Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate or Battlestar Galactica: 2003.
Another Road not Taken
Chapter21: Judgement Day
April 2nd 2010
Cylon-controlled Space
Deep Space
The Colony
Command Center
The massive Cylon planetoid known simply as the Colony floated silently in the middle of deep space with several of the comparatively smaller Basestars orbiting around it. Ever since the destruction of Cylon Prime and the subsequent nuclear bombardment of the Graystone System by the Tau'ri they had been forced to flee into deep space in order to escape.
For years the Cylons had rebuilt their forces using Goa'uld technology generously provided by the one known as Baal whom was now tied down to a table in the center of the room and covered in his own blood. Cavil and the other two male Cylons were noticeably worried about certain unforeseen scenarios that were playing out.
"The humans and those creatures have destroyed the Resurrection Hub," Simon said worried. "Without it we will be unable to resurrect should we die and with the threes, sixes and eights betraying us like they did we can expect the humans to be coming for us."
"What do we do?" Doral asked the question.
"I think I might have an idea," Cavil spoke up and turned to the captured Goa'uld System Lord. "Tell me what I want to know or I will kill you right here...no more games...where is it?"
"...Even if I told you then you'll just kill me anyway," Baal chuckled as he turned his away towards the Cylon. "You will pay for what you've done to me and there won't be a thing you can do to stop it."
"We'll see," Cavil sneered at him.
"Dakara...the weapon is on Dakara...the capital of the Jaffa...good luck trying to claim it...for I doubt anything your capable of would be enough to crack its defences," Baal laughed now completely delusional. After the many years of torture he had endured at the hands of these primitive machines he had finally reached his breaking point.
"Dakara..." Cavil mused as a smile broke out across his face.
April 9th 2010
Sol System
Earth
Atlantis
Conference Room
Over the last year since the Lost City of Atlantis returned to Earth after the battle with the ZPM-powered Hive-ship it had become the capital city of the technologically advanced world. The city's pears were currently being used as construction yards for the next batch of Tau'ri warships for the rapidly expanding Tau'ri fleet.
Economically Earth had finally recovered from the results of disclosure back in 2006 and the Second Cylon War. In the four years since then priorities had shifted to the war with the Wraith and the Replicators in the Pegasus Galaxy after the Cylon Armistice Line was signed. Now with the planet Asuras destroyed and the Replicator threat neutralised, the Wraith were facing extinction with not enough food to go around and the Tau'ri now actively defending human populations in the Pegasus Galaxy from being culled.
The Cylons had not been forgotten however and for years Earth had been searching for a way to neutralise the Cylon Empire once and for all. Their answer was found in the Atlantis database however it wasn't until Eli Wallace had solved the problem with the program that it was deemed useable to use against the Cylons. The results of the program's use were monumental because it forced to Cylons to operate in a way they simply had no idea how to do...they had to cut all contact with the rest of the Cylon collective.
However with the apparent Cylon Civil War coupled with the attack on New Caprica it had become clear that the Cylon Empire had once again forced war on the galaxy. With the destruction of the Cylon space station known simply as the 'Resurrection Hub' they had lost the ability to download and create organic models.
"The Cylons are pushing deep into Jaffa-controlled space," Anise spoke first. "We believe that their target is Dakara...they most likely intend to destroy the Free Jaffa Nation once and for all."
"We do control the largest interstellar territory in the galaxy," Teal'c reasoned. "An attack on Dakara would be a costly one for the Cylons however should they lay waste to the planet then our government would be fractured into tribal groups once more."
"It doesn't matter," Jack said clearly. "We'll stop them just like we did before...only faster now that we've got more ships."
"I would not underestimate them General," Adama spoke up.
"I don't intend to," Jack responded. "Three days ago I authorised the deployment of the entire Tau'ri fleet into Cylon space...we've already started hitting their production and shipping lines."
"How?" Anise asked intrigued.
"Last year we acquired the location every Cylon base in the galaxy," Jack replied. "The only one we've been unable to find is the Cylon homeworld; apparently it's some kind of massive space station."
"Space station? It wouldn't be thirty kilometres long, would it?" Anise asked unsure.
"Yeah it is," Jack nodded.
"The station you speak of is with the Cylon fleet attacking Dakara," Anise stated.
"What is at Dakara that the Cylons would risk everything to reach?" Adama asked the question.
"What makes you think that they're after something?" Anise asked back.
"The Colony is there last hope to win this war," Adama was the one who answered. "Without it they will be unable to build anymore ships and they'll have lost the war. They wouldn't risk their survival unless there was no other choice or if there was something of great value at stake."
"...Teal'c," Jack said with his head in his hands. "Please, please tell me the Ancient weapon on Dakara has been destroyed."
"I was told that the weapon was destroyed," Teal'c responded.
"Including the main computer?" Jack asked.
"I am unsure," Teal'c conceded.
"Crap," Jack cursed as she sat back.
"Even if the weapon was destroyed, if the Cylons gain control of the main computer they may be able to duplicate the technology and create their version of the weapon," Anise mused. "We can't let the Cylons get it."
"Indeed," Teal'c nodded slowly.
"How long until they reach Dakara?" Jack asked.
"Our estimates say fourteen hours," Anise replied.
"That's not much time," Adama said grimly. "The Galactica will be going; with your permission I'd like to have the civilian fleet remain here at Earth. It's probably the safest place in the galaxy for my people right now."
"We'll rally the fleet at Abydos and set out from there for Dakara," Jack said. "We might be a little late to the party but we'll be there."
"The Jaffa fleet shall hold out as long as we can," Teal'c said.
"What ships we have available will also aid in the battle," Anise added.
"Let's hope it will be enough," Adama muttered.
April 10th 2010
Jaffa-controlled Space
In orbit above Dakara
Jaffa Ha'tak — Pride of Dakara
Main Bridge
Fleet Master Bra'tac stood on the bridge of the Jaffa flagship and held onto the command console as another nuke detonated against the shields. There was a frown on his face as he stared out at the battle going on in orbit of the planet. The Cylons had jumped in less than ten minutes ago and began an all-out assault on the Jaffa defence fleet.
During the last war against the Cylons three years ago Bra'tac led a number of assaults against the machines however more often than not he was forced to withdraw. In the years between wars the Jaffa had developed retracted energy shields that hugged the hulls of their ships instead of the large bubble energy shields which were wide enough for Cylon Raiders to jump through.
Two Basestars jumped in alongside the Pride and opened fire a moment later. Raiders and Gliders fought vicious dogfights throughout the area as the Pride turned and returned fire on the two Basestars. Four Al'kesh and another Ha'tak, the Champion of Chulak moved to assist the Pride as bolts of plasma splashed across its shields. Bra'tac knew that despite the improved shields employed by the Free Jaffa Nation, they were still outnumbered and now the Cylons appeared to use Goa'uld energy shields and plasma staff cannons.
"Concentrate your fire on one ship at a time," Bra'tac ordered.
"Fleet Master," spoke Aron from the main control console. "Several Heavy Raiders are descending into the atmosphere; they're heading for the capital."
"Have the Eighth Glider Squadron cut them off," Bra'tac gave the order.
April 10th 2010
Jaffa-controlled Space
Hyperspace
EFS George Hammond
Main Bridge
The recently promoted Brigadier General Samantha Carter sat back in her chair staring out of the viewport as the Tau'ri fleet descended into the battlefield. Alongside the Hammond was the entire Tau'ri fleet from the Artemis-class destroyers to the Columbia-class battleships. There were twenty-seven ships in the fleet, most of them destroyers though she'd heard that they were designing a new class to replace them.
"We're approaching Dakara now ma'am," Major Meyers informed.
"Prepare to drop out of hyperspace," Carter ordered. "Raise shields as soon as we drop out and lock onto any Cylon vessels in the area," a second later space itself tore open as the Tau'ri fleet dropped into orbit above the planet Dakara where Goa'uld and Cylon ships could be seen firing on each other.
"I'm reading sixty-four Baseships directly ahead," Meyers reported. "The Jaffa are down to only twenty-eight Ha'taks and I' m picking up dozens of Heavy Raiders in the atmosphere heading for the capital city on the surface."
"What about the Tok'ra?" Carter asked. Almost like an answer to her question eighteen Tok'ra-controlled Ha'tak-class motherships dropped out of hyperspace and descended into the warzone.
"Eighteen Tok'ra Ha'taks confirmed," Meyers replied. "They're engaging the enemy."
"They're still outnumbered," Carter mused.
"I'm picking up Cylon Raiders heading towards us," Meyers informed. "It looks like they've spotted us."
"Signal the Columbia, Atlas and Galactica to hang back and supply long-range fire with their gun batteries. Scramble all Vultures and Vipers, I want everything out there. All DSC-304s are to break and attack. E305s are to supply covering firing for the larger ships and have the BC303s descend into the atmosphere. I want every single Cylon wiped from the face of this planet," Carter ordered.
"Yes Ma'am," Meyers acknowledged and quickly carried out the order.
Vipers launched from the Columbia-class battleships including the Galactica and quickly moved to engage the thousands of Cylon Raiders that were fighting the severely outnumbered Jaffa Death Gliders. Vultures launched a few moments later and disappeared in bursts of light before reappearing directly in the center of the warzone. Missiles flew out and struck the shields of various Cylon Basestars, destroying a few with weakened shields and damaging others.
The eleven Daedalus-class warships broke out of formation and dived right into the fray, blasting every Cylon vessel they came across with blue beams of superheated plasma. More missiles streaked out and several were shot down but those that got through the chaos seemed to crack open Basestars with temporary stars.
The remaining twenty-five Artemis-class destroyers from the Battle of New Caprica followed close behind their more powerful sisters and fired on the Basestars and Raiders that survived the DSC-304s attacking runs. Meanwhile flak rounds from the Atlas, Columbia and Galactica tore into the thousands of Raiders in the area in order to take away some of the heat off of their fighters.
"Where is that space station?" Carter questioned.
"Unknown ma'am," Meyers replied. Suddenly the massive Cylon Colony appeared above the planet in a flash of light and unleashed a hailstorm of missiles and plasma bolts. A dozen Ha'taks and five of the E305s were wiped out with the opening salvo and even the Hammond was hit amidships by a series of plasma bolts from the Colony.
"It's a trap," Carter caught on. "They were waiting for us to enter combat with the main Cylon fleet so that they could jump in and blanket the entire area."
"Shields are down to sixty-eight percent," Meyers reported.
"Have the Rhineland break off and target their forward guns," Carter ordered.
The Rhineland, the newest DSC-304 built by the Earth Federation banked towards the Cylon monstrosity and opened fire with its forward guns. Blue beams of superheated plasma lanced out, striking the shields of the Colony and just barely managing to smash through them. Naquadah-enhanced nuclear missiles launched from the Tau'ri warship's ventral tubes and descended on the now unshielded section of the Colony.
Cylon Raiders swopped in, shooting down the missiles however a single warhead got through and detonated against the underside of the Colony in a blinding light. The massive space station seemed to shake for an instant as the blast died down revealing a kilometre-wide hole in the side of the thirty kilometre long Colony.
"Look at the size of that thing," Eli muttered from the back.
"That thing must have a shield generator the size used on Goa'uld flagships," Carter mused. "It looks like we're going to have to do this the hard way."
"General?" Meyers inquired.
"Have the Korolev pull back and set itself up for an attack run," Carter ordered. "All other 304s are to concentrate their fire on that thing and don't stop until the Korolev deploys the Gungnir."
"What about the rest of the Cylon fleet, ma'am?" Meyers asked.
"The E305s and the Ha'taks should be enough to keep them busy until we deal with that thing," Carter reasoned.
April 10th 2010
Jaffa-controlled Space
Dakara
Dakara Capital
Main Plaza
Gunfire and staff bolts sounded as Cylon and Jaffa troops fought a vicious running war through the capital city. Raiders and Gliders flew overhead, shooting each other down and bombarding several ground positions on both sides. In the back of the main plaza stood the Ancient main computer where at least a dozen Jaffa soldiers stood their ground against an unending stream of centurions that marched on them.
"Don't let a single one of them through!" Teal'c shouted as he fired another staff bolt, hitting another centurion in the chest plate.
"There's too many of them!" a young Jaffa warrior yelled as more centurions entered the room and shot at them. Suddenly they were gunned down from behind and Cam, Daniel and Vala came running into the plaza.
"Reinforcements?" another Jaffa inquired.
"It is agreeable to see you Colonel Mitchell, Doctor Jackson, Vala Mal Doran," Teal'c greeted with a slight bow of the head.
"You didn't think we were just going to leave you hanging, were you?" Cam asked as he cocked his SMG. "We have troops beaming in all over the place and we've secured the Stargate. Earth is sending in the army to help out and the fleet should be doing what they do best right about now."
"Indeed," Teal'c nodded in understanding.
All across the city Tau'ri soldiers aided the scattered Jaffa against the attacking centurions while tanks and military jeeps emerged from the active Stargate to wreak havoc on the Cylons in the area.
April 10th 2010
Jaffa-controlled Space
In orbit above Dakara
EFS Korolev
Main Bridge
"General Carter has ordered us to deploy the Gungnir, Colonel," Daria reported. "The Odyssey is flanking us and will provide support."
"Begin our attack run and open the bay doors. As soon as the warhead is deployed engage the Hyperdrive," Chekov gave the order. "We don't want to be caught in the blast when that bomb goes off."
"Yes sir," Daria confirmed the order and quickly entered in the commands.
The Korolev banked hard and shot towards the Cylon Colony at full speed with the Odyssey not on its wing. Bolts of plasma shot out and hundreds of missiles launched from the Colony at the two Tau'ri battlecruisers. The Odyssey took the lead and covered the Korolev as they approached, shooting down the missiles and letting the plasma bolts splash across their weakening shields. They finally closed in and the Odyssey veered off, almost skimming the surface of the Colony.
"We're in range," Daria informed.
"Deploy the Gungnir," Chekov gave the order.
The open cargo bay doors on the underside of the Korolev allowed for a single cylinder-shaped container to be ejected out into space where it travelled the relatively short distance to the surface of the Colony. While it sailed towards its target the Korolev pulled away at full speed and tried to evade the numerous bolts of plasma fired at it.
"Detonation in five seconds," Daria reported.
"Engage the Hyperdrive now!" Chekov ordered.
The space in front of the Korolev tore open in a cloud-like vortex and allowed the Tau'ri warship to pass through it before it closed up. Two seconds later there was a flash of light and then an expanding fireball from the side of the Colony where the container had impacted. The entire Colony was consumed in fire as its space frame shattered signifying the end of the Cylon Empire once and for all.
Gungnir...the name of the weapon wielded by Odin...a fitting name for the Asgard's most powerful weapon. A small number of these weapons could destroy a planet but since the Colony was only the size of a small moon only one was needed. A Mark-X Naquadria-enhanced matter-antimatter warhead with a yield in the teraton range...the weapon that the Asgard had used to destroy Orilla and commit mass suicide.
April 10th 2010
Jaffa-controlled Space
In orbit above Dakara
EFS George Hammond
Main Bridge
When the light died down nothing of the Colony remained and Carter couldn't help but sigh in relief as her crew gave an unprofessional cheer at the sight. Now that the Colony was destroyed the Cylons had effectively lost the war and all that remained was dealing with the stragglers. There was one other thing she had to do however...
"Take us down into the atmosphere and ready the Asgard re-sequencers," Carter ordered. "Start with the Cylons near the temple in the capital city and then go from there."
"Yes ma'am," Meyers nodded.
The Hammond descended into the atmosphere and was soon followed by the Rhineland and the Yamato. Once they had broken through the clouds they bombarded the city with columns of light that started sweeping through the city, disintegrating hundreds of Cylons, both centurion and organic in a matter of moments.
An hour later every Cylon on the planet was either dead or captured...
And the Second Battle of Dakara was over...
Author's Notes:
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