Poem used written by Dylan Thomas.
Song lyrics by Nelson Willie.
Encounter At Dawn
Part 10: Rage Against The Dying Of The Light
"The bulk of our fleet will wait here." Cavil stood before the assembled Cylon High Council, "We have agreed that sending more than one ship could be seen as an act of aggression. We are close enough to Atlantis that anyone killed will be picked up by one of the Resurrection ships."
"We will go on ahead on this ship and make contact." Six nodded in agreement, "If all goes well, we should be able to single for the transports and our 'gift' within an hour of the start of the negotiations."
"We must assume that Atlantis is defended." Boomer looked at the other, "Dr Weir would not have invited up unless she was convinced that they could defend themselves against an attack."
"They have seen battle against Wraith and survived." Simon rubbed his chin, "They must be able to defend their city some way."
"The weapons we saw Colonel Sheppard use against the Wraith cruiser?" Leoben suggested, "It seemed much more advanced than the weapons fired by the Daedalus."
"They also spoke of 'friends'." Three thought for a moment, "If the Wraith are not human, then is it possible that they have made contact with other, friendlier, races?"
The entire room feel silent as they all took in what had been said.
"There is an urban legend, you might not have heard or it, dating back to ten years to so after the first Human/Cylon war." Baltar spoke up from his seat deep in the shadows at the back of the room, only the burning end of his cigarette really visible, "One day, a farmer on Aerelon noticed some strange debris while working on a farm 70 miles from Cuffle's Breath Wash. He called the local police station, who in turn placed a call to a near by Colonial Fleet Reserve Base, thinking that maybe something had fallen off of one of their ships. Nobody really thought anything of it, until the military moved in and cordoned off the entire area, interviewing the farmer, his son, the rest of his family and the desk sergeant at the police station. They ask about a storm two nights before the debris was found and did they see anything strange. They said no, and the debris was quickly and quietly taken away never to be seen again."
"And the relevance of this is?" Cavil asked, "It is, in your own words, an urban legend."
"The farmer in question was my father. The son who was with him, my older brother." Baltar stood and slowly made his way to the middle of the room, holding his cigarette in one hand while the other was in his jacket pocket, "I was only a child at the time, but I saw some of the material they found, and it was unlike anything I've seen before or since. Right then and there I dedicated my life to becoming a scientist so that, maybe, one day I'd be able to find out where that debris came from. In fact, while your college there," He nodded to Six, "was snooping around inside the Colonial Defence Mainframe planting all those viruses of yours that were so very effective against the fleet, I did a little snooping of my own, until I found the file on the incident."
"My God!" Six looked stunned, "What did you find?"
"Nothing." Baltar shrugged, "Oh, the file was there all right; a very big, very old and above all, very empty file." He started to walk around the room, alternately stepping in and out of the shadows, "Maybe I missed something, maybe they decided that what was in three was too dangerous to risk someone stumbling across by accident. For all I know, it might have been removed and hidden away on a shelf in some vault far below the Department of Defence headquarters in Caprica City, which was alas one of your first targets during the war."
"And for that we apologise unreservedly." Cavil bowed his head, "But it might still be of use: if the Thirteenth Tribe is used to dealing with non-human lifeforms than they won't have some of the same hang ups that the other tribes have when it comes to dealing with us."
"That is true." Three admitted, "But time is running short: the last thing we want id for Adama and Roslin to spend too much time alone with Dr Weir and the other humans. We should jump, now."
"By your command." Simon moved his hands over the controls, and there was the familiar feeling of the universe being pulled inside out as the Basestar jumped.
"Theyre' powering up their hyper-drives," Zelenka point at the screen and smiled as the blips indicating the Colonial fleet started to blink out, "and they're off!"
"The clock is running!" Carter looked at the other display, "One one-thousand... two one-thousand... three one-thousand... four one-thousand... five one-thousand..."
"The first ship is arriving now." Zelenka grinned as he looked at the screen, "Thirty light-years in five seconds!" He held out his hand, "Pay up."
"Son of a bitch!" Carter reluctantly handed over a Hershey Bar, "I could have sworn that they took longer than that to make the last jump!"
"They were jumping further that time." The Czech scientist stood, "Come on; we're going to be late."
"DRADIS confirms the rest of the fleet has made the jump successfully." Gaeta reported, "We're in stable orbit above Atlantis."
"Picking up a transmission from the city." Dee reported, "They welcome us, and are ready to started sending up what emergency supplies they have."
"Well that's some good news for a change." Tigh managed a faint smile, "When do they want us to land for these propitious peace talks?"
"Tomorrow morning; dawn, local time." Dee looked up, "They apologise for the late start, but they're holding a memorial service for Colonel Sheppard."
"I didn't know John Sheppard as well as some, but I'd like to think that I knew him well enough to call him my friend." Weir stood at the top of the steps leading up from the Stargate, the bulk of the expedition assembled below her, "He was perhaps the most infuriating, antagonistic and single minded man I have ever known, but was also fair, just and had a deep reserve of inner strength and integrity that we all drew on in times of need." She hesitated for a moment, then pulled a small, leather bound book from her pocket, "While going through his effects, I found this; it's an old copy of the collected works of the poet and writer Dylan Thomas. I saw that one of the poems had been marked, and I'd like to read it to you all now:"
"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light..."
Weir stood at the podium, unable to continue until Teyla walked up to her and led her away. Caldwell walked over, dressed in his best dress uniform, cap under one arm.
"In his will, Colonel Sheppard requested that this song be played at his funeral." He signalled to the side, and Zelenka activated the PA system.
"I was a highwayman. Along the coach roads I did ride
With sword and pistol by my side
Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade
Many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade
The bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-five
But I am still alive..."
"I want to remind everyone just how important today could be for the very future of our civilisation." President Roslin stood in front of her assembled team, "We have a lot of ground to make up, and the Cylons will be intent of turning the Thirteenth Tribe against us. We have to downplay our past mistakes, but do not lie: if asked a straight question, give as straight an answer as you can without compromising our security."
"I agree." Apollo nodded, "They seem a little hesitant, but they've not given us any reason not to trust them."
"Major, I still think you should sit this one out." The President looked at him, "I know that Captain Thrace was a close, personal friend of yours: I know how hard your farther is taking her death..."
"With all due respect, Madam President; I know what I can handle." The CAG shook his head, "Yes, Kara was a friend, but she was a pilot, and we all know that every time we go out might be our last. You should save your sympathies for her husband."
"I have spoken to Sam." Roslin nodded, "He seems to be taking it as well as anyone might expect."
"He was blind drunk last time I saw him." Tom Zarek shrugged, "Can't say I blame him."
"I really must insist you stay behind." Apollo looked at the vice-president, "Having both of you down on Atlantis at the same time is an unacceptable breach in protocol: if anything was to happen, we could lose our entire political leadership."
"That's what the Quorum of the Twelve is for." Zarek smiled, "Anyway, we all know that your father would be more than capable of taking over should anything happen to us. If anything, I'm more worried about you coming with us: I don't like the idea of Saul Tigh being three steps removed from the leadership of our people, not after last time."
"I think the Colonel's learnt his lessen after the last time." Roslin picked up the phone on her desk, "Tell the pilot we're ready to go."
"The Colonial delegation is making its way down now." Major Lorne reported, "I've cleared them to land on the North Pier."
"I'll send Mr Woolsey along with the security team to great them." O'Neill nodded, "What about our other guests?"
"The bulk of the Cylon fleet has stopped in a system ten light-years away; only one of their ships is in orbit, far side of the planet to the Galactica." Zelenka looked at the long-range sensor display, "I'm picking up over forty ships of several different classes. I can't tell them apart yet, but it looks like at least twenty five warships, five 'Resurrection Ships' and an collection of transports and support vessels."
"Hell of a lot of fire-power to send to a peace conference." Caldwell looked genuinely worried, "We'd best keep an eye on them; if they look like they're about to jump, I want you ready to engage the shields at a moments notice."
"And make sure someone with the ATA gene is in or near the drone control chair at all times." O'Neill nodded his agreement, "Anyone comes looking for trouble, I want to have a few nasty surprises waiting for them."
Woolsey watched with interest as the atmospheric shuttle carrying the Colonial delegation came in to land. It was a squat looking affair, not as visually pleasing as a Puddle Jumper or a Goa'uld shuttle; it looked more like something Earth would build. That said, the two Viper fighters that had escorted it down looked decidable impressive as they roared overhead, their pilots concerning up the throttle in a show of respect.
A pair of USAF F-302 fighters followed them, the wedge shaped craft easily keeping up with their more streamlined counterparts.
The shuttle landed without a single bump, impressive considering how unwieldy it looked. There was a few moments rest as the engines powered down, then a door in the side opened, and two men dressed in suits stepped out. They surveyed the area, taking notice of Woolsey and the marines with him, before taking up position on either side of the doorway. The next man to step out was dressed in a dark-blue uniform with a golden embroiled patch on each shoulder and a set of gold wings on his left chest. He nodded to whoever was inside, then took a step further out, his eyes still surveying the scene to make sure nothing untoward happened.
Next came a red-haired woman of medium hight dressed in a black suit-dress with a white blouse. She had a politicians smile, but reminded Woolsey of one of his grade-school teachers somehow. She said something to the uniformed man and he nodded somewhat reluctantly as a second, slightly taller man with greying hair stepped into the light. He was dressed in a dark brown suit, and there were a few hits of grey in his otherwise black hair.
"On behalf of the people of Earth, I would like to welcome you to Atlantis." The IOA man greeted them, "My name is Richard Woolsey; I'll be assisting Dr Weir during the negotiations."
"Thank you, Mr Woolsey; it's an honour to be here." The woman shook his hand, "I'm Laura Roslin, president of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. I'd like to introduce my vice-president, Tom Zarek." She gestured to the older man, who likewise shook Woolsey's hand, "And my military advisor, Major Lee Adama." She gestured to the uniformed officer, who nodded polity.
"A pleasure to meet you." Woolsey smiled, "If you'd like to follow me, we've arranged a short tour of the city before we begin the negotiations."
To Be Continued...
Time for another Q&A:
Q: The Ori?
A: Mentioned in passing only. Even I'm not that vindictive.
Q: Sheppard and Starbuck?
A: Well... ;)
Q: Wraith ships with shields?
A: What? You think I'd put something like that in by accident? Have a little faith.
Q: What ship are the Cylon's planning to give the Atlantis crew?
A: Well, that will be answered in the next chapter.
Q: You went a little X-Files in this chapter, didn't you?
A: Yeah, so?
Q: What was with the Country and Weston song at the funeral?
A: It's a canon fact that Sheppard's a Johnny Cash fan (mentioned in Season 3), and so am I. Got a problem with that?
Q: No, no problem. What about your other stories?
A: All on the back burner, because I'm actually enjoying myself writing this one.