"Standard contingent is four Basestars, Commander. But it is likely that there will be either a couple more or less than that; but that will change with differing targets. What are you planning on attacking Admiral?" Lieutenant said in a very matter-of-fact way.

"I... um, we have no idea Lieutenant. Commander Kurl and the Chairman want to go in blind to a Cylon target with maybe just a single Raptor for recon," John told the Lieutenant. Ensign Long nodded in thought for a moment before taking a deep breath and replying.

"With all due respect Commander," He said, looking over at Commander Kurl. "Why? Why this? Tactically it doesn't make any sense, unless you know at least how many enemy targets there are," The Commanding officers looked at each other nervously as they waited Commander Kurl's reply.

"He is right Commander," Amelia said, quickly halting a reply from Commander Kurl. "We need to at least find out why they haven't been chasing us,

"Right, of course," Commander Kurl replied. "Why don't we send a Defender for recon and go from there, Admiral?"

"We will," John said. He looked over to the seats on his left and nodded to Commander Fisher from the Defender Cyrannus. "I think you'd better be getting back to your ship Fisher," John told the Commander he was looking at. Commander Fisher stood up and saluted John before making her way out of the room. "The rest of you, I suggest you also head back to your ships until tomorrow when the Cyrannus returns and we can make a plan. Thank you for coming anyway though," John said to the other Commanders who stood up as John started to leave.

"Admiral," Chairman Linear called after John. John stopped and walked back to the centre of the room. "If it's alright with you I was planning to head back to the Colonial Eve; but I will need a ride back,"

"Of course, madam Chairman," John said in response. "Actually, Ensign Long, could you arrange a transport to take all the civvies off the Hyperion. I think we have a couple of hundred below deck,"

"I'll get it Admiral," Ensign Long replied. The Ensign turned around and strode out of the room towards the CIC. John nodded to Chairman Linear before turning on his heel and walking out of the War Room.

Battlestar Hyperion, Colonial Survivor Fleet 'Kobol':

Twenty-Three Days, Ten Hours ATA

"All pilots report for briefing. All pilots report to Ready Room for briefing immediately," Ensign Long called over the Hyperion's intercom. Major Renner stopped walking when he heard the Ensign's voice cut through the relative silence of the corridor he was in. Major Renner sighed as he turned around and headed towards the briefing room which was only about 100 metres away. With the other pilots rescued from the Rycon based on the transports of the fleet, Major Renner was the only non-Hyperion crewman who wasn't part of the Marine Raptors that escaped the Rycon in the ship's last moments. Major Renner rounded one of the last corners and saw the prominent figure of Colonel Virgon standing outside the briefing room.

"Major!" Matt called to Major Renner as the Major snapped out of his daydream and saluted the Colonel.

"Colonel?" Major Renner asked after Matt had returned the salute.

"You're late Major. But don't worry, I'm not scorning you. I've got two pilots who clearly have no idea how give a briefing lashing out at each other over who Spinner gave the mantle of CAG. So I'd like you to take over for me," Matt told Major Renner. Major Renner was slightly taken aback.

"Me sir?" Major Renner asked. "I'd be honoured,"

"Then congratulations Major. I'd like to have a chat with you, but we don't have time right now; you have a briefing to give," Matt replied. Major Renner went to walk into the briefing room when Matt stopped him again. "And one more thing Major... I'm giving you a new call-sign," Major Renner looked over his shoulder at Matt with a confused look on his face. "It'll be Rycon, Major," Major 'Rycon' Renner bowed his head to the Colonel before stepping through the door and taking the reins of the briefing.

Battlestar Virgo Core Command:

Twenty-Three Days, Ten Hours ATA

Sam and Anty walked into the Core Command after being down in the briefing room 'helping' Captain Gemini. "Ah, you're back," Amelia said when she noticed the twins enter the room.

"The pilots are ready Amelia. Have we received our orders from Hyperion yet?" Sam asked as everyone in the Core Command ran around doing their various jobs.

"Hermes just sent them over," Amelia replied.

"So how long before go time?" Sam asked.

"T minus ten minutes," Amelia told Sam as she stepped up next to him. The two of them stood in silence looking at each other for a moment before the door to the Core Command rang and a marine let Captain Hill from the Zeus into the room.

"Rocker!" Sam exclaimed as the pilots entered. "It's good to see you. I'm glad you and your pilots could join us today," Sam held out his hand and Allison shook it.

"Good to be here Major," Allison said. "LC," She looked over to Amelia, who had started walking over.

"I trust you got the mission brief Captain?" Amelia asked.

"Yes sir. Of course," Allison replied immediately. "My pilots were briefed on the way here. Oh, have you two heard anything about the CAG position on Hyperion?" Sam and Amelia shot each other a confused look after Allison asked about the Hyperion.

"No, why?" Sam asked in a slightly concerned tone.

"There are rumours that Colonel Virgon is giving it to Lonely... I mean, Major Renner. Y'know, from the Rycon?" Allison told the two officers. Sam was about to speak when Amelia quickly cut him off.

"We'll deal with this later, right now we've got a war to win so, if you don't mind, I'd like to get us ready and at Condition Two," Amelia said loudly enough so that Anty in the middle of the room could hear them. "Good hunting Captain," Amelia said to Allison.

"You too sir," Allison quickly saluted Sam and Amelia before scuttling out of the room towards the hangar deck.

"Anty!" Amelia called as she turned back towards the centre of the room. "Begin spooling up our FTL drives and load our Vipers,"

"Yes sir," Anty replied as she began giving orders to the crew of the ship. Sam walked up behind Amelia when a call from Hyperion came on over the loud speakers.

"All ships, this is Hyperion Actual," John's voice said. "Prepare for immediate FTL jump. Set Condition One throughout the Fleet. Good hunting everyone," Amelia and Sam nodded at each other as the Major picked up the nearest phone.

"Action stations, action stations. Set Condition One throughout the ship. All pilots load your Vipers and all hands prepare to jump in one minute," Sam ordered. He slammed the phone back into its berth and looked over to Amelia. "I've always wanted to say that!" Sam said with a smile on his face as the Condition One klaxons sounded.

Viper 2112 'Rocker':

Allison sat nervously inside the cockpit of her Viper as it was hurriedly pushed into the launch tube. "Alright then, that's all the Virgo Vipers called in. Rocker, have you heard from all of yours?" Allison heard Harriet ask over the wireless.

"Roger that Hera," Allison replied as her Viper clicked into place. She flicked her eyes over the pre-launch checklist as the airlock sucked the air out from around her. Allison put the checklist down the side of her seat and gave the thumbs up to the launch control officer. She sat back in her seat and waited for the FTL drives on the Virgo to reach their full potential before the ship was zapped across space.

"All Vipers, away," Anty called to the pilots through the Viper's wireless frequency. Allison looked towards the end of the launch tube as she was slammed against her chair and fired out of the Virgo.

Once outside, Allison was engulfed by the waves of flak provided by the Virgo. The old Battlestar began to speed towards the nearest Cylon Basestar when Allison suddenly realised they had been separated from the rest of the Fleet, who were a few kilometres away across the other side of the Cylon fleet.

Battlestar Hyperion CIC:

John buried his face in his hands when he saw the Virgo's DRADIS contact appear on the other side of the battlefield. "Sir the Virgo's..." Ensign Long started before John finished his sentence.

"Frakked. I know!" John shouted in frustration. He took a deep breath before looking at his crew. "Helm!" He called to Warrant Officer Oliver 'Lil Ollie' Kalian. "Bring us around, bearing 627 Carom 201. Get us as close as you can to the Virgo,"

"We won't last long by ourselves," Matt warned after John finished his order. John looked up at Matt and shrugged.

"We won't need to. The Themis can give them hell from here," John told Matt.

"I hope you're right..." Matt mumbled.

Viper 2112 'Rocker':

"Zeus Vipers on me. We need to stop those Heavy Raiders from getting to close to the Virgo," Allison ordered as she pulled her Viper around to face the squadrons of Raiders headed right for them.

"Rocker, Gap: All Zeus Vipers are on station on your six. We're ready Skipper," Gabriella told Allison as the squadron of Viper MkIIs crested low over the Virgo's rough dorsal surface.

"Copy Gap. Zeus Vipers, you have weapons free. Let's take these frakkers down!" Allison said. She unlocked her weapons safeties and led her squadron towards the Raiders, sending a wave of KEWs in the Raiders direction.

"Rocker, Hera: Looks like Hyperion is coming to give us a hand," Harriet commented as the bulky Battlestar separated away from the rest of the Battlestar Group and flew towards them at full speed.

"Hera, Rocker: We've got Heavy Raiders breaking away from the Virgo. I think they're going after Hyperion. Should we disengage and pursue?" Allison asked as ten of the Cylon Heavy Raiders banked away from their smaller cousins and blasted towards the Hyperion.

"Do what you can Rocker, but we can't leave the Virgo undefended. Besides, I'm sure the Hyperion can deal with them themselves,"

Battlestar Hyperion CIC:

"Ten Cylon Heavy Raiders on CBDR, Admiral!" Ensign Long shouted to John across the CIC. John's eyes snapped to the DRADIS console before whipping around the room to find Matt.

"Colonel!" He called to Matt, who was currently standing behind Warrant Officer Kalian at the helm. "Get the Marines to our starboard airlocks and prepare for boarding. Mr Long, get any birds you can and get them to do fly-bys through the flight pod to take out those toasters as they land," John ordered. Matt ran over from the helm and grabbed the phone in the side of the command table. John looked back to DRADIS as Allison's Vipers pulled away from the Virgo to pursue the Heavy Raiders inbound on them. The CIC was relatively quiet for a minute while the other Battlestars engaged the Cylons and the Virgo held off the Raiders inbound on it. The Heavy Raiders continued to approach the Hyperion and most of the crew's eyes were sharply directed at the DRADIS screen. John saw the Heavy Raiders just stray into flak range and he was about to give another order when the DRADIS bleeped furiously.

"DRADIS contacts!" Ensign Long shouted from his desk, shattering the relative silence. "Five ships, four of them Basestars,"

"What about the other one?" John asked the Ensign.

"I don't know sir, but she isn't launching anything so I'd say it's a support ship. I doubt it's worth anything," Ensign Long told them.

"Alright then. Keep our Vipers on defence, but get our guns on those Basestars before they get into range. And load conventional missiles into the launch tubes, we need everything we've got out here!" John ordered. Ensign Long nodded and quickly gave orders to his fellow crewmen.

Viper 2112 'Rocker':

"Zeus Vipers this is the Hyperion. We need you to deal as much damage to those Heavies as you can before they land. If they get below the firing solution, your orders are to get around the other side of the flight pod and begin repeating strafing runs through the flight pod," Hermes ordered Allison and her Vipers as they continued to do as much damage to the Heavy Raiders as they could before the Cylons landed. Allison held down the trigger for her guns for a few more seconds before contacting her Vipers again.

"Zeus Vipers, Rocker: You heard Hyperion. Let's leave these toasters to it. Get on my six and prepare for our strafing run," Allison told her Vipers. A couple of seconds later she stopped firing her guns and twirled out of the way of the Heavy Raiders as the Cylon craft entered Hyperion's flak barrier. "Zeus Vipers, stay close. Watch out for patterns in the flak, they'll try not to catch you un-aware, but you need to do your part," Allison reminded the Vipers as she glided around the fireball surrounding the huge grey Battlestar.

"Rocker, Bongo: The Heavy Raiders are touching down," The Viper pilot in the rear-most Viper told Allison.

"Copy Bongo, now's our chance. Hyperion, Rocker: Can you lower the flak while we get in closer?" Allison asked. She waited for a few seconds as she continued around the outside of the flak.

"Rocker, Hyperion: Guns are lowering in three... two... one... they're clear. Go now!" Hermes told the pilots. The Vipers immediately banked to the right and blasted towards the Hyperion at full speed while the flak guns cut out across the ship. Allison aimed along the flight pod and flipped her Viper to fly parallel along it.

"Hyperion, Rocker: All Vipers clear. You may continue barrage," Allison quickly ordered and as soon as she finished, the tiny point-defence flak CIW turrets along her starboard side opened their flood gates and sent waves and waves of explosive rounds out from all sides of the ship. "Zeus Vipers, remember we have flight pod clearance so I want an attack run through the dorsal flight pod and a loop through the ventral one. Do you understand?" A chorus of "Copy sir," and "Roger that," filled the Vipers' wireless as the Vipers reached the end of the flight pod and Allison led the Vipers into a flip and a quick re-orient which led them into the dorsal flight pod. "All Vipers, weapons free," Allison quickly confirmed for her Vipers as they copied her in the flip and entered the cavernous flight pod. Directly ahead were the Cylon Heavy Raiders who had landed around one of the Hyperion's airlocks. Allison opened up her guns and cut lines into the Hyperion's deck as she targeted the Centurions on the ground.

"Gap, Rocker: Target those fuel canisters. They should blow up both the Raiders and their troops," Allison told her friend as she blasted past the Cylons below her.

"Tally Rocker," Gabriella replied as she opened up her guns on a re-fuelling station just next to where the Cylons had landed. The KEW rounds cut through the casing of the fuel canisters and the small fire that spat out of the canister quickly ignited the others in a fiery inferno which briefly engulfed the nearest two Raiders before evaporating back into space.

Battlestar Hyperion CIC:

John's eyes were glued to the screen just to the left of the DRADIS console which was sending back live footage from the flight deck where the Raiders were being attacked by Rocker's Vipers. "Admiral!" Ensign Long called, breaking the Admiral's trance. "Missiles are ready to fire sir,"

"Fire on my mark," John said as he began jogging over to Fire Control. "Ensign, target the nearest Basestar in the central disk," John ordered. Both Ensign Long and the Ensign commanding the weapons quickly ordered the gunners to make aim before looking back to John.

"Sir, twelve missiles armed: Ten conventional, two nuclear," Ensign Long informed John.

"Fire the conventional missiles now. Matt, get you nuclear key out and get ready to fire," John said. Matt pulled a small key out of his pocket, which he then used to open a small compartment in the command table. John walked back over to the command table and reached down his uniform behind the collar and pulled out the same key from around his neck. The two commanding officers nodded to each other and stabbed their keys into the desk in front of them. John and Matt turned their keys and John turned to the Fire Control officer. "Fire them now. Second Base-ship!" John shouted as he saw the ten missiles flood out of their tubes and turn towards their target on the DRADIS screen in front of him. A moment later, a second wave of just two missiles left the Hyperion and the two clumps of missiles headed for their respective targets.

Viper 1119 'Hera':

Harriet looked out of her cockpit canopy as the twelve missiles fired out of the top of the Hyperion like a row of geysers exploding. Harriet quickly snapped out of those thoughts as two Cylon Raiders turned towards her and fired a barrage of KEW rounds in her direction. Harriet skilfully dodged away from the rounds and rolled out of the way of the two Raiders as they blaster past her. She checked over her shoulder and cut the engines before flipping the Viper over and hitting the throttle at full power towards the Raiders as they broke off for another two Raiders to join in. Harriet saw her chance and got a quick missile lock on the Raider that banked off to the right and she pulled around behind it as the missile detached from the Viper's wing and blasted towards the Cylon fighter. The missile hit the Raider's port engine and sent it spinning out of control as Harriet dived to the left and escaped the fireball created by the Raider's explosion. Harriet checked around her as the other two Raiders swung around behind her and began firing their standard rounds. "Hot-stuff, Hera: I've got two on me. Can you do anything about them?" Harriet asked as she pulled back towards the Virgo to use the ship as cover to stop the Raiders right behind her.

"Hera, Hot-stuff: Hold out for one moment. Hearse and I have got you," Came a reply over the wireless. Hera took as deep breath as she passed between the Virgo's constantly firing rail-guns. She ducked her head instinctively as one of the rail-guns fired when she flew by at a hair-raising distance. "Okay, I've got a shot!" Hot-stuff called out. Harriet tried to look over her shoulder as two of her Vipers cut through the Raiders who had still been on her six. Harriet breathed a sigh of relief as one of the Raiders flew past her cockpit, spinning out of control as it careered into the dorsal side of the Virgo.

"Thanks Hot-stuff. I owe you one," Harriet told her pilot.

Battlestar Hyperion CIC:

"Targets destroyed sir, but there are still four Basestars out there," Ensign Long shouted to John across the CIC, to where the Admiral was watching over the shoulder of the Ensign at the Fire Control desk.

"Good," John simply said. Matt and Ensign Long exchanged a confused look as they watched their commanding officer. "Bring us around and target that unknown ship with our main batteries. Let's find out how important it is to them,"

"Yes sir," Warrant Officer Kalian said across the CIC. John twiddled his fingers and watched the DRADIS screen as the Hyperion started to swing around towards the long Cylon ship just outside the combat zone.

Viper 2112 'Rocker':

"Ready for the final run everyone?" Allison asked as she led her Vipers through the ventral flight pod as they prepared for another run.

"Ready here," Gabriella replied, along with several other pilots.

"Right then let's..." Allison trailed off as she saw the Hyperion start to turn independently of her and her Vipers. "Tighten up everyone, looks like Hyperion's on the move," She checked over her shoulder as the MkII Vipers alongside her drifted into a closer formation around her. "This is going to be fun..." She whispered to herself as she saw the exit of the flight pod turn away from the nose of her Viper. Allison carefully adjusted her course to turn with the Battlestar as she popped out the other side of the pod and flipped over again. She quickly noticed the side of the fight pod drift in front of her windscreen, forcing her to roll to the side and strafe into the pod. "Everyone here?" She asked as she drifted into the pod.

"No sir, we've lost course. We can't make it in," One of the pilots said. Allison tensed her fists as she saw on her DRADIS that she was the only one actually in the pod.

"Bug out, I'll take it from here," Allison told her pilots as she assessed the situation in front of her.

"Sorry Rocker," Gabriella said as she broke off her attack and flew back through the flak. Allison took a deep breath as she saw a few of the Cylon Centurions reach up and point their guns towards her as she slowly approached them.

"Frak, I'm too slow!" Allison said as she spun out of the way of the Cylon rounds and looked frantically around the flight pod. After a moment, she nodded to herself and blasted her Viper towards the two Heavy Raiders left standing. Firing everything she had, she rolled her Viper to the left and ejected out as the Viper went crashing into the Cylons, destroying them in seconds. Allison looked around her and ripped herself out of the chair and pushed herself towards the approaching wall along the side of the flight pod. She saw a thin pole along the wall and reached out for it as the ship moved towards her. Allison grabbed hold of the tube as the Hyperion stopped turning and the unknown ship sat in space before it. Allison looked up and saw (and felt) the Hyperion's main batteries open up and fire at the support ship as a Basestar rushed to stand in between the Battlestar and the ship. Breaking away from the battle, Allison looked around her and saw how far off the ground she was. She did a double take when she saw that she was up at the top of the flight pod. Looking around for a way down, Allison spun herself around in the zero-G and slowly kicked herself towards another pole along the wall as she prepared to move all the way down to the hangar deck herself to meet the DC teams when they arrived.

Battlestar Hyperion CIC, One Minute Before:

John looked on in horror as Rocker's Viper plunged into the Cylon Heavy Raiders in the flight pod. "Oh lords..." He and Matt collectively gasped.

"Sir, we have an explosive decompression at airlock C in the dorsal starboard flight pod," Ensign Long reported.

"Get DC down there immediately. Matt, I want the Marines to converge on the nearest airlock to the breach and have them suit up and escort the DC teams in," John ordered.

"And sir," Ensign Long called to John. "Cylon ships are pulling out but one of them is having FTL troubles, I think,"

"Then get all guns on that one ship, let the others go," John said. Ensign Long nodded and started giving the orders to the other ships. John kept his eyes firmly on the feed from the flight pod as he saw a small black figure cling onto the side of the flight pod walls and start scaling it down to the surface. "Oh, and Ensign," John called to Ensign Long. "Eyes on Rocker, she's on her way down now,"