Battlestar Galactica:New Beginnings

by Phoenix4416

Now an original book on amazon called Ashes of Humanity: Phoenix. The Graystones survived in secrecy preparing for the Cylons possible return, then one day 40 years after armistice was signed, the Cylons launched their assault on the Colonies. Would their preparations be enough to turn the tide of war? would the colonies be forced to run and if they did would more survive?

14. Chapter 14 Calm That Comes With Death

Chapter 14: The Calm That Comes With Death

Fleet Ships: 643 both active and decommissioned (Due to Graystones fleet)

Fleet population: 762,984

Battlestar Galactica, Port Flight Pod, Exodus Jump number 1

Exhaustion seemed to seep out of Captain Cain as his Viper was wheeled off the port flight pod's primary lift by a tractor and into the Galactica's only functioning hanger. It was only now that it was finally starting to seep in that this was it, the colonies were over. The war had been lost. It didn't matter that he was still alive or that there were hundreds of thousands of civilians still alive on hundreds of vessels in the colonial fleet, the fact was that they no longer had homes to go back to, the Cylons had taken that from them, they were now, all of them refugees. The idea sickened Cain, he'd never felt that he had a proper home on the Colonies, true he did maintain a crummy apartment on Leonis, but he mainly lived on Battlestars, had done for years. But it was the thought that he would never be able to set foot on Leonis again that really got to him.

He had to get out of the cockpit, he felt like he couldn't breathe, he just needed time to think. Sliding the canopy open and throwing his helmet behind him and onto the seat, Cain jumped down onto the deck while young deckhand whose dreams of becoming a dentist had now been smashed handed him a clipboard in order to sign back the Viper. Cain barely noticed the soot marking her white skin as he signed his name, but he did notice the dozens of pilots getting free from their cockpits, some smashing their helmets against walls, others punching their vipers, a few throwing up their guts as radiation sickness overtook them and a lot of them just collapsing where they stood as tears overtook them.

Just the sight of the dejected pilots throwing up made Cain flinch as he quickly checked a radiation warning badge clipped onto his uniform which was more than halfway covered in black blotches. Cain had been wearing the same badge since the start of the war three hours ago and he could only be thankful that it wasn't totally black which he knew many pilots badges were, but still this was bad. Climbing onto the wing of his Viper, Cain looked around at the numerous pilots in the hanger deck and called out in as loud a voice as he could muster, "Pilots, listen up!" the various pilots and even the deck crews looked in his direction, "I want you all to check your Radiation Disks, if you see any indication that you have taken a dose of radiation then you are to start self-medication of anti-rad meds. This goes especially for Argos Squadron. Any pilot whose disk is over three quarters black is to report to the life station and is grounded unless you receive a direct order from command". Cain didn't know what else to say so started to step down from his Viper as seemingly every pilot started checking themselves and most of them then started injecting themselves with the anti-radiation meds they all carried.

Battlestar Galactica, CIC

Rear Admiral William Adama stood across the plot table from President Laura Roslin, both of them staring into the eyes of the other conveying their untold feelings at having to abandon the colonies to their fate in order to ensure humanity as a species could carry on. As the highest ranking officer of the colonial fleet other than Admiral Perry who in his current state was unable to take command, Admiral Adama felt the responsibility of abandoning the colonies more than anyone in the fleet. He also knew that in order to survive the coming journey, a journey that would hopefully lead the survivors to a habitable planet, any habitable planet and that he would have to at least have to seem strong to those around him. If not then the fleet as a whole would break down.

Nodding to the President, he turned to the officers around him seeing as Colonel Tigh slipped a hip flask that was no doubt empty by now into his boot. Choosing to ignore this Adama said, "Colonel I need status reports on the entire fleet and a new set of jump coordinates plotted and distributed to the rest of the fleet. We jump in ten minutes and have Talon and whoever else has a squadron available set a Cap around the fleet". Tigh nodded and started calling out orders to the various officers. Turning back to the President, Admiral Adama said, "We need to talk".

Nodding, President Roslin answered, "Yes, we do". Adama motioned for President Roslin to follow him into a nearby conference room, her two Praetorian Guard (colonial secret service) following them and taking up position at the conference room while the door was shut on the two most powerful people in the newly formed Colonial Fleet.

Moving to a nearby table Adama bent over and picked a smashed glass jug off the floor placing it on the table and followed by picking up two cups, one of which had lost it's handle. Filling up the one without the handle with coffee from an urn, Adama asked "Coffee?"

From behind him, her hands resting on one of the back of a chair, Roslin replied "Please, sugar if you have any".

Filling the other cup and adding 2 lumps that lay on the table, most of the rest lying scattered on the ground, Adama turned and handed it to her. "Thank you" the President replied taking it as Adama walked around the collection of joined tables and slumped down in a chair. Sitting down in her own, Laura removed her glasses unwilling to break the silence that had descended upon the room.

Staring into his mug of coffee as if all the answers to his, the colonials predicament were in it, Adama mustered what strength he could and broke the silence, "I'm sorry. You have to understand that we…the colonial fleet are just too badly damaged to go on fighting for the colonies. We had to withdraw. If we…if we stood any…"

Laura heard the defeat in his voice, a defeat that she knew he would never reveal to those under his command and it caught her off guard, here was a man who barely knew her, willing to let her see him like this. "I know. And Admiral, I also know that you did everything that you could and more than I could have asked for. So the question is where do we go from here?"

Seeming to gain some measure of strength back, Adama replied "We can't remain near the colonies, pretty soon the Cylons are going to come looking for us. Right now we have to run, put as much space between us and the colonies. Once I deem that we're either far enough away from either the colonies or the Cylons, then we start looking for a new home".

Cradling her cup in her hands, President Roslin nodding said "And I thought we might have a problem with each other. Can we do it?"

"We don't have a choice. If it's a supply issue you're worried about then I don't know yet but what I do know is that Admiral Nagala filled up a lot of the ships out there with supplies, though I doubt he had time to do an inventory. The chances are we won't have everything we need but we will have to find some way to make do".

After taking a sip of the coffee, Roslin said "Then that's something we will have to do over the next few days. What about your ships? Can they be repaired?"

His thumb rubbing over the cracked handle of his cup as he calculated each ship Adama answered, "Hopefully. It all depends on the reports I get, but we will do everything in our power to get them to their former glory. Right now the Battlestars Galactica, Defiant, Talon and maybe…maybe Valkyrie are as close to battle ready as any ship in the fleet. In order to get ship numbers up I'm going to concentrate on getting the decommissioned ships operational and then transfer over the crews from the damaged ships", Adama was still working out the figures since he was currently having to do everything on the fly.

"It sounds like a plan".

Turning to look her in the face, Admiral Adama motioned "You no doubt know that Admiral Nagala declared a state of martial law", it wasn't a question so Roslin let him continue, "its something he would have only done in exceptional circumstances…"

Nodding, Laura said "And these are exceptional circumstances".

"But still, I knew Nagala and like myself he didn't like martial law. As such I'm going to restore control to the civilian government on one condition".

Suspecting what that one condition was, Laura asked "And that condition?"

"You and eventually when a new quorum is elected deal with the civilian matters while I and the surviving fleet commanders deal with military matters. This is none negotiable".

Roslin wasn't happy with this, but then she realised that where they were right now was partly thanks to the defence cuts instituted by the government, defence cuts which had forced the military to accept networks that were susceptible to the Cylons, defence cuts which she had backed. With reluctance Roslin nodded, "You have a deal Admiral".

Emptying the last of the coffee from his mug, Adama stood up as did the President, both taking their cups to the table. Turning to her, Admiral Adama said "We have one last problem". Laura's eyebrows rose until Adama continued, "The Graystones".

Medstar Panacea CIC

Panacea, a former Columbia-II class Battlestar was eerily similar to the Battlestar Galactica looks-wise, although Panacea like all ships of her class was 100 metres longer and slightly wider and taller than the original Columbia class. The main differences however were below the skin; the jumpdrive was more powerful, generators also more powerful and there were more disaster pods (these are self maintained areas like the med bay which in the event of the ship being destroyed stand a good chance of floating around in the debris until they were picked up just like lifeboats) in addition to a whole host of smaller changes. With Panacea being reclassed as a Medstar came another bout of changes in which certain areas were changed to allow for more substantial medical facilities turning the Battlestar into a self-contained hospital able to care for up to 2000 patients rivalling any anywhere in the colonies and then she was decommissioned after the late President Adar's first bout of defence cuts, after all what was the point of her, the Colonies weren't at war despite their only being an armistice with the Cylons and not a full peace. Now though, for the first time in her existence she was being used for what she was created.

Walking from the docked Snapdragon and into the CIC, a CIC that was the spitting double of Galactica's, Daniel Graystone felt a dejected sense of loss at having failed the colonies despite working for more than fifty years to stop the Cylons from harming humanity. By his side was his daughter Zoe, herself a creation by and of his long deceased biological daughter also called Zoe (Graystones when in each others presence so as not to confuse each other call original Zoe, Eve).

Approaching his still striking blonde wife Amanda, both husband and wife held each other as the pain of failing was shared. They all knew there was a chance that they might not succeed in stopping the Cylons but it was crueller to know after the fact that they had failed to stop a race that they had created. Along with Zoe, Daniel and Amanda there also stood Tamara Adama, herself created from an avatar of the original Tamara who had died in a terrorist attack and Cyrus Xander, Daniels long-time friend and former assistant, himself a continuation of the original through human resurrection. This wasn't to say they were alone in the CIC since manning the various stations were men and women who had either worked for one of a number of companies owned by the Graystones or were made aware of their contingency plans in case the Cylons ever returned. But now those men and women who had previous service in the fleet but had since mustered out had been recomissioned and those who didn't have a fleet record were conscripted at the current Commanders discretion.

Releasing himself from Amanda's embrace as she went on to Zoe, Daniel turned to Cyrus, "Were you able to secure the scientists?"

Approaching Daniel, Cyus replied, "Most of them who were there, thankfully your warning gave us sufficient time to get to the bunkers but we weren't able to find Doctors Ridley, Kamara or Lund along with section 18. The fact is today was a national holiday, there was only about a quarter of the staff at CORA".

Shaking his head and emitting defeat, Daniel replied "I know. Were you able to secure the archives and any materials?" the archives held every bit of knowledge accumulated in genetic advancement and organ research and creation and the materials was equipment necessary for the creation of organs. All of this was necessary not just for the Graystones, for whom it was required to create their bodies but for the Colonial people themselves as it allowed for the creation of organs from stem cells meaning if a colonial needed an organ transplant like a kidney, then a new kidney could be grown and not be rejected by the patient.

"Yes, we managed to get the backup archives and as for materials we've retrieved most of what we need, the rest we should have available in this ship".

"Sir, I've got the Battlestar Galactica on the line. Admiral Adama wishes to speak with you" the communications officer spoke up.

Commander Acheron picked up the old fashioned black phone and went to give it to Daniel who shook his head in reply saying "This is your ship, Commander". Nevertheless the Graystones and their two close friends moved to stand around the hexagonal information management table (Dradis console in centre of CIC) as Acheron activated the speakerphone system.

Battlestar Galactica CIC

Standing around the Dradis Console, Admiral Adama, President Roslin and Colonel Tigh were forced to duck out of the way of a petty officer who was cleaning up the blood, grey matter and skull fragments from the management table and the surrounding deck, it was a grim business that Tigh was glad he didn't have to do, all he could think was why do the Toasters have to make their new machines so lifelike.

A voice came through the speakers, "This is Panacea Actual, Commander Acheron speaking".

In front of Adama laid out on the under-lit table was Acheron's service record printed off by Gaeta after Commander Hall informed him of his reactivation of the Panacea's current crew. Merely glancing at it and disregarding it in order to get his own measure of the man, Adama began, "This is Galactica Actual. Commander, I would like to thank you for your intervention at Virgon but I need to know now if the group known as the Graystones are present with you". All eyes in the CIC seemed to fixate on Adama as he asked this, a few crewmembers even muttering curses under their breath. Ever since the first day of the first war more than fifty years ago the Graystones had become a curse word among the Colonials, only a few members knew that a group saying they were the Graystones were responsible for the early warning the fleet was given.

"This is Daniel Graystone, Admiral. We're here". Admiral Adama, Colonel Tigh and President Roslin shared a look between themselves as they heard the voice over the wireless. The voice was unmistakeable, especially to the President who had heard it numerous times when she played recordings of him during class when she was a teacher. Looking at the Admiral she mouthed "It's him".

"Mr Graystone I need to know both how you have survived this long and what your intentions are?" Adama knew that Graystone would be at least 90 years old and while that wasn't all that uncommon given the advances in medical science (average age of death is 112), it was harder to believe given the original Cylon war and the fact that Graystone was reported killed at the start of the last war).

"Our intentions should be clear Admiral, the defence of humanity. We are all willing to die for the Colonies if necessary. As for how we are alive, that's something best left off the airwaves".

Covering the microphone, Adama turned to the President "We need to meet him in person if he is to remain in the fleet".

"Is that wise, Admiral? What if he's a Cylon?"

"Then we would have been more fracked than we already are". Uncovering the microphone, Adama said, "Mr Graystone, I need to know that Panacea will respond to my orders and the orders of the next highest fleet officer if I am incapacitated".

"This is a fleet ship Admiral. All officers and crew are fleet officers and will respond to your commands. However at the present time Panacea has little armament and will be unable to fully defend itself against the Cylons".

"I'll have a supply ship sent by shortly after our next jump. I also want to meet you in person once the jump is complete. A Raptor can be sent…"

"There's no need to send a Raptor Admiral, unless you want to check there are no Cylons on board in which case by all means send one".

Adama realised that maybe it was time to show a little trust, after all he still had Galactica under his feet which was testament to the aid that the Graystones had provided, "Very well, if you have your own then you will be connected to my LSO once we jump. And Mr Graystone…Thank you". Putting the phone back in its holster, Adama read a sheet of paper handed to him by Lt. Gaeta seeing that Admiral Perry had just landed and was being taken to the med bay (life station although this name was rarely used by fleet officers who felt like that was just trying to sugar-coat it's purpose). Adama was torn between his station and going to see Perry but with a jump imminent he was needed here.

Battlestar Galactica, Med Bay

5 Minutes after jump number 2

Cain had been walking past wounded and dying crew for going on a hundred metres before he got to the Med bay. The majority of them were crying out in pain as the morpha was starting to wear off and it sickened him to see dozens of pilots exhibiting symptoms of advanced radiation poisoning. The smell of faeces and vomit was thick in the air as he looked upon those pilots almost making him gag. Seeing a female pilot around 24 years of age curled up in a foetal position, Cain saw her brown hair starting to fall away. Her skin wasn't just pale but almost green as sweat bled across her body, bloody vomit coated her tanks and she shook as pain coursed through her body, her teeth grinding as she was racked with pain. Around him it seemed like the majority of the pilots were suffering in the same way and Cain knew that this was the second Cylon victory, to make the Colonials watch as those who had fought against them, who had risked their lives to preserve the colonies died a painful, indignant death unlike any other and without an effective cure since the radiation exposure was so severe the anti-radiation meds the colonials had would do nothing except prolong their death. Cain wanted to run away, to get away from this hall of the damned but he knew he had to continue, to show his respect to these pilots and to check on the conditions of those who belonged in Argos Squadron.

Continuing on and looking at the faces of each pilot, Cain finally reached a red headed female and crouched down by her side. She barely even noticed him as he crouched there as her eyes focused and defocused on him. Reaching out, Cain grasped the cold, sweat soaked hand of Major Alice 'Shadow' Fermi, giving her some reassurance that there was someone there watching over her. Major Fermi was the CAG of Argos Squadron who, in the last battle at Virgon collapsed at the controls of her Viper as she led the squadron meaning that Major Thurlow had to take charge before he himself was lost in battle (Even though Major Thurlow ejected, he was killed by debris). It killed Cain to see Alice like this, he'd only met her about a dozen timed before now, back when she was in her prime, and she had struck Cain as a beautiful woman, her smile radiating warmth in a room and her bright blue eyes shining an innocence ill befitting a fighter pilot, but now…

Her eyes focused on Cain and her hand gripped his more tightly as she used a sudden bout of pain that had coursed through her to strengthen herself. "Phoenix?"

Tears eating away at his soul, Cain replied, "It's me Alice".

"I'm glad you're here…where's Buzzer?"

Shaking his head, Cain replied "He didn't make it".

A groan running through her, Alice asked, "And Argos?"

"Still the best in the fleet, we're just waiting for our CAG", it was a lie, Cain knew that Alice wouldn't make it but he couldn't rip away any hope she might be harbouring.

"Don't. I know…David, you need to know…you're one of the best pilots that I've ever seen, our pilots need you and you need to be there for them. Remember, never lie to them…they need to know that they can trust you and…most of all, they need to know that you trust them". Alice gritted her teeth as pain shot through her like lightning but she soldiered on. "Keep your mind on the next moment but don't forget to live in the moment. Pass on your gifts and never…ever let them fear you. The skill of a CAG is to inspire those around them against all reason and…all hope. You need…need to be a light in the dark and a…a weapon on the battlefield. And…if you ever see some…something on the battlefield your commander can't then you need to trust your instincts. This…"a quiver of a scream escaped the Majors lips and her grip on Cain's hand became vice-like as she finished, "This is the skill of an Argonaut and the need of the fleet and re…remember…" her eyes defocussed and a breath left her body along with the last of her strength as with a last whisper "remember where you're from and where you're need to be. The rest will come in a circle…a pool of light" Major Alice Fermi's eyes glazed over as her life seeped out of her, her grip on Cain's hand loosening as she came to rest.

As silent as a whisper, Cain bid "Take your last flight Major. Soar into Elysium". He closed her eyes and took one of her dog tags as he stood up and seemed to recede into a corner as he was racked with guilt and tears. Never again would he be the same, he had witnessed true death for the first time.

Admiral Adama passed by Cain as he looked on in horror at the death surrounding him. It wasn't even like this in the first war and he found it hard to believe that this could be possible. Just seeing the faces of the pilots around him he knew that he would be lucky if only a quarter survived. He wanted to stop by every pilot and try to offer them some hope, but he also knew that there wasn't enough time and that only served to disgust him even more. For Adama, this only served to prove to him that the Lords of Kobol weren't Gods, unlike many Colonials, especially those with a Tauron background, Adama wasn't a believer, preferring to have facts and evidence than running on blind faith. He soldiered on past the handful of medics and those with medical training and into the med bay.

It took Adama a while before his eyes alit on Doctor Sherman Cottle, Galactica's only trained physician, the other three having been transferred over the past three months. The elderly physician had a cigarette tightly clamped between his lips as he pulled off a white plastic surgical garment, disposing of it in a bin before moving onto his next patient all the while grumbling under his breath. Not wanting to disturb the man, Adama started checking on the different faces in the room seeing that there were two other Doctors working here who must have come from the Battlestar Valiant. However not being able to see Admiral Perry, Adama moved to approach Cottle. Seeing his approach, Cottle turned to him, a clipboard held in one hand while his other lit the cigarette.

"How bad is it Sherman?" Adama asked not wanting to make it seem like he was prioritising Admiral Perry in front of all the other patients crowding the bay.

Shaking his head, Doctor Cottle replied, "It's fracked Admiral. Even with the staff off Valiant, Chancellor and Gorkon we're still short staffed. At best if we can stabilise them we're looking at maybe a quarter surviving at best. That's barely 300 and from what I hear it's the same on every Battlestar. We just don't have the facilities to treat this many and I'm no fracking Asclepius".

Adama didn't know what to say to those harsh facts so, instead he asked, "What do you need"

"Access to the facilities on that Medstar you've got out there as well as a full medical staff…"

"Will med students do? We've got 3 ships out there with about fifty students and Doctors on board" Adama suggested remembering that General Boskow had transferred three ships to the fleet at Virgon.

Nodding, Cottle replied "They'll do. We also need more doctors on board Hades, they only have the One doctor on board along with a handful of paramedics. The rest either died or were incapacitated at Leonis and Draken's being worked to the bone".

Trying to come up with a solution Adama answered, "I'm making you Surgeon General, Sherman. Just tell the CIC what the fleet's medics need and you'll get it if we have it. I'll also see about opening up Panacea". Finally seeing the face of Admiral Perry, Adama asked "How's the Admiral"

Shaking his head while blowing out a trail of smoke, Cottle grunted, "Man's fracking lucky to have survived as long as he has. We've done what we can but he's lost a lot of blood and his lungs are barely working due to breathing in too much Tylium laden smoke. His chances aren't good and I've had to induce a coma in order to control his breathing. If he survives the next 24 hours then there'll be a fifty percent chance he'll live. I can't do better than that". Taking a last drag on his cigarette which was now down to the filter, Cottle stubbed it out in a nearby sink saying, "Now unless you want more of my patients to die, get the frak out of my infirmary" before moving onto a burnt deckhand.

Taking one last look around the room, and seeing the pain and shock sketched out on the dozens of faces lining the room, Adama turned and left the med bay and towards the decontamination tents set up at the entrance to each corridor leading to the med bay (this is due to the risk of radiation poisoning in the area which was high as well as to cut down on infection).

Battlestar Galactica, Port Hanger deck

It would be surprising to anyone not in the fleet at how fast the hanger had been cleared of Vipers and Raptors since they had landed, each one now being in the service areas and five alert Vipers and their pilots being in the launch tubes ready to be called upon if the Cylons were to jump in. Despite every service bay being filled with Vipers and Raptors, not all Vipers available to Galactica were stored in this hangar. Instead due to the amount of Vipers picked up at Leonis, there was another one and a half squadrons of Mk-VII vipers being stored in the Starboard hanger deck. Due to the starboard flight deck being non-operational due to the launchers being ripped out and with these Mk-VIIs being the most heavily damaged, these Vipers were just being left alone for now.

While Chief Tyrol and his knuckle draggers worked on the numerous ships and the Pilots did what they could to help or just sat around coming to terms with their own grief, Sergeant Mathias led a section of Marines into the hanger with a fireteam taking position on the causeway while the other two fireteams moved down onto the deck and cleared an area around two Raptors that were being wheeled in. Admiral Adama stepped onto the deck, Sergeant Mathias moving into a blocking position in front of him determined that if whoever was in the Raptors opened fire, that the Admiral wouldn't be hit.

The Raptors were brought to a halt and two of the Marines were directed to level their assault rifles at the Viper pilots who were now moving in to see what was going on. As he stepped onto the deck, his hand clenched tight around four dog tags, Cain took in this whole scene and moved to stand near Starbuck and Apollo near the front blocking those behind them. Starbuck muttered, "What the frak's going on"

The Raptors doors unlatched and opened up revealing two Enterprise Solutions guards each who saluted the Admiral, stepping down onto the deck in covering positions with their rifles pointed at the deck but able to be rapidly brought up. Next a tall, thin, ginger haired man with the pain of failure stretched across his face stepped into the open entrance of the Raptor. Adama could only look on in shock as this man resembled numerous photos he had seen of Dr Daniel Graystone and he fought for moments at trying to decide what this man was, Human, Cylon or an unknown son of Graystone while a couple of fingers tightened on triggers but none of the Marines who recognised the man having the nerve to fire without either an order from Adama or Mathias or provocation.

Seeing the man and recognising him for who he was Cain muttered "Fracking hell".

Next to him, Kara asked "You know who he is"

Lee glanced at her "You don't". Turning Lee shouted at the growing crowd of pilots, "Everyone, either get back to work or get the frak to the pilots briefing room" seeing that they were being too slow to move Lee shouted "NOW!" He knew that if they stayed then whatever was going on behind them could turn sour very fast. He just hoped that his father knew just what the frak he was getting himself in for. The pilots started to move off to the briefing room letting Lee turn back to see what was going on. A marine nodded his thanks at him before lowering his gun to point at the deck.

On the wing of the first Raptor, Daniel asked "Permission to come aboard, Admiral".

Letting the shock drain out of himself, Adama replied "Granted" allowing the man to step off the Raptor. Daniel was followed by Amanda and Zoe. Approaching Adama who in turn waved off Mathias, Daniel held out his hand hoping against hope that the Adama sense of honour that he once witnessed in the Admiral's father carried on into his son. It was a moment before the Admiral grasped his hand, feeling the blood pulse through his wrist as the two shook.

As the two broke off their handshake, each having got a small measure of the other man, Daniel turned to the Raptor saying, "My wife Amanda and my daughter Zoe".

Adama vaguely recognised them and remembered that Zoe died in a terrorist attack that killed his sister Tamara, his sister he never knew. Adama gasped, "Just what are you?"

"We aren't Cylon if that's what you're thinking. All I ask is that you hear us out and then draw your own conclusions from that" Daniel replied.

Nodding and trying not to allow his feelings to overtake him, Adama watched as another man stepped onto the wing of the Raptor before stepping down with Daniel introducing him as "Cyrus Xander".

It was the next figure to step onto the Raptor's wing that stopped both the Admiral and Lee dead as Daniel announced "And Tamara Adama".

It seemed that minutes passed by in intense silence as the full weight of Tamara's arrival weighed down heavily upon Bill Adama more so than his son Lee, but it was merely a handful of seconds. The name didn't escape Sergeant Mathias' attention either but she knew better than to say anything. As the seconds slipped by the Admiral finally came back to himself saying, "You'd better follow me. It looks like there is a lot we need to get through".

Daniel stopped him, pointing at the other Raptor and said "We've also brought 4 paramedics and a surgeon. Three of them are reactivated fleet. We guessed that you might need them".

Nodding, Adama said to Mathias, "Have a marine get Gaeta to check out their records. If they pass then have the marine escort them to the life station. The rest follow me". Mathias ordered one fireteam to stay behind and another to contact the CIC then followed Adama, the Graystone group and the marines as they moved towards the stairs. Seeing Lee who had a look of questioning shock on his face, Adama motioned for him to join them as they left the deck.

Kara turned to Cain, "Just who the frak was that?"

Answering and keeping his voice low, Cain said "Daniel Graystone. Or at least the spitting double of him and he's barely aged".

Her hands on her hips and her flightsuit's arms tied around her waist Kara remarked "Frak! This day just gets better and better".

Battlestar Galactica, Conference Room 1 (3 minutes later. Jump number 3)

The President, Billy and Dr Gaius Baltar were sat waiting in the conference room when Colonel Tigh entered after performing a third jump that Adama had scheduled. Well almost everyone was sat on the chairs provided except Dr Baltar who was working a hole in the floor with all of his walking about as he tried to come to terms with his guilt and the fact that he kept seeing the form of Natasi (Caprica-Six. Named in the bsg miniseries novelisation) in various states of dress. Tigh taking a sip of the now cold coffee and desperate for a good glass of ambrosia, suddenly snapped "Fracking sit down, Doctor!" Baltar, shocked by the sudden outburst along with the President and Billy (who had jumped), sat down in one of the empty chairs just as Adama entered the room followed by Daniel Graystone and his friends and family. President Roslin upon seeing Daniel gasped and Baltar visibly paled. Tigh's reaction on the other hand was much more animated as he burst out of his seat and backed up against a wall as his hand went to his sidearm "What the frak is going on Bill?"

Growling, Adama said "Sit down, Colonel. I've agreed to hear them out and I can't do that if they have a hole in the forehead". As Lee sat next to Billy, the Graystone group moved into the room to stand behind a number of empty chairs and Colonel Tigh sat back down, Adama ordered "Sergeant Mathias, I want you to stay. The rest of your marines wait outside". Mathias nodded and upon closing the hatch went to stand by the side of it. Moving to sit behind the chair in between the President and Colonel Tigh, Adama witnessed as the Graystone group sat on the other side of the room.

Once Adama introduced them the President beat Adama to the punch when she asked the Graystones "Just what are you?".

Glancing at his family and friends before turning his attention back to Roslin and Adama, Daniel replied "It's complicated. In basic terms me, Amanda and Cyrus are clones or at least our bodies are. Our minds are the originals that have been imprinted on these bodies. Essentially our minds are more than 90 years old but the bodies are accelerated clones which are 5 years old when our minds are imprinted on them but are close to the genetic age that we were at when we died".

Doctor Baltar started nodding along with this as he understood what Daniel meant and the basics of what the science might involve but asked "How are your minds imprinted?"

"Most likely it's the same way that the new generation of Cylons are created. And before you ask, no we did not give the Cylons this technology. We've embedded a small hardened microchip inside our skull before we're imprinted which we connect to certain parts of our brain. Added to that there is also a small amount of brain modification on the genetic level. The chip allows for the imprinting of a mind when used in conjunction with a superior version of the holoband and when we die the modifications we've made to our brain transmit our consciousness' into subspace using our body's energy to do this. On the other end we have a subspace receiver that can collect our minds in a meta-cognitive processor before imprinting on a new body".

Baltar managed to follow this and said to the President, "It's possible, at least with a combination of pre-war tech and current tech although how they managed it I don't know. What's your maximum range?"

Zoe answered "Just under half a light-year, any more and the quantum flow holding our minds together starts to break down", seeing the confusion on Roslin's face Zoe continued "we become brain damaged. Then by 1 light-year there is nothing left to pick up, at least in theory. Truth is we daren't risk more than point five light-years".

Roslin asked, "And this technology, do you have it in the fleet?"

Nodding, Daniel replied "Yes. We currently have three bodies each separated onto three different ships along with the technology required".

"What about you two?" Lee asked indicating Zoe and Tamara.

"We're different" Zoe replied, "I was created by Zoe Graystone seven months before she was killed in a mag lev bombing. My mind she copied from her own and I existed in V world. From the moment she copied her mind we have been two different individuals. After she died a friend brought my father to see me in V world and not realising that I was more than an advanced avatar, he imprinted me on an MCP which was placed inside the first prototype of the U-87 Cylon".

"What the frak is wrong with you people?" Tigh burst out.

Daniel in as calm a tone as he could said "You have to understand that I didn't think that this Zoe was anything more than an advanced avatar. I didn't think that she was sentient, if I did I would have never imprisoned her in that robot. As it was my, company was awarded a defence contract because of it. Eventually Zoe as the Cylon escaped my lab and the body was largely destroyed but somehow her mind was able to upload to V world. The MCPs of the next Cylons were copied off the MCP in the U-87 after she uploaded but unknown to myself the ability for sentience a 'read-write' state if you will was copied into these MCPs along with a corrupted element of Zoe's personality".

"Dad eventually found me in V-World and after talking things over with mum I came to understand them".

"It took us years…" Amanda continued "But we eventually managed to create a body for Zoe which while not organic was the next best thing".

"We were however stuck with the coding which would allow for resurrection technology but a man in V world gave me the code needed. And before you ask, I don't know who he was but I'm starting to believe he may have given the code to the Cylons".

"So…" Lee concluded "…You're a copy of the original Zoe?". Turning to Tamara, Lee asked "And you Tamara? I know that my Aunt Tamara was killed in a terrorist bombing, the same one Zoe was killed in".

"But what you might not know is that your grandfather had Daniel create an avatar of his daughter out of all her collected information. I'm the avatar. Eventually when the Graystones made up they accepted me and eventually gave me a body. I'm not your Aunt, Lee but I feel like it because I share many of the memories and much of the personality of Tamara. Now all our bodies are organic clones. Mine and Zoes from hair follicles".

Leaning forward Lee asked with incredulity in his voice "How the hell did my grandfather get involved with the Graystones?"

"I approached him…"Daniel answered "and used…"

The Admiral started to remember why he hated his father and said "For a while my father worked at Graystone Industries. It was some job for the Ha'la'tha. He never spoke of it but I've seen some of the photos and heard the rumours".

"You know?" Daniel asked.

"I know that I don't want to know. I left that life behind and I've made sure it isn't part of Lee's".

"I can understand that", Daniel answered.

"So Doctor…" Roslin broke in, "How do we defeat the Cylons?"

Letting out a breath, Daniel replied "If I knew that then we wouldn't be in this mess".

Taking over Cyrus said "We've worked ever since the Cylon uprising to find a way to either shut down or destroy the Cylons if they returned like they have done today but despite everything you have seen, the Cylons are too advanced for any plan we can come up with at the moment".

"Bullshit". Tigh exclaimed drawing all eye to him, "You people were able to hold back the Cylons virus at Caprica and stop their Raiders at Leonis while also capturing some of their Basestars…"

"All of which was possible…" Cyrus answered "…because of the immense power available to us on those planets combined with the Cyphers across Caprica and the handful we had on Leonis".

Zoe informed them "It isn't easy controlling a Basestar. The Cylons have a new MCP controlling them which seems to be a combination of machine and organic…"

Adama suddenly remembered a mission he was on a long time ago and nodded asking "Can you stop them from resurrecting?"

Looking between each other was answer enough for Adama but he was surprised when Zoe said "We barely understand subspace if that is the means of transmission for the Cylons minds but we might be able to help you find them and we were able to download almost 300 Exabyte's of information from the Cylon Basestars we captured. While it's coded and incomplete, once we crack the code then we should be able to find something to help us. We currently have all the data stored on secured hard drives on Panacea and are working to copy the data so as not to lose it".

"I want the originals once you've copied them" Adama informed the Graystones with steel in his voice.

Nodding as this seemed fair to Daniel he replied "I suspected you might. I'll get them to you by the end of the day. You'll also have to set up a closed network in order to fully access them when you get them"

"We can do that", as opposed to networks as Adama was, he wasn't a moron, he knew that in some circumstances closed networks were necessary, networks not tied into communications or outside computers and without wireless technology. Galactica was also designed with three rooms which although they looked very much like cells, were completely surrounded by copper wiring which when a charge was run through it would create a faraday cage further blocking wireless technology. Essentially these were areas created to hold the original Cylon Centurions or other Cylon models if it was deemed they held valuable intelligence and while the Galactica's had never before been used her sister ship's the Columbia's had. It was in one of these rooms that Adama was planning to build the closed network.

Looking aghast, Lee burst out "You can't seriously be thinking of working with them. You heard them, they're just…"

"That's enough Captain", the craggy voice of Colonel Tigh replied as he tried to shake a headache that had just befallen him. "I don't like this anymore than you do, but you weren't at Leonis. The Cylons were this close…" Tigh said as he emphasized with a finger and thumb …from totally destroying us. If it wasn't for the Graystones - whatever they are – from stopping the Raiders from attacking us then we wouldn't have a single Battlestar right now". Looking around the table Tigh continued "I would fracking take my own life before I ever worked with a Cylon but looking across the table I'm not sure what the frak I see, but whatever they are they aren't any Cylon I've seen. Just so I make myself clear I don't trust any of you, but I trust the old man and if he says we work with you then we work with you but the moment you betray us..." Tigh let the threat hang before leaning back in his chair finishing "Now I've said my piece".

A silence descended upon the room before President Roslin broke the silence "Well…thank you Colonel for that…eloquent and passionate speech", Tigh grunted in reply "There is one the thing I am curious about. What's with the fleet you brought?"

In reply Tamara asked "You mean to say why do we own those companies?" At the President's nod, Tamara replied "Shortly after the first war we realised we had to prepare for a possible future return of the Cylons so using our considerable hacking expertise we…we stole a great deal of money and became outright owners in a handful of companies. We chose LES wines because they already had a considerable fleet of ships which we realised could be used by the fleet if they were needed and we created Enterprise solutions in order to make sure certain military skills didn't go to waste".

Trying to come to terms with everything that had been covered, Adama was surprised to hear Zoe ask "Doctor Baltar, we need to know, did you work with anyone else on the CNP?"

Looking down the table at the Doctor, Adama saw a wave of surprise and something else he couldn't quite place come crashing down on Baltar's face as he replied "What? What are you trying to say?"

"We just want to know if you worked with anyone else on it".

"No. There was only the military inspectors. That was it".

Letting out a breath, Daniel said "Then it's as we feared".

"What do you mean?" Adama asked.

"As soon as it became clear there was a virus in play…" Zoe began "We did a search through every update given to the fleet recently. What we found is that the CNP had a backdoor as you already know. Now I've seen Baltar's work and while it isn't perfect, in fact to be quite honest it's pretty ugly, he always covers himself and gets the job done. However in the CNP the vast majority of the coding is obviously Baltar's but there are two lines that are in one word beautiful. Those two lines allow for the backdoor and channelling a virus into the ship's systems. If you're as used to coding as we are its obvious that they're two entirely different people. It's just like two different forms of handwriting".

"Which means…" Daniel concluded "…that the Cylons had at least one of these 'skin jobs' in the ministry of defence who added the backdoor".

"And you just happened to have access to the updates" Lee accused.

"We had our own people in the ministry and the fleet. People who were concerned about the amount of networking involved and trusted us" Cyrus answered.

"But you missed it" Roslin said.

With defeat covering his body, Daniel said "We were more concerned about the Cicero antiviral software not to mention two dozen other packages. It just didn't seem as hazardous".

"That doesn't mean we didn't check it…" Zoe said "…We did but the Cylon Virus isn't strictly speaking a virus. It's more like an activation code and the backdoor is so small that it isn't easy to spot unless you know what to look for".

An echoing knocking on the hatch led to Captain Adama getting up and opening it before turning to the Admiral, "Admiral…"

Getting up, the Admiral went and listened to the petty officer before closing the hatch and sitting down again. Seeing the questioning look on the President's face he said "Admiral Perry just passed away. His injuries were too severe".

Seeing the look on his craggy face, Roslin replied "I'm sorry, Admiral".

Looking Daniel in the eye, Adama told him "We have more than a thousand crewmen that are in vital need of medical assistance. Within the next half hour I'm going to be transferring them, marines and medical staff to Panacea along with any fleet officers I feel necessary".

Nodding Daniel said "I've already told you Admiral, she's a fleet ship along with the crew and we'll follow your orders just like a military officer would. But there is one thing the crew of Panacea need and that's uniforms and you should also know that there are currently over a thousand people already on board, many with varying degrees of brain damage".

"Brain damage" Roslin asked.

"These people are the cyphers that blocked the cylon virus at caprica. The Basestars MCPs did a number on them and while we currently have medical staff, many of them from the CORA labs working on them, we could do with a little help".

"What's CORA?" Billy asked.

Baltar who was familiar with them said "Clone Organ Research and Advancement. The fleet might know them as…"

"Lazarus Healthcare. If an officer loses a limb, insurance pays for a new one but the officer has to agree to a minimum of ten years service. There'll still be beds available for new patients" Adama concluded. Standing, he said "If you will give us a minute, we need to talk". Daniel nodded in reply as Adama and his people got up and left the room leaving only Mathias to watch over the Graystone group.

In the corridor Adama, Roslin, Tigh, Billy, Baltar and Apollo stood in a clustered circle. Straight away Adama asked "Opinions?"

Strangely enough it was Billy who spoke first "I think they've been honest with us…"

"They're skinjobs!" Lee hissed.

"No, they're not…"Baltar said but then continued confusing even himself "…well they are but they're not Cylon skinjobs, at least not the Cylons who attacked us".

Cutting him off after remembering what he had once seen during the last day of the first war, Adama asked "Doctor would you agree that the Graystone's would be capable of producing clones and this resurrection technology?"

All eyes turned to Baltar as, cocking his head to the side as if listening to someone whisper in his ear, he replied "Daniel Graystone was the best coder in the colonies of all time, and it's been said that his daughter was a prodigy before she died. I've come across some of Xander's work in the past and it was impressive to say the least. Amanda Graystone on the other hand was also one of the top ten plastic surgeons in the Colonies and if you combine their work, an early version of a skinjob is possible although basic. But if you add in the advances available through CORA…they could do it".

Tigh muttered "I wouldn't trust them as far as I can throw them, but…a lot of people are alive because of them and Leonis wouldn't have been possible without them" it was hard for Tigh to admit.

"We give them a chance, Admiral" Roslin said, "And if they do anything to harm us we stick them in a Raptor, jump away from the fleet and kill them".

Looking her in the eye, Adama decide to follow her advice and led them back into the room. As they sat back down, he said "We're willing to allow you to stay with the fleet. But I want you working with Doctor Baltar and my own people at cracking the Cylons technology and codes. You need to prove yourselves to us and the rest of humanity. Do that…do that and we might all stand a chance. And I'm not going to say it's going to be easy because it won't be…"

"We know, Admiral. There's always going to be resentment. It's just something we have to live with".

"As long as we understand each other".

Cylon Command Basestar, 2 hours after the Colonial Fleet's Escape

Seated around a long conference Table, Cavil as ever at the head and with the red strip dancing back and forth on the wall mixing with the bright lights would make any human struggle to adjust to the brightness, but it did nothing to these Cylons as they debated amongst themselves.

"We've started what repairs we can on our ships but the best we can do is have 20 maybe 25 ready for battle within the next two maybe three days" a Number Two informed the others, immediately gaining the ire of Cavil.

"We need to keep up the attacks on the fleet", no longer was Cavil being overtly vocal instead it almost seemed as if he might be willing to listen to reason.

"No", Four said "We lost far more ships in that last battle than we should have and we don't currently have an accurate assessment of the Colonial strength. If we attack now, then that's it".

"I agree", D'Anna added "All we need to do is keep following them from a distance with two Basestars then when our ships are repaired enough to amass a coordinated attack on them we do it. Need I remind everyone that there are currently devices on many of those ships".

Hating this disgusting body he was forced to reside in for making him tired already, Cavil replied "Okay, I see that this is something you all agree on. We jump in two days".

Battlestar Defiant, Port Hanger Deck. 6 Hours after exodus. Jump number 5.

Commander Hall walked down the line between two rows of bodies looking down at each face and memorising them all. All he could think of was that they might have been the lucky ones not to have survived the attack. Many of the bodies, the elderly commander didn't recognise since they had served on other Battlestars but that didn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. What did matter was that every single body laying on this cold hard deck were Colonial, they were human and they had given their lives to protect those who were unable to protect themselves. Everyone of them was a hero.

Lifting his head, his grey eyes fixed on the kneeling figure of Lt. Susan 'Budget ' Williams whose tears were almost soaking her flightsuit. Next to her was the body of a female pilot sealed in a clear plastic body bag with a radiological warning printed on it. She looked up as the Commander neared her and seeing that she wanted to talk, he stopped by her.

Kneeling by her side and hiding his grimace as his joints, heavy with arthritis reluctantly moved, he asked "Who is she?" He could tell that this wasn't one of his pilots.

As the tears continued to fall, Williams replied "My sister. She served on the Tempest".

Laying a heavy hand on her shoulder the elderly commander replied, "Tell me about her".

Battlestation Nemea, 13 hours after the Exodus (5:22 AM). Jump number 7.

Entering the CIC, a CIC that was just slightly larger than Galactica's, Commander Stiles was given a report by from the officer of the watch. Stiles rubbed the back of his neck as he read through the report seeing that the crew transfers from the Battlestar Valiant and some of the colonial fleet refugees (i.e. surviving crew from ships like the triton) to the previously decommissioned Battlestar Corsair were now complete as was the refuelling and rearmament. All this meant that a fresh battle ready Battlestar could re-join the fleet within the next ten minutes. In addition the Battlestar Halcyon which was being dragged by tugs and the Battlestar Crucible could be brought into service within the next two hours once crew transfers were completed although this would mean that a lot of battlefield promotions might have to be made. But two more Battlestars meant more fleet coverage.

His crews were also trying to get the support ships operational but a lot of them were worse than they looked, at best he thought he might be able to get half of them operational and maybe strip the rest. It was a headache waiting to happen.

Turning to his communications officer, Stiles ordered "Tom, send this report to the Galactica and inform them that due to the way the Battlestar Hornet was decommissioned we're going to have to take her in and fix her up in one of the docks. Expect her to be repaired and on the line a week from now".

"Aye sir".

Battlestar Galactica, Starboard Hanger Deck, 1 day after exodus, jump 10.

As Elosha was finishing her service for the many dead and dying of Galactica as her counterparts did the same on the other ships throughout the fleet, Adama stepped out of line, looking at all those around him he spoke the truth; "Are they the lucky ones? That's what you're thinking, isn't it? We're a long way from home. We've jumped way beyond the Red Line, into uncharted space. Limited supplies, limited fuel, few ships, and now, no hope?"

Cain watched him as he ripped away whatever hope those around him might have had and for once he hoped that this would be another of Adamas great speeches otherwise he might not survive the next few minutes. Thankfully he continued but it only got worse, "Maybe it would have been better for us to have died quickly, back on the Colonies with our families, instead of dying out here slowly, in the emptiness of dark space. Where shall we go? What shall we do?" Hope then entered into Adamas words as he continued, "Life here began out there. Those are the first words of the sacred scrolls, and they were told to us by the Lords of Kobol, many countless centuries ago. And they made it perfectly clear that we are not alone in this universe. Elosha, there's a 13th colony of humankind, is there not?"

Elosha, caught off guard by his question, no statement replied, "Yes. The scrolls tell us a 13th tribe left Kobol in the early days. They travelled far and made their home upon a planet called Earth, which circled a distant and unknown star".

With steel in his voice and the below of a dragon Adama announced "It's not unknown. I know where it is! Earth. The most guarded secret we have. The location was only known by the senior commanders of the fleet, and we dare not share it with the public. Not while there was a Cylon threat upon us. For now we have a refuge to go to. A refuge the Cylons know nothing about. It won't be an easy journey. It'll be long, and arduous. But I promise you one thing: on the memory of those lying here before you, we shall find it, and Earth shall become our new home. So say we all!"

There was a smattering of replies so Adama again shouted "So say we all!", receiving a stronger reply this time. But it wasn't good enough so he went again and again and again until his crew finally worked up the nerve and the strength to prove to him just why they survived. The funeral was over. A storm was coming.

Battlestar Galactica, 2 Days after exodus, Jump 12

"Major Cylon Contacts. Reading 30 Basestars bearing 148 karom 226. They're launching Raiders" Lt. Gaeta called out to the Admiral.

"Launch Alert Vipers and start jumping the fleet" the Admiral called out.

As he stepped back into the CIC, the smell of whisky tainting his breath, Tigh said to him "The Frackers have got some way of tracking us". Just 33 minutes before, just as the fleet was performing it's 12th jump, the Cylons had jumped in. Thankfully the fleet didn't have to engage and hopefully they wouldn't this time either, but that could only last so long and if the Cylons kept coming every 33 minutes, Adama shuddered to think what might happen. Above him, silently blinking away was a white dome just as there was in numerous fleet CIC's.

Fleet Ships: 643

Fleet Population: 761,483

Hope you liked that chapter, I know there was a lot of talking and no action but Galactica was a primarily character driven show and I wanted to start properly developing the characters. As you might have guessed the next chapter will be focussing on 33 which due to the size of the fleet, will be slightly different. Below you will find a list of the known Colonial Fleet ships to have survived the attacks will name the support ships next chapter. Reviews are appreciated.

Battlestars

Battlestar Galactica Mildly damaged

Battlestar Defiant Mildly damaged

Battlestar Valkyrie moderate damage

Battlestar Hades heavy damage

Battlestar Talon mild damage

Battlestar Tigress heavy damage

Battlestar Corsair (Decommissioned currently inside nemea)

Battlestar Valiant (severe damage inside nemea)

Battlestar Crucible (tug)decommissioned

Battlestar Halcyon (tug)decommissioned

Battlestar Hornet (tug) decommissioned

2 Marinestars

4 heavy cruiser

4 light cruisers

9 Gunstars

5 Missilestars

5 Destroyers

Destroyers

Achilles

Red Blood