Disclaimer: I do not own Battlestar Galactica or Star Wars
-Some characters or vessels that may be encountered belong to Wes Imlay or Steel Scale
Chapter Ten
Orion Fleet Headquarters Combat Zone
Commander Stephanie Devaux was in quite a fix, or rather she and her ship were.
The ship shuddered again as it took multiple hits along the starboard flank as the enemy raked her broadside with murderous energy fire. From all over the ship, CIC was receiving reports of melting armor and bulkheads. The crisis extended beyond her own Valkyrie-class support Battlestar Immortalis, however: The Fifth Fleet, never before bested in combat, was falling back in the face of an unknown and numerous enemy force. "Charlie!" she yelled as a panel exploded to her left. "Input your launch code and target that lead warship analog; fire at will!"
Her XO, Colonel Charles F. "Charlie" Anderson attempted to wipe the grime from his face, only succeeding in smearing it further as he reached down to deactivate the nuclear safeties. "Firing!" he declared as he turned the launch key.
The muffled roar of the missile's launch momentarily overshadowed the deafening clamor of battle as the missile streaked towards the enemy vessel that now raked Immortalis' side.
Despite the attempts of numerous bandits to intercept the missile, the twenty-five megaton Phoenix nuclear missile impacted upon the vessel's shields, shattering them and proceeding to do the same to the enemy hull. The ship's fire ceased, leaving a looming silence aboard the embattled Colonial ship.
"Charlie," Stephanie called hoarsely, "Contact Admiral Romanus and inform him that Immortalis has succeeding in breaching the enemy perimeter and has sustained heavy damage and losses. Requests further orders and reinforcements."
Charlie nodded his comprehension, "Got it, Steph." He immediately moved off to the currently vacant comm station to transmit.
Stephanie reigned-in her currently-flyaway red hair and tied it into a pony-tail to keep it out of her eyes. "Right. Recall the fighters and re-arm the batteries. Away all DC parties. We have a lull for now: Let's make the most of it."
The exhausted crew trudged off to attend her will, knowing full well that the enemy would be back in force to counterattack before too long. Ensign Tallas Leyte caught the Commander's attention as she passed by the central console and spoke to her in a low undertone, "Casualty report, Commander: three hundred thirty-nine killed or wounded and seventy-three MIA. Acting CAG Johannson reports the total loss of twenty-seven Vipers and further reports six more combat ineffective."
Stephanie bit her lip: Half her crew and over three quarters of her fighter force down- this was not looking good. But, she realized, morale had to be maintained, "Keep this to yourself for now. Understand what I mean?"
He nodded solemnly, "Yes, Commander."
She nodded and moved on to the next station, there to be handed a sheet of transcript paper- more bad news:
To all commands:
Enemy has withdrawn and is reorganizing for a final assault. Anticipate attack within the next hour. All vessels to spool up FTLs and prepare to jump on command. Acknowledge on same frequency.
-Romanus
Stephanie swore rather viciously: They had fought so hard and lost so many and now for what?! She took several deep, calming breaths and pushed her hand through her hair- of course they couldn't stay, else they'd all die. She let the communiqué flutter to the already-cluttered floor. "Spool up the FTL," she called wearily, "and prepare our people for combat landings on command: Prepare to jump."
Final Evac Raptor inbound to nearest Colonial Battlestar, CFS Hector
Tolan mopped his brow as he leaned against the Raptor crew compartment's metal sides. He sighed and his head clunked against the unyielding bulkhead: It had been a close thing. Somehow, Tolan had moved his little group to one of the rear hanger bays, the only one still in Colonial hands, more due to insignificance than staunch defense, and had hopped on the last Raptor out of there as the enemy, now known to him as the "GFFA," finally stormed the bay.
He looked acrossed the compartment at their prisoner, sitting mutely with eyes downcast: The first Colonial Prisoner of War.
Grand Atrium, Mon Calamari
The temporary Senate Chamber was packed with delegates from every corner of the galaxy yet aligned with the legitimate government of the ex-GFFA…and each one of them was currently raising their respective voice into an indecipherable tumult regarding who the next Chief of State ought to be. As of now, two major factions had evolved and neither seemed to be able to appease the other; Kelosk Atla'kir of Bothawui and Nallas Tein of Sullust's ideas were polar opposites and both were unwilling to equivocate on their policies.
Atla'kir advocated a peaceful settlement on the enemy's terms of the conflict, deeming the war already lost and stating that they should end the fighting before they were wiped out completely. He had garnered the support of the more peaceful species, such as the Ithorians, and that of planets already attacked or at risk of invasion.
Tein widely declared that the only way for the fighting to end was to strike back and, if victory was impossible, to fight the enemy to a stand-still and make it so costly that better terms could be negotiated. Contrary to Atla'kir, Tien had the support of the Senators from more combative systems, such as Kashyyk. A large percentage of his backing came from the Outer Rim systems, not yet at risk from GFFA assault.
The two factions were hopelessly deadlocked; the Jedi, still greatly scattered and having previously remained aloof from the civilian government, had recognized the importance of unity and now desperately attempted to mediate the two sides to little avail.
Junior Senator Alaric Cimbar of Farris Tarr VI lowered his head into his hands as he cast about for an acceptable moderate for the position along with a few dozen of his peers. Together with the few and somewhat-mistrusted Jedi, they wracked their brains for some sort of solution.
Respected, experienced, diplomatic, and a capable warrior… The words of the Mon Calamari Senator and Jedi who headed the mediators, Clighal, rang through his head. There seemed to be few who fit the bill who were yet unaligned! His colleagues appeared similarly at a loss. He glanced once more in growing despair at the flimsiplast containing a list of Alliance members and their representatives: Triebaak, Atual, Trek'ala, Jolina…
Alaric's gaze lingered on the last representative- she wasn't present today he didn't think…and she represented…
A grin slowly spread acrossed Cimbar's face as he dashed towards his peers, epiphany forming in his head.
Fountain Palace, Hapes
"…and in a surprising turn-of-events in the Loyalist Senate, Queen Mother Tenel Ka Ta Chume Djo of Hapes has been elected Loyalist Alliance Chief of State to replace the now-deceased Cal Omas. Skeptics galaxy-wide comment on the irony they see between having a Jedi Chief of State when it is still maintained by the GFFA that Jedi assassinated the previous one. Only time shall tell. This is Tal Buras, Faction Two HoloNews…"
Tenel Ka sat transfixed before the holo. Not an hour ago had she been contacted and offered the position of Chief of State and now the announcement was being trumpeted by pro- and anti-Loyalist channels throughout the galaxy.
After a good deal of convincing at the hands of a majority of the Senate and the Jedi, Tenel Ka had reluctantly accepted the position. Already she was scheduled to travel to Mon Calamari within the next three days to be sworn in to office and, quite frankly, she was having trouble taking it all in; it was a feeling to which she was not accustomed. She sat uncharacteristically still before the HoloNet transceiver, still trying to collect herself. A gentle knock on the door drew her attention and she quickly deduced the identity of her visitor before allowing Jacen Solo inside.
He took note of the flickering holo and raised an eyebrow inquisitively, "You were never much for mindless zoning. That was always more my department," he cracked, setting it off with that Solo grin she so adored.
"I always preferred to keep my mind unpolluted and fully functional," attempting to feel the levity he was so trying to produce.
That grin only widened as he leaned in to kiss her, and was undimmed when he pulled away. "I know why you've become a Holonet addict!" he teased good-naturedly. "I hear the Queen Mother of Hapes has taken the step up from regional monarch to galactic Chief. Our little Tenel Ka is all grown up!" He mimed wiping away a tear.
The one-armed Dathomirian knew he was trying to make light of the situation for her sake and she leaned into his embrace, tucking her face into his shoulder. "It is a great responsibility, Jacen. I often feel overwhelmed ruling only the Consortium! What if I am not equal to the task?" she practically whispered.
"Hey," he admonished, tipping her face up so that he could look her in the eye. "None of that. I have never seen you undertake something that you didn't or couldn't achieve. You've been my crutch all my life. Now it's my turn. You can do this. Trust me."
"I do," she said, kissing him. "I truly do, but I cannot help but think…"
"Then don't think. Leave that to me."
Tenel Ka allowed herself a small grin, "That can lead only to disaster…"
She felt Jacen do a double-take, "What was that, m'lady? Did the almighty Queen Mother crack a joke?"
She looked up at him with a straight face, but with eyes alight with merriment, all thought of responsibility immediately forgotten as the two fell into their familiar playful banter, "Of course not. You must have imagined it."
"Oh did I?"
She took a step back from him, "Indeed."
A mischievous sparkle entered his eye, "I don't think so." He took a step forward again, and she was forced to take a step back. "I think my stoic Tenel Ka cracked one of her all- too-rare jokes and isn't willing to admit it." He took another step towards her and Tenel Ka found her back to the wall as he took one step further, putting himself toe-to-toe with her. "Admit it."
She tilted her chin up defiantly, "No."
"So that's how it's going to be?" he sighed in mock-resignation. "I guess I'm going to have to make you."
"I would like to see you try," she replied, willingly following his thread.
"Would you? Really?"
A small smile gracing her lips was all the impetus he needed as his lips descended upon hers and his now-roving hands slipped downwards, sending her silken robe fluttering to the ground as her own hands found his tunic clasps. Not breaking the embrace, the two lovers fell upon the great bed in the Queen Mother's chambers, both now oblivious to all events beyond the reach of each other's arms.
Tenel Ka was suitably distracted; Jacen Solo had done his job well.
Orion Fleet Headquarters Combat Zone
"Here they come, skipper!" the cry arose from the DRADIS station, and an upwards glance at the central console confirmed it.
She regarded the DRADIS in growing dismay, "What's the status of our reinforcements?" To her, that was the deciding factor in whether or not she would make her stand here.
It was her XO that replied, "The Hector is four minutes out, leading the rest of Battle Group Four to the jump point."
"Patch me through to Hector Actual."
A moment later, she picked up the phone, "This is Immortalis Actual."
"Devaux," came the simple reply, "This is Tolan. You've got to hold that opening; do you understand me, Commander? You've got to hold!"
Stephanie unconsciously straightened, "Aye, sir."
"Good. Now, we'll be on station in…three minutes now. Hold on that long and we can take it from there. Acknowledge?"
"Yes, sir."
Without any further discussion the line went dead and Devaux replaced the phone to address her anxiously awaiting crew, "Bring us about and load the guns! Contact Johannson and order him to cover our starboard flank. Present port side to the enemy and open fire as soon as they come into effective range. We have to hold this position, people," she said, raising her voice further above the rising din as the weary crew prepared once more for action. "The Admiral and our comrades are counting on us to keep this escape route open. Can we do it?"
The crew mustered enough energy to summon a powerful assent and Stephanie allowed herself a tight grin. "I certainly hope so," she muttered, "or we're all dead."
For the Colonials of the Fighting Fifth and their GFFA enemies, it was a desperate race to the finish.
Author's Note: Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I've found little time lately to progress this story, what with school and my various other extra-curriculars. I hope this chapter is completed to your satisfaction. I love that review button, so let me know what you think!
Thanks for reading,
-The CAG