It was a clear sunny day on Caprica. Mark Hunter sat outside a bar in Caprica City watching the world go by. The sun felt good on his face. It felt as though he had not felt it in a long time. He closed his eyes a took a slow deep breath. He picked up the glass of beer in front of him and took a sip from it. It was cool and refreshing on such a warm summers day. The worries of his day to day life seemed a mile away, no vipers, no black ops missions, just this. It was early in the afternoon and the street in front of him was busy with life, people going about their work and day to day shopping routines. Business men and women on their cell phones trying to broker deals to make them richer, mothers with their children taking them food or clothes shopping. These things felt so alien to him. He lived on a Battlestar, he ate in the mess, his uniforms and flight gear was provided for him. It seemed like a very rare occurrence for him to need to wear civilian gear. Even though he felt relaxed something was nagging him, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. There was something he was forgetting to do, something urgent that he couldn't remember. It couldn't be that important he thought, if it was he would be able to remember it. He looked up and saw the Buccaneers stadium, it loomed over everything in the area. The giant vid screen on the side showed images of its many players, he thought there must be a game on, they only usually show the players like this on game day.
The silence was broken by a familiar voice.
"Sorry I'm late." Skeeter said as he sat down next to his friend.
"It's okay," Archangel replied, "I was just enjoying the sun."
"Nice spot, do you drink here often?" Skeeter asked.
Archangel had to think for a moment before he answered, "No I don't think so. No this is the first time I've been here."
"Anywhere that sells beer is good." Skeeter replied, "Spit and sawdust pubs, bars, arenas anywhere."
Archangel smiled.
"It's nice to feel the sun again." Archangel said.
"It's been a while hasn't it." Skeeter replied.
"Too long."
"Look who it is." Skeeter said.
Archangel looked up and saw his sister Carrie walk over to them.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked.
"I'd be offended if you didn't." Archangel replied with a smile.
It always brightened his day to see his sister. Since she had come into his life he had found something he never knew he had been missing. As his best friend and his sister smiled at him he knew something was wrong. He was on Caprica so why was Skeeter here? He had never left Sagittaron his entire life and he never knew his sister before the attack.
"Something's not right." Archangel said.
"What do you mean?" Carrie replied.
"You two shouldn't be here." Archangel said, "I never knew you on Caprica and you never came here."
He stood up, "Who the frak are you?"
"Archangel, buddy what's wrong with you?" Skeeter said, "You know who we are."
"This isn't right, Cylons fraking Cylons."
As he finished speaking there was a huge explosion. Archangel looked up and saw a nuclear detonation where the Buccaneers arena had stood just seconds before. People were running and screaming as buildings fell around them.
Archangel smiled as the skin bubbled on his best friend and sister, "YOU'LL HAVE TO DO A LOT BETTER THAN THAT!" he yelled as he laughed.
When he came too he was strapped to a chair surrounded by Cylons who were all looking down at him. He remembered everything that had been happening and continued to laugh.
"I told you that wouldn't work." 1 said.
"Nothing seems to work," a 4 replied, "He never believes it."
"Give him something to make him see things, throw him back in his cell and send in a 6, see if she has any better luck." 1 replied as he turned to walk out of the room.
4 looked down at the young pilot who was still laughing to himself as he injected him with more mind-altering drugs.
….
It had been nearly four months since the Cylons had taken control of the fleet. Four months of them being led through space under the control of just over thirty base ships. Orion's weapons were empty, its fighters grounded and much of its senior crew had been put into incarceration. The humans hadn't gone quietly. There had been resistance, bombings had been the favourite way of fighting back so far. Usually it ended up with the culprit's dead or civilians being detained. One of the first things the Cylons had done was to turn one of the smaller passenger ships into a floating prison, which was filling rapidly. Commander Garrett had been one of the first people put into the makeshift prison. When she had refused to give them the activation codes for the EMP warheads they took her away. Occasionally they would try and torture her for the information but so far she had managed to resist them. She sat by herself in the small cramped quarters that had belonged to a middle-aged man called Harold Thomas. She knew this because they had left most of his belongings behind. Harold had managed to bring with him a small library and Garrett had been reading the books to keep herself sane. All in all she didn't have it too bad, they fed her and she had a small room with a toilet, sink and shower. She hadn't had anyone to talk to now in nearly a month and that had begun to take its toll on her. Suddenly she could hear someone shouting outside, a man, she thought she recognised his voice but she couldn't be sure. She heard the door of the quarters next to her open and then slam shut before being locked. Garrett had found a small grate that led from where she was to the room next to her, but so far there had been no one in there that she could speak too. She rushed over to it and moved the suitcase she had used to cover it over.
"Hello can you hear me?" she said kneeling down next to it so she could speak directly into it, "Is there someone in there?" she asked.
She heard a noise before the reply she had been hoping for, "Hello. Is there someone there?" A mans voice replied.
Garrett smiled to herself, "Yes I'm here. Thank the gods I haven't spoken to anyone in a month, are you okay?"
"Yes I'm fine," he replied, "They haven't hurt me."
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Adam, Adam Grayson." He replied.
Suddenly she knew why she recognised his voice and it hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Hello are you still there?" Adam asked.
Garrett took a deep breath, "Yes I'm still here."
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Vanessa, Commander Vanessa Garrett." She replied.
The pause told her that he had the same realisation as she did.
"Then we have a lot to talk about Commander." He replied.
….
Bojay sat in his bunk reading a book. Orion had been on lock down since the Cylons arrived. The flight deck was out of bounds to everyone, he had had nothing to do. As far as he was aware he was the highest ranking officer on the ship. The crew were only allowed out of their bunks for four hours a day and then there were only certain areas of the ship they were able to go, the gym, the mess amongst them. There were centurions and skin jobs everywhere. When he heard the door to the room unlock he looked over at Bria before putting his book down.
"Vannick is meeting us in the gym?" she asked.
Bojay nodded before getting up and picking up his towel and boxing gloves. They walked in silence through the winding corridors, making sure they didn't make any eye contact at all with any of the toasters. When the two pilots entered one of Orion's many gyms Vannick was already waiting for them boxing gloves already on.
"Afternoon Captain." He said.
"Sergeant, ready to spar?" Bojay replied.
"Sure am sir." Vannick replied.
Bria helped him with his gloves. Others in the gym paid no attention to them at all as they went about their routines.
"How's Mike?" Bojay asked quietly.
"Well," Vannick replied, "He's nearly ready."
"Will it definitely work?" Bojay asked.
"He's 100% sure. In my experience with him that means it will work." Vannick replied.
"Have you heard any other plans throughout the ship?"
"Other than from the Colonel before she disappeared no. I did have to stop Wedge from squaring up to a 5 yesterday."
"How's he coping? I haven't seen him."
"Not good, he needs to vent his aggression and I'm worried he's going to do something stupid. Jawbreaker is keeping an eye on him. Any news about Carrie or Archangel?"
"Carrie is on lockdown on the Medstar after she punched that 5's nose into his brain and there has been nothing from Archangel. The Cylons want to have a meeting with me later on, I'm going to ask where they're taking us and when we're getting everyone back."
"Is there anything you want me to tell Mike?"
"Tell him to make sure he doesn't do anything until I've had this meeting later on. I'm hopeful that they're going to give me some news."
"Okay." Vannick replied.
Vannick took a swing at Bojay connecting with his jaw and putting him on his rear. When he looked up he saw the reason why, they were being watched by skin jobs.
….
One of each of the seven Cylons sat on one of the base ships having a meeting before going for Bojay.
"Are we sure that this is a good idea?" 6 asked.
"What would you prefer we do kill them all here and now?" 1 replied.
"Of course not, but putting all the humans in one place." 6 said.
"Other than a few bombings New Caprica seems to be working. At least if they're all in one place, we can "control" them easier. Once they're off Orion it's game over for them." 3 said.
"Has that kid Mike had any luck yet deciphering the codes for the EMPs?" 1 asked.
"No," 2 replied, "He did tell us the combinations could take him months to get through." 2 replied.
"Maybe we should find other ways to motivate him?" 3 asked.
"I don't think that will work with him. Garrett won't break under torture and if we want to be able to use them he is the only person who can help us." 2 said.
"He has till we make it to New Caprica, if he hasn't done it by then we get creative." 1 said.
"Has there been any news on Grace?" 6 asked.
"Nothing." 5 replied, "We think Karl Michaels has hidden her but we just can't find her. It would appear from what we can gather from his life before he was a survivalist this is what he did for the military and government, he made people disappear."
"Once again it's only a matter of time. When we reach New Caprica and everyone is off all the ships we either find her or we destroy all the ships in this fleet, killing her wherever she is hiding and then just wait for her to download." 1 said.
….
"So where do we start?" Adam Grayson said.
"How about how you've been murdering people and using others to do your dirty work." Garrett replied.
"Firstly I need you to know, whatever you think about me it's not true. Yes I joined the Twelve. They told me that they wanted to bring peace and stability to the fleet and stupidly I believed them. When I first met them I realised I stuck out like a sore thumb. They're all terrorists, gangsters, corrupt business men and the more time I spent with them I realised they just wanted control."
"So why didn't you leave them then and there?"
"Because stupidly I thought I could make them see sense and actually deliver the things they promised to me when I was first recruited. The further in I got the quicker it became apparent that I was stuck with them. They wanted me for my past on the colonies, for the fact I was a reputable man who fought for peoples well beings and freedoms. One thing I can tell you, what happened on that planet and what Mr Sagittaron did on that ship they were nothing to do with the NCO."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because of how Mr Caprica and the others responded. They were furious. If any of the people who had done those things had still been alive the Twelve would have killed them."
"So lets say I believe what you're saying, tell me about the Twelve."
"First things first I want some assurances from you."
"What?" Garrett replied.
"If I'm going to tell you everything I know and help you take the NCO down I want to know that when the dust settles I don't have to pay for what they did and that you'll help me find my daughter."
"If you help me take them down then you have my word that when it's all over you won't be prosecuted. And we'll help you find your daughter."
Adam took a deep breath, "The Twelve are not on any of the ships registers, neither are most of the NCO. We, they operate completely under the radar. I noticed quite early on that I was being kept out of any of the big decision making. Mr Caprica is in charge, before the attack he was a big time business man, from what I can gather as corrupt as they come, but to the Colonies he was a great man, gave to charities, made work for people shook all the right hands and was seen in all the right places. Miss Tauron was the head of the biggest crime family on Tauron. I heard Mr Caprica call her Adriana once. She goes everywhere with her son Nathan. He is the nastiest son of a bitch I've ever met. He can put the fear of the gods into you just by looking at you. I know he does all the families dirty work. He won't let anyone near his mother. I've heard stories that he has beaten people to death just for giving her a funny look."
….
Archangel groaned as he began to regain consciousness. It took his eyes a few minutes to adjust to the dark room. He could see a small light shining from the wall at the far end of the room and then he heard it. The buzzing noise from the eye of a centurion. He looked up and saw it standing in front of the open door. They had been taunting him with an open door since he arrived with just one Centurion guarding it. He tried to move his arms but his wrists were cuffed behind his back. His head was so foggy. He remembered the dream he had had on Caprica with Skeeter and his sister. He also remembered Grace, no it hadn't been Grace it had been just another 6. She had tried to get information out of him, he remembered that much. She had pretended to be Grace, told him she was here to rescue him. He remembered that at first he had believed it, he smiled, he cried with relief, then, he didn't want to think about what had happened after but he knew he had realised it was a trick, the same way they always tricked him, pumped him full of drugs and then made him believe it was her. He had no idea how long it had been going on. At first he had been able to keep track of the days, back when all they did was torture him for information. They had realised quite quickly that course of action wasn't going to work on him so that's when they tried to get creative. He looked up as the main lights in the room flickered on. The centurion stepped to one side and in walked a 1 and a 5.
"It's a little late for breakfast in bed." Archangel said sarcastically.
5 walked straight up to him and punched him hard in the face knocking him to the ground. Archangel laughed and got back to his knees.
"Now we've talked about this, that's just rude." Archangel said.
5 hit him again. This time Archangel didn't budge.
"Grace certainly was right about you." 1 said, "You are an impressive man. We've tried everything we can think of with you and still you won't break."
"I'm happy you're happy." Archangel replied with a smile.
"Before the end, which is coming soon you'll talk. We still have some more ideas. We haven't even brought in your best friend or your sister. I wonder how long it would take you to talk when you watch us cut them up."
Archangel didn't respond.
"But don't worry, we aren't at that stage yet." 1 replied, "Anyway 5 has something to ask you."
"What are the codes for Orion's EMPs?" 5 asked.
"No idea." He replied.
5 hit Archangel again.
"TELL ME THE CODES." 5 screamed.
Archangel let out a laugh, "You know you really are funny when you get angry."
5 punched him again. Archangel spat a mouthful of blood on 5's face and smiled.
5 wiped the blood away before grabbing the young man by the throat and continually beating him until he was unconscious. Without saying a word 1 and 5 turned and walked out of the room. Archangel lay on the ground, his right eye swollen and his nose broken. Blood ran from both his nose and his mouth. A 6 appeared at the door way and slowly walked in.
"Stand outside." She said to the centurion who immediately followed her orders.
6 walked over to the beaten man and stood over him, she looked shocked when she saw what had been done to him. As she kneeled down next to him she began to cry as she wiped the blood off his face. 6 gently lifted his head and placed it on her lap and began to stroke his hair.
"I'm sorry for what we've done to you," she whispered quietly, "I promise that I won't let them hurt our baby."
….
Bojay walked quietly towards Orion's main briefing room. A 5 and a 3 led the way. He expected that one day he wouldn't come back from one of these meetings, that he would vanish the same way the Colonel did. As he walked into the room the same faces met him as usual.
"Captain please sit down." A 3 that was already in the room said.
Bojay sat down facing the 5 skin jobs.
"So how's morale?" 3 asked.
"Is that a joke?" Bojay replied, "How do you think it is. Our sworn enemy has control of our ship and our fleet, our friends are disappearing and we have no clue what you want with us."
"Well that's about to change today," a 2 said, "We're on our way to a planet where all the humans in your fleet will be able to live the rest of your lives."
"As your prisoners." Bojay replied.
"With the hope that one day we will be able to live along side each other as friends." 3 said.
Bojay let out a laugh, "I wouldn't hold your breath on that one."
"Despite that in three more jumps you will be at your new home. So you have four days to talk to your crew, to get them used to the fact that their war is over." 3 said.
"What about Commander Garrett, Colonel Rae, Major Hunter and Carrie Spence amongst others, what happens to them?" Bojay asked.
"As soon as everyone is down on the planet they will be returned to you, you have our word." 2 said.
"Are they all still in one piece?" Bojay asked.
"They may be a little broken but nothing that won't fix." 5 said with a smile.
"In the meantime I want you to talk to the battle group. Tell them what's coming, tell them that any resistance will come with the strongest possible repercussions and we want you to do that now." 3 said.
Bojay turned and saw the 5 holding a handset.
"And if I refuse?" Bojay said.
"Then your ECO, Lieutenant Thirren will find out what it's like to take a space walk without her suit, it's your choice." 2 replied.
Bojay took a deep breath and stood up and took the handset.
"The channel is already open." 2 said.
"All military personnel this is Captain Johnson. I have been asked to inform you of what is going to happen in four days time. The Cylons are taking us to a planet where we are to live. They have told me to tell you that any resistance will be met with deadly force. Once we are on the planet the Commander, XO and CAG along with everyone else who has been taken from us will be returned. I advise you all to heed their warning and I would ask you all personally not to do anything that could put your lives in danger. We will be fine." Bojay hung up the handset when he finished speaking.
"Satisfied?" he said.
"Very," 3 said, "We will be requesting your presence on the CIC for the final jump, taking the final leap together."
"I'll count the seconds." Bojay replied sarcastically.
….
Mike Campbell sat alone in the weapons locker that held the EMP warheads. He had computers running pointless programs that he informed the Cylons would eventually crack Commander Garrett's code. Of course that would never happen but if the Cylons took a closer look at his work they would never be able to tell he was lying to them. The plan he had hatched with Sergeant Vannick and Bojay was nearly ready to be implemented and after what he had just heard from Bojay it wasn't a second soon enough. The Cylons had been gradually putting more and more pressure on him to crack the code. They had never asked if he knew Garrett's code, if he had one of his own or if he could just switch them back on. All of those things he either knew or could do but they had never asked him not that he would have told them if they did. All they had said to him was they wanted him to crack the code. He knew that even though he was alone he was being watched, there were cameras all over the room. Clearly the Cylons had no idea what he had been up to these last couple of months, if they had he was sure he would be dead by now. He looked up as he heard the door open. He smiled when he saw Vannick walk in carrying a tray of food and drink.
"Good afternoon sergeant." Mike said.
"After noon," Vannick replied, "Everything okay?"
Mike knew what Vannick meant by that, it wasn't just a question asking about his well being, "Yes sergeant, couldn't be better." Mike replied with a smile.
"Good, you need anything you let me know."
"That won't be necessary I have everything I could need." Mike replied.
As Vannick left the room he knew that everything was ready and in place, soon the Cylons weren't going to know what hit them.
….
Dr Gerrard sat in his office on the Medstar. He felt helpless, when he saw those Cylons drag Carrie back into his life he felt all the guilt for what he had unwittingly done to her come back and hit him harder than before. He knew that she was here as punishment for what she had done. He had tried to fight the number 4 Cylon who had taken over his area, telling him that she shouldn't be here but it had been like talking to a brick wall. He had managed to get some time alone with Carrie and had apologised for everything that had happened to her past and present and that he was doing everything he could to get her out. She seemed to understand him, she had even said she had forgiven him but still he felt the guilt for what he had done. As 4 walked into his office he wanted to take something sharp and stab the Cylon to death but he knew if he did that he would be a dead man and he had to stay alive to help Carrie.
"Good afternoon doctor." 4 said.
Gerrard grunted a response.
"I take it you heard Captain Johnson's broadcast?" 4 asked.
"Yes I did."
"Good, Miss Spence will be rejoining her brother and her friends."
"Thank the gods." Gerrard said to himself.
"It is hoped that she has learned her lesson from what she has done." 4 said, "I'll be taking her back to Orion this afternoon. Once she's gone I'll be leaving this section back in your capable hands."
Gerrard didn't reply, he took another sip from his coffee.
4 turned and walked out of the office and walked towards where he had locked Carrie. He looked through the small window and saw Carrie sitting on the bed in the room looking very drugged. He unlocked the door and walked inside.
"Hello Carrie do you know who I am?" 4 asked.
Carrie looked up, even through the drugged daze she recognised the Cylon who stood in front of her. All she could manage to do was nod her head.
"Do you remember why you're here?" he asked.
"I killed a 5." She replied.
"Well it's been decided that you're going back to Orion this afternoon."
"What do you want from me?" She asked.
"Nothing, you've already given us everything we need." 4 replied with a sinister smile.
….
While talking to Adam Grayson, despite herself Commander Garrett believed what he was saying.
"So do you know how they're going to achieve their endgame?" Garrett asked.
"Not entirely," Adam replied, "As I mentioned before they're starting to shut me out of conversations. I know something is going on. The meetings we used to have with all of us together stopped a short time ago. Mr Caprica and Miss Tauron are giving their orders individually. I know there are operatives all across the fleet in key positions."
"Are there any on Orion?" Garrett asked, this was something she had never thought of before.
"Yes."
That single word hit her hard, "Do you know who?"
"I wish I could tell you that I did. I know they're all over and a new operative was brought into play recently. I have suspicions that one of your higher ranking officers is one of them."
"As if human Cylons weren't bad enough now I don't know who I can and can't trust on my own staff."
"I do not believe its Major Hunter."
Neither did Garrett but she had to ask, "What makes you say that."
"The recent events on the Mussa Sala."
"But I thought that was just one mans need for revenge."
"It's true that a hands off has been issued on him but not because he's one of us."
"Why then?"
Grayson paused, "I'm not sure you want to know."
"I have too." Garrett replied.
"Because Mr Caprica's real name is Galen Hunter, he's the Major's father."
"What? But Archangel said he died on Caprica?"
"Because that is what he believes. He doesn't know the kind of man his father really is. He may have been a titan of industry, a face that the Colonies liked and trusted before the war but in truth he is a ruthless man."
"This is going to destroy him." Garrett said.
"Then why tell him?"
"Because it's his father."
"A fact that won't stay hidden forever I'm sure but what do you think he will do if he finds out? He'll tear this fleet apart looking for him and we both know there is nothing any of us can do to stop him. Until he needs to know I strongly recommend you don't tell him."
….
Wedge was fuelled with an anger he was finding very hard to control. He was so used to being able to control his surroundings and do things on his terms. Even in a fight to the death while sat in his Viper, he controlled the outcome. He never let a raider get the better of him, in life he had never let anyone or anything get the better of him. The only thing he knew how to do to try and vent some of this anger was to beat the hell out of the punch bags in Orion's gym. He would give anything to be able to get Carrie. In the short time they had been together his feelings for her had grown quickly and now he couldn't help her. He pummelled the bag in a flurry of blows that would have killed any man that would have taken them and then stopped to catch his breath.
"You okay?" Jawbreaker asked from the punch bag next to him.
"I'd be better if I could switch this bag for a skin job." Wedge replied.
"You and me both. I'd ask you if you wanted to spar but I don't think even I could take to many punches like that."
"I'm sorry buddy. Sorry I've been like this but I just can't shake it."
"You don't have to explain yourself to me. How long have we known each other now? 7 years so you don't need to explain to me."
"7 years frak me. When we were on Columbia if you'd told me this is where we'd be now I'd have laughed."
"Tell me about it. But I think I've just found a way to make you smile again." Jawbreaker replied pointing to the door behind Wedge.
Wedge turned to see Carrie standing there smiling. Wedge ran up to her and threw his arms around her before kissing her.
"My gods what happened?" Wedge asked.
"They let me go," Carrie replied groggily, "They just let me go."
….
Archangel was startled back into consciousness by the sound of gunfire. As his eyes adjusted to the light he saw the centurion that guarded him was shooting at an as yet unseen enemy. As the metal monster hit the ground under a volley of gunfire Archangel forced himself to his feet. As he stumbled to the door Vannick, Grace and a team of marines met him.
"Thank the gods." Vannick said.
Grace hugged Archangel and kissed him.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Archangel nodded his head, "Good to see you guys."
"Come on there will be more on the way." Vannick said handing Archangel a handgun.
Archangel managed to keep up with the others. As they neared the hanger bay Archangel caught sight of a number 5, he raised his gun and shot the cylon between the eyes. Outside the hanger there were downed centurions and skin jobs everywhere.
"Looks like you guys have been busy." Archangel said with a smile.
As they walked into the hanger bay Bojay and Bria were waiting for them with a raptor.
"What the frak kept you?" Bojay asked with a smile.
"Got to keep you flyboys on your toes." Vannick replied as they all got into the back.
As the raptor took off it didn't take long to get into open space. Archangel saw Orion and the four Gunstars in a fierce fight with the base ships. Wreckage of countless Cylon ships was scattered as far as the eye could see. Vipers were in dogfights with raiders. Archangel moved into the back of the raptor. He caught a glimpse of the dradis console, it was completely clear of contacts.
"What the?" Archangel said.
"What? What's wrong?" Grace asked.
"Something is wrong with dradis." He replied.
"Nothings wrong with dradis." Bria replied looking at the blank screen.
"This isn't going to work!" Archangel shouted, "There's nothing you can do to break me."
"Mark what's wrong?" Grace asked.
"Nothing." Archangel replied smiling. He took hold of the sidearm he had been given and one by one shot everyone in the raptor with him.
Archangel lay laughing as Cylon probes and drugs once again failed to break him.
"GOD DAM IT." 1 yelled knocking over a tray of instruments in a fit of rage, "He's just a fraking human, they're weak, and they're nothing. WHY CAN'T WE BREAK HIM?"
The 4 standing next to Archangel looked up, "Honestly I don't know. Everything we've done should have been enough, for fraks sake he can even tell when we send in a 6 now that it's not Grace, it shouldn't be possible."
"And yet here we are after four months," 1 replied, "Is the contingency plan in place?"
"Yes, when they're on New Caprica we can bring it into play and then we win regardless." 3 said.
….
Karl Michaels sat in the living room of his cabin. The warmth of the log fire next to him felt good. He loved living in the polar dome of the Starburst, it threw up daily challenges. The biggest challenge he had faced so far was sat opposite him. The number 5 Cylon had been making regular trips to his home to search for Grace. Despite the fact they never found her and never would they kept coming back.
"I don't see the appeal of this weather." 5 said.
Michaels smiled, "It's my favourite of all. Makes you realise you're alive when you're out conditions that extreme."
"I wonder why they would decide to put something this, cold on a ship that holds the standard of luxury that this one does?"
"I can't answer that question. If you were human you might understand." Michaels replied.
5 laughed, "I've come to enjoy our little chats. Who would have thought? It almost makes me hope that we don't find her so I can keep coming back."
"I thought you were taking us to a planet to live on. What would be the point in coming back? No one will be here."
"That's very true. You know what we're going to do if we haven't found her by then?"
"Enlighten me." Michaels replied.
"Once everyone is off this ship and every other ship we're going to destroy them all. One at a time and just wait for Grace to download."
"What makes you think she'll be on one of the ships when we all leave? There are nearly 140,000 people in this fleet, it would be easy to sneak her away. After all I know you know that's what I'm best at."
"That's true. What if we leave you on the Starburst when we destroy it?" 5 replied with a smile.
"Then you leave me here. I'm not afraid to die, never have been never will be."
"Are you a religious man Karl?" 5 asked.
"Not especially. My mother tried to get me to go to church when I was a child but I could never see the point of it. She gave up in the end, let me do what I wanted to do."
"So you don't believe in any afterlife and yet you're not bothered about going to your death?" 5 asked.
"There either is an afterlife or there isn't," Michaels replied, "My belief or lack of isn't going to change that in any way. The threat of death isn't going to make me confess any sins or tell you where Grace is or isn't, it's hollow as far as I'm concerned."
"Fair enough." 5 replied, "I like you Karl, I've enjoyed our time together."
An 8 and 2 came through, "Nothing." 8 said, "Once again there's no one living here but him."
"I could have saved you the trouble of searching." Michaels replied.
"I'm sure you could." 5 replied, "Until next time."
"You know where the door is." Michaels replied.
….
Commander Garrett sat on the bed in the small room she had been calling home for the last four months. Her conversations with Adam Grayson over the past couple of days had been illuminating to say the least. She was still cautious of the things he told her and continued to say but despite herself she couldn't help but believe him. He also seemed genuinely scared for his daughter. He hadn't seen her in months and it would appear that the NCO were using her as a bargaining chip for his continued cooperation. She wished she could sleep, she knew that's what Adam was doing right now. Sleep was getting harder and harder to come by. She had finished reading yet another book less than an hour ago and had tried to force sleep after that but it still wouldn't come. She found herself day dreaming of her own bed in her own quarters, she was sure if she could get there she would be able to fall asleep without a problem. She was startled out of her daydream by the door opening. A number 3 Cylon stood in the doorway with two centurions standing behind her.
"Good morning Vanessa, sleep well?" 3 asked.
"What do you want?" Garrett replied.
"Today's the big day Commander, today's the day you reach your new home. We're taking you back to Orion before the final jump. You'd better get your jacket, you wouldn't want to set a bad example in front of your crew now would you?"
Garrett picked up her uniform jacket and followed the skin job out of the room. She had so much more to say to Adam Grayson, she just prayed she had said enough.
….
"Humans of the fleet this is the last of our broadcasts you will see in your current homes. Human and Cylon are about to take the next leap in peace, in living together, in striving to find a common bond that can bring us together. We are about to give you the one thing you have been looking for since we drove you from the Colonies, a new planet to call your own. A new planet where human and Cylon alike will live together and strive to make a society where we can be prosperous, where we can bring new life into a world free of the violence we bring on each other. By the end of the day you will all once again know the feeling of soil under your feet and the sun against your skin. It will be hard at first but we the Cylons know that we can make this work. As a show of good faith when we reach the planet we will release all prisoners that we have taken over the last four months, in return we expect peace. Anyone who is caught in the act of violence or planning on committing this act will be dealt with as strongly as possible. We are the Cylons and we give to you your salvation."
Bojay watched with the other pilots in their quarters. He knew they were nearly there but he thought he would have a little longer to prepare. It was now or never, it would either work or it wouldn't, they were about to find out.
"We need to do something." Cyanide said from behind Bojay.
"You need to trust me," Bojay replied, "Do nothing."
"And just go down to that planet with our asses in our hands?" Cyanide replied.
"If you never do anything I ever ask again just do this one thing for me," Bojay said, "Trust me."
As he finished speaking the door to their quarters opened and a 2 walked in.
"Captain Johnson I'd like you to come with me to the CIC please."
Bojay winked at Bria as he followed the skin job.
As Bojay walked onto the CIC he saw a bruised and beaten Colonel Rae propped up by the dradis console and Lieutenant Taylor who stood next to her. There were centurions and skin jobs all over the room as well as other crewmen and women.
"Captain." Colonel Rae said.
"Good to see you Colonel." Bojay replied.
Moments later Commander Garrett appeared led by a number 3. Bojay was relived to see she was in one piece.
"What a great day this is," 3 said, "The salvation you've been looking for is now at your finger tips."
"That's a matter of opinion." Garrett replied.
"You'll see commander. Soon not only will the people you've been fighting to save have a home but they will be reunited with some of their other surviving brothers and sisters." 3 said.
"What?" Garrett asked.
"The planet we're taking you too Galactica's fleet is already there."
Everyone was lost for words.
"They've called the planet New Caprica and they've been living in peace with us for months now." 3 said.
"I don't believe you." Garrett replied.
"Well whether you believe me or not you're about to find out. Commander Garrett please order the jump to New Caprica."
"No." Garrett replied.
"Commander please there is no need for this, ORDER THE JUMP." 3 replied.
"No." Garrett said standing firm.
"Fair enough." 3 replied.
She took out a small handgun and pointed it at the commander.
"ORDER THE FRAKING JUMP." 3 yelled.
"No. I'm not afraid to die." Garrett replied.
3 turned the weapon towards Lieutenant Taylor and shot her between the eyes.
"You mother fraker." Bojay said.
"Now commander if you don't order the jump your XO is next, then Captain Johnson, then I will contact the base ship Major Hunter is on and tell them to throw him out of an airlock. ORDER THE JUMP."
"Don't do it." Rae said.
"You really do have a death wish Colonel."
Rae didn't reply.
"Fair enough." 3 said turning the gun towards the XO.
"WAIT." Bojay shouted.
"Bojay what are you doing?" Garrett asked.
"I'll do it," he said, "Do you guarantee Major Hunter and everyone else will be returned to us?"
"Yes Captain. If you order the jump you have my word."
"Bojay I order you to stand down." Garrett said.
"I'm sorry Commander, I can't stand by and watch more of my friends die." He said.
A 4 handed him one of the handsets on the dradis console. He took it despite the disapproving and disappointed looks from his shipmates. He took a deep breath before he spoke.
"This is Bojay," he said, "Do it now."
Everyone looked confused as Bojay smiled and set down the handset.
"Match point." He said.
Before 3 could even reply she and the other skin jobs began to scream in pain before they and the centurions dropped to the floor. He picked up the handset and spoke again.
"Ships of the fleet this is Captain Johnson of the Battlestar Orion a virus has been transmitted to all the Cylons on your ships disabling them. We have approximately one hour to get all the skin jobs and centurions into airlocks and blasted out into space before they power up again. You have all been sent a new set of jump coordinates as soon as you are ready check in with Orion and make the jump."
"What did you do?" Garrett asked with a smile.
"It's a long story that we can talk about later right now we have work to do. Commander, Orion is yours."
….
Wedge ran as fast as he could carrying Carrie in his arms. Since the skin jobs had started to scream in pain so had she, the difference was she hadn't stopped. As he reached sickbay he saw Dr Hammond was back in her office, marines were dragging away the skin job they had called 4.
"Doc I need your help." Wedge shouted as he laid a screaming Carrie onto a bed.
"What happened?" Hammond asked.
"When the skin jobs started screaming so did Carrie the difference is when they dropped she didn't, just carried on screaming. She grabbed her head, she managed to tell me that's where the pain was coming from. Doc you have to help her." Wedge pleaded.
Dr Hammond injected Carrie with a sedative, which immediately calmed her down.
"I'll give her a brain scan and see what's going on in there. Do you have somewhere you need to be?"
Wedge shook his head, "I'm not going anywhere."
….
As medics took Lt Taylor's body away everyone else was getting back to their old posts.
"What do we do about those Baseships?" Rae asked.
"Right now nothing," Garrett looked up at the count down clock above them, "We still have 54 minutes, and we need to give Archangel enough time to get off whichever ship he's on."
"What about sending people over to get him?" Rae asked.
"There are thirty eight Baseships and one of their resurrection ships out there we have no idea which one he's on. We wait he'll find us."
"Are you okay Vanessa?" Rae asked.
Garrett nodded her head, "I'm good, you?"
Rae smiled and nodded, "I am now. What do we do about this planet?"
"We leave it for now." Garrett replied.
….
As Archangel came too he noticed the lights in his "room" were flickering. When he got his bearings he noticed that the centurion who guarded him was on the ground. He groggily got to his feet and saw a 6 lying next to where he had been with no signs of life. He couldn't help but wonder if this was another of their tricks, they had tried everything to break him, this was probably just another trick. It felt different this time. Usually he could feel the drugs, even if it was just a faint haze, he could always feel them. He slowly and shakily got to the open door way. Outside it was the same, lights flickering and Cylons, both the human and metal types scattered on the ground. As Archangel took a step into the corridor he caught sight of a small group of people who appeared in front of him. They can't be people, he thought to himself, frak, he'd fallen straight into their trap.
"Hello." He heard one of the voices say.
It didn't belong to any of the Cylons he had met so far, he would never forget any of their voices.
"Are you okay?" the man's voice asked.
Archangel hesitated.
"Are you okay?" the man asked again.
Archangel nodded, "Who are you?" he asked his voice croaky.
"My name is Lieutenant James Potter I was from the Battlestar Columbia, I've been held prisoner since the attack, we all have."
As Archangel staggered towards the people he could see most of the small group seemed to be dressed in civilian clothes, all except for Potter.
"My gods you're Archangel." He said.
"We have to get out of here," Archangel said, "Get to the hanger bay. Orion will be waiting for us."
"Orion?" Potter asked.
"It's a long story." Archangel replied.
….
Michaels stood looking at the Cylons unconscious on the floor in front of him. He had already broken the necks of the other two who were in his home. He looked down at this number 5 and felt no emotions towards him at all. He kneeled down next to him and took a deep breath.
"No doubt I'll see you again one day." Michaels said before snapping 5's neck.
He got back to his feet and headed towards the back of the cabin. He moved the cupboards against the back wall to reveal a door in the floor. He opened it and walked down the steps that led him under the house. He had made this little hideaway out of habit. At the time he didn't even know why he was making it, he never thought he would need it but that hadn't stopped him. Below the house was a small comfortable living quarters where he had been hiding Grace for months. Supplies of food and water that would last a long time, books to keep her entertained as well as other small comforts. He saw Grace lying on the bed, not moving and with no signs of life just as the other skin jobs had been.
"Grace." He said, "Grace can you hear me?"
There was no reply. He hoped she was still alive.
….
Wedge stood watching as Dr Hammond finished off Carrie's brain scan. He had never been this terrified in his life. Even when the Cylons had attacked and everyone he knew and loved was being murdered, he still didn't feel quite as scared and as lost as he did in this moment.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Wedge asked as Hammond walked through.
"There is something at the base of her brain. I can't tell what but it's only recently been put there. I'm guessing the Cylons must have done it while she was on the Medstar. It must be what's causing her all the pain."
"Can you remove it?" Wedge asked.
"I hope so." Hammond replied.
"Please help her." Wedge begged.
"I'll do everything I can." She replied.
….
The countdown clock on the CIC read 6 minutes remaining. The tension was high.
"All the other ships are away Commander and all the ships weapons are being reloaded. Ship to ship missiles are ready, the main magazines are only a quarter full." Rae said.
"How long till they're full?" Garrett replied.
"Gun captains report it will be at least another three hours till everything is ready." Rae responded.
"Dradis contact." A voice called out.
Garrett looked up and saw the signal of a colonial raptor appear from one of the base ships.
"Commander I have Major Hunter on the horn, he wants to speak with you." Ensign Phillips said from the COM station.
Garrett smiled as she picked up her hand set.
"Orion actual go ahead." She said.
"Orion actual this is Archangel." came the response. Archangel's voice was clearly still groggy and she could tell he was in pain.
"It's good to hear your voice Major." She replied.
"Likewise," he said, "I don't know what you did but thank you."
"You're very welcome but it's Bojay you need to thank. Are you okay?"
"We're going to need medics on the hanger bay. I need them and the others will need checking over."
"Others?" Garrett replied.
"Yes ma'am there were other prisoners as well."
"They'll be waiting for you. The starboard hanger bay is all yours."
"See you soon." He replied.
Garrett put the handset down and smiled to herself.
"Colonel Rae." She said.
"Yes Commander."
"Have every Cylons ship targeted with a spread of ship to ship missiles and blow them out of the fraking sky, then jump us to the rest of the fleet." Garrett ordered.
"Yes ma'am." Rae replied with a smile, which due to her injuries caused her pain but it was worth it.
….
Archangel looked at the people who were crammed into the back of the raptor with him. They were a mixture of sexes and ages but they all had one thing in common, they all looked terrified. Normally he would have tried to reassure them but he didn't have it in him. He still expected to see something that would give this away as a dream or hallucination but there was nothing. Either this was for real or they had finally broken him. As Lieutenant Potter brought the raptor to a stop on Orion's hanger deck he looked out through the small window on the raptors door. The deck crew were getting back to their work and a small crowd had begun to gather by the raptor. He saw Skeeter standing at the front smiling as the commander appeared through the crowd next to him. Archangel stood up as the door began to open. He knew he looked battered and bruised and he could tell that people were trying to hide their expressions from him. He saluted the commander who saluted back.
"Permission to come aboard." Archangel said.
"Permission granted." Garrett replied.
As Archangel put one foot outside the raptor Skeeter and the commander moved forward as quickly as they could as they watched Archangel pass out and then slide down the side of the raptor and onto the hanger deck.
"MEDIC." Skeeter shouted as he reached his friend. Garrett checked for a pulse and was relieved to find one straight away.
….
When Archangel came too he was startled for a second to see Orion's sickbay. As he took in his surroundings he remembered what had happened. His body didn't feel as battered as it had done before, he assumed that was due to the painkillers he had probably been given. He saw Skeeter sitting next to him smiling.
"Welcome back." Skeeter said.
"What the frak happened?" Archangel replied.
"I'm not really sure, all I know is the Cylons are gone. Bojay and Mike did something that just switched them all off."
"How long was I gone for?"
"Four months." Skeeter replied.
"That long?" Archangel said, "I completely lost track of all time while I was over there."
"Can I ask? what did they do to you?" Skeeter said.
"When they realised they couldn't beat information out of me they decided to try pumping me full of drugs. I didn't know what the frak was going on, but they never broke me, at least I don't think they did."
"That sounds about right." Skeeter replied.
"Where's Carrie?"
Skeeter hesitated.
"Skeeter where's my sister?"
"She's in surgery." Skeeter replied.
"What? Why? Is she okay?"
"The Cylons put something in her brain, the doc is removing it because it was causing her excruciating pain."
"Will she be okay?"
Skeeter nodded his head, "Of course she will be."
They both looked up when Grace walked in, she smiled when she saw Archangel and Skeeter.
"Looks like there's someone here to see you." Skeeter said, "I'll leave you two alone."
Grace kissed him before she sat down.
"What did they do to you?" she said.
"I'm okay," Archangel replied, "Honestly I'm okay. Are you?"
Grace nodded her head, "I'm fine, Michaels kept me hidden."
"I knew I could count on him." Archangel replied.
….
Commander Garrett was pleased to be back on her own ship in her own quarters. As soon as she had spoken to everyone who needed to see her she intended to finally get some sleep. The president, Colonel Rae, Bojay and Mike sat with her.
"So what exactly did you do?" Milo asked.
"I remembered Grace saying that the Cylons were all linked by a signal or carrier wave, whatever you want to call it. So while I was pretending to hack the codes for the EMPs I decided to try and see if I could find that signal. Once I managed to find it I realised that it linked them all, the ships, the skin jobs, the centurions all of them. So I wrote an EMP reboot virus I suppose you'd call it, then when Captain Johnson gave me the signal I triggered it."
"Did you know it would work?" Rae asked.
"I couldn't test it properly, I couldn't risk the Cylons finding out what I was doing, so I tested it on a clock radio." Mike said.
"A clock radio?" Garrett asked surprised.
"Yes Commander, then it was just a case of doing the math and readjusting the strength of the "virus" for the size and amount of the targets."
"I'm glad you're on our side." Garrett said with a laugh.
"The two of you saved our fleet." Milo said.
"It wasn't just us, Lieutenant Thirren and Sergeant Vannick were involved as well." Bojay replied.
"Never the less you saved our fleet and I intend to give you all a medal for what you did." Milo said.
"Thank you sir." Bojay replied.
"Thank you for explaining it to us," Garrett said, "I'm sure you both have a lot to do."
"Yes ma'am." Bojay replied getting up, "I just wanted to say it's good to see you all again."
"It's good to be seen." Milo replied.
When Bojay and Mike had both left there was still plenty more to discuss.
"So what do we do about this planet?" Milo asked, "Do we forget about it or do we go take a look?"
"I want to take Orion and the Gunstars to take a look and if there are any Cylons there I want to take them all down." Garrett replied.
"That's understandable," Milo replied, "What about what they said about Galactica and her fleet?"
"I don't believe a word of it," Garrett said, "And if they are there it's not through choice. There is no way Adama would just coexist with the Cylons. He'd kill them all or die trying before that happened."
"I tend to agree." Milo said.
"Do you know Adama?" Garrett asked.
"Only through reputation." Milo replied.
"I've been fortunate enough to meet him a couple of times down the years and trust me the reputation is justified. There's no way he would hold hands with the toasters." Garrett said.
"So when do you want to go and check the planet?" Milo asked.
Garrett looked up and took a deep breath before she spoke, "As soon as Orion and the Gunstars are ready."
"If you're sure that's the best thing to do." Milo replied.
"I'm going to hit them hard, so hard that they'll think twice before they ever come near us again." Garrett replied.
….
Four hours later everyone was in position on Orion's CIC. The ships weapons were fully loaded and its vipers were in the tube ready for the other side of the jump.
Garrett walked onto the CIC. Colonel Rae already stood by the dradis console. She was looking better than she did a few hours earlier. A medic had taken a look at her and cleaned her up.
"Commander." Rae said.
"Colonel, you feeling up to this?" Garrett replied.
"Oh yes." Rae replied with a smile.
"Ensign Phillips please put me through to the ship and the Gunstars." Garrett said.
"Channel is open." Phillips replied.
"All hands this is the Commander," Garrett said, "We are about to head to the planet the Cylons called New Caprica. We are going to make them pay for everything they have put us through for the last four months. For all of our people they have hurt, for all our people they have killed. We are going to use Orion for the purpose it was made for, we are going to destroy every last of those metal mother frakers who are at that planet. We will not stop, we will show no mercy until we have destroyed them all. Stand by your shipmates and we will all come back. Lets make them sorry they ever came for us." Garrett put the handset down and looked around the CIC.
"For Lieutenant Georgia Taylor." Colonel Rae said.
"FOR LIETUTENANT TAYLOR." The voices of the CIC crew roared in reply.
Garrett smiled, "Start the jump."
"All hands prepare to jump in 5…4…3…2…1 jump." Ensign Phillips said.
Orion and three of the Gunstars jumped away from the fleet.
"Jump complete," Ensign Phillips said, "Dradis is full of a lot of debris we also appear to be in a nebula that's fraking up the signal," he paused for a moment, "I'm picking up 3 Baseships at carrum 2-12."
"Launch the vipers and begin flack barrage." Rae ordered.
"Load EMPs and launch as soon as they're ready." Garrett said.
Wedge was the first viper to launch followed by everyone else. He could see the inbound raiders but immediately had to dodge through wreckage.
"Orion this is Wedge, I need to speak to actual."
Moments later the Commander's voice filled his ears.
"Wedge this is Orion actual."
"Commander this wreckage, it's from Pegasus." Wedge replied.
"Are you sure?" Garrett asked.
"Yes ma'am I've just had to dodge what's left of their starboard flight pod. Looks like there has been one hell of a battle here." Wedge replied.
"Thank you for the info. Good hunting."
As the Commander's voice rang off Wedge engaged the first raider that came towards him.
"Okay guys hold it together and stick together." Wedge ordered.
As the vipers engaged the swarming raiders EMP warheads streaked through the sky with a blue haze that followed them like a tail through space. One base ship was hit head on and immediately powered down. The other two enemy ships backed off.
"Base ships are backing away out of our firing range but they're not jumping away." Phillips said.
"Is Mike Campbell still aboard?" Garrett asked.
"Yes I think he is." Rae replied.
"Get him on the horn." Garrett replied.
Moments later Mike's nervous voice appeared on the other end of the line.
"How can I help you Commander?" he asked.
"What you did to disable all the Cylons earlier, will it work again?" Garrett asked.
"Honestly I don't know."
"Can you try it?"
"Yes ma'am I'll get straight on it." Mike replied.
All Mike's equipment was still set up in the EMP room. He ignored the people around him as they moved the weapons he had created to the missile rooms. He had no idea if it would work a second time. As he pressed the button he held his breath and waited. Ear splitting feedback hit him as the signal was rejected and sent back to him. As he had feared the Cylons had changed the frequency of the signal that linked them all together. He ran to the handset on the wall behind him.
"CIC." He said into the phone. Moments later Ensign Phillips answered, "It's Mike Campbell I need to speak to the Commander." He blurted.
"It didn't work?" The Commander said.
"No it didn't, they've changed their frequencies." Mike replied.
"Can you find it?" Garrett asked.
"Not in time. It took me over a month to find it last time."
"Thank you for trying." The Commander replied before the line went dead.
He sighed to himself, he would have to find a new way to help his fellow survivors.
"Looks like we have to do this the old fashion way." Garrett said as she put the handset down.
"One of the Baseships is directing all its fire on the Gunstars, they're taking heavy damage." Phillips shouted.
"Tell the Gunstars to jump back to the fleet," Garrett said, "We can't afford to loose them. Get us closer to those two Baseships. The second they're in range hit them with a full spread of torpedoes then hit them with everything we have."
As Wedge destroyed his 6th raider in this fight he saw the Gunstars jumping away and Orion moving closer to the two remaining base ships. As he turned into another raider it turned tail and sped back to its base ship as did all the others.
"Okay kids the raiders are bugging out, do not chase them back to the base ship, follow my lead and we'll make a line and wait for more orders." Wedge said turning his plane back in Orion's direction. Moments later the 450 strong Viper squadrons of the Battlestar Orion formed a formidable line flanked by its armed raptor squadrons.
"Wedge this is Bojay good shooting out there." Bojay said over the horn.
"You too," Wedge replied.
They all watched as the two remaining base ships jumped away.
"Yeah that's right run you mother frakers." Jawbreaker said over the COM.
Wedge laughed to himself. He couldn't agree more with his best friend but part of him had wanted them to stay longer, he had an urge to junk more toasters.
….
Archangel sat next to his sister, holding her hand as she lay unconscious in her bed. He felt helpless, his friends had been out fighting and he hadn't been by their side and his sister lay in this state and there was nothing he could do for her.
Dr Hammond and Grace walked over to them.
"How is she?" Archangel asked.
"She's going to be okay," Hammond replied, "I removed the chip they had implanted. It had a small explosive device attached to it."
"It must have been on the same frequency as the Cylons so they could remotely trigger it. When Mike sent his EMP virus to us it must have triggered a feedback loop on the chip which caused Carrie the pain she was in." Grace said.
"Why would they do that to her? I can understand to me or the Commander or even the President but why to her?"
"I wondered the same thing, but watching the people who have been into see her I realised why." Grace said.
"Why?" Archangel replied.
"If they had got us to the planet what is one of the first thing you would have done?" Grace asked.
"Started to fight back." Archangel replied.
"Exactly," Grace said, "That's what I realised when I saw the Commander, the President, you, Wedge, Skeeter and others come to see how she was. She is the only person to have daily access to all of the people who would have formed a resistance against them. All they would have needed to do was wait till you were all in the same room and activate that bomb. What kind of a message would that have sent to the rest of the people? When their leaders, the leaders of their resistance were all dead. If they could be taken out, anyone could."
"That makes a lot of sense." Hammond replied.
"It's what I've done." Archangel said, "It's what I would do. But she's okay now? It's not caused any damage to her?"
"No. It appears the chip was only recently implanted into her and didn't have chance to have any organic matter attach to it. I'm keeping her sedated because of where it was. I want to give her brain time to recover."
"Okay," Archangel said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Hammond replied.
….
Bojay and Hydra took their Raptors down to the surface of the planet, it didn't take them long to find the city their brothers and sisters had built. There were plooms of smoke from recent explosions still billowing into the sky.
"Orion this is Bojay."
"Bojay this is Orion actual go ahead."
"They weren't lying there have been people here," Bojay replied, "There appears to be the beginnings of a city here. It looks like there was a fight down here as well as up there. Whatever happened Galactica's people fought back hard."
"Are there any signs of life?" Garrett asked.
"Not that I can see but we've only done a fly over. I request permission to land and have a look around."
"Permission granted," Garrett replied, "Take a radio with you and leave a channel open. I'm sending more people down to the surface."
"Yes ma'am, I'll let you know if we find anything." Bojay replied, "Hydra follow me down."
"No problem." Hydra replied.
Both raptors touched down on the edge of the city. As Bojay got out of the cockpit Bria picked up a radio. They met Hydra and her ECO outside.
"Okay keep your eyes open there could be left over toasters down here, everyone draw your side arms." Bojay said.
As they walked through the street of New Caprica they saw the extent of the fight that had taken place. Dead humans and Cylons were everywhere. It looked as though whatever life the humans had tried to build here had been halted by the machines. All four pilots were startled as a young boy appeared from one of the tents in front of them. Bojay holstered his weapon and smiled at the kid.
"Hey there, are you okay?" he asked with one of his kind smiles.
"Can you help my Dad?" the boy asked.
"Sure, can you take us to him." Bojay replied.
The boy nodded and ran back into the tent.
"Bria come with me, Hydra keep an eye out here I don't want any surprises." Bojay replied.
She nodded her head.
As Bojay and Bria entered the tent they saw the boy kneeling next to his father shaking him. Bojay knew by looking at him that his father was dead.
"Bria see what you can do," Bojay said, "Hey come with me while Bria tries to help your dad."
The boy took Bojay's hand and took him outside. Bojay shook his head and Hydra understood.
"Can you guys go help Bria?" Bojay asked.
"Yeah sure." Hydra replied.
"What's your name?" Bojay asked.
"Jimmy." The boy replied.
"No way, that's my name too." Bojay replied.
"Really?" the child asked.
Bojay nodded his head and smiled, "Jimmy Johnson. So Jimmy is your mother around?"
The boy nodded his head, "She was in the town square when the explosions happened. I don't know if she's with the others."
"Others? Where are the others?" Bojay asked.
"I watched them run into the hanger building over there," the boy said pointing, "But my dad was hurt so I stayed with him."
Bria walked out.
"Is my dad okay?"
Bria kneeled down next to the boy, "I did everything I could to help him but he was hurt to badly, I'm sorry."
The boy just looked at her silently and then at Bojay.
"Thank you for trying to help him." Jimmy said before starting to cry.
"I'm so sorry buddy. Bria here is going to take you to our Raptor while I go and see if I can find your mother."
The boy nodded his head through the tears before Bria picked him up and walked back to the Raptor. Hydra and Tin Can her ECO stood with him.
"He said he saw survivors heading to the hanger over there." Bojay said.
As he began to walk away he unholstered his weapon again. The three pilots walked quietly through the streets. Bojay stopped when he saw someone on the ground, clearly injured trying to crawl into a tent. He ran over but stopped when he saw it was a Cylon, a number 4.
"Help me." The 4 pleaded holding out his arm.
Bojay looked down at the Cylon and took a deep breath before kneeling down next to the machine.
"Please help me." The 4 asked.
"I'll help you." Bojay replied.
"Thank you." The 4 said.
In a flash Bojay's hands were tightly gripping the Cylons throat.
"HELP YOU." He screamed, "HELP YOU AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE."
The Cylon tried to remove Bojay's grip but couldn't budge it. Hydra had never seen such rage in anyone's eyes before. Tin Can looked at her as if asking what should they do. Hydra put her hand on his arm to tell him nothing at all. She knew that Bojay needed this.
As the life drained away from the Cylon Bojay calmly stood up closed his eyes and took a deep breath. That actually had made him feel a little better. Without saying another word the three pilots began to walk again.
The hanger building was easy to spot from the others. The fuel pumping station that was next to it was rigged up to clearly fuel spacecraft. Bojay looked out from their hiding place. They had spotted two centurions trying to get into the building. Both of the metal monsters were slightly battle damaged, one of them had wires and bent metal where one of it's arms had been.
"You guys ready?" Bojay whispered.
Hydra and Tin Can nodded and held their guns tightly. Bojay was the first to open fire hitting the one armed Cylon in the head with four shots. It fell to the ground as the second machine turned and returned fire. Tin Can fired wildly hitting nothing but the wall to the Cylons right. He hadn't kneeled far enough behind his cover as one of the Cylons rounds hit it's mark and shot him between the eyes.
"Mother fraker." Hydra shouted as her ECO hit the deck next to her. She emptied the rest of her magazine, hitting the Centurion with every shot. As it fell she reloaded her weapon with a full magazine.
"Gods damn it Tin Can." She said as she wiped a tear from her eye. The two had become quite close since recently being paired up. He had been a good friend to her.
"You okay?" Bojay asked.
"I'm good but Tin Can is dead." Hydra replied.
"Gods damn it." Bojay shouted.
"Come on, let's make sure he didn't die for nothing, lets find these other survivors." Hydra replied wiping the tears from her eyes.
Both pilots walked towards the massive hanger. There didn't appear to be any more centurions around. Bojay tried the side door of the hanger but it was locked tight. He shot the lock out and then took a deep breath before opening the door. Inside there were people crammed as far as the eye could see. They looked terrified even though they saw the people coming in weren't Cylons.
"Frak me look at all these people." Hydra said.
"My name is Captain Johnson and I'm from the Battlestar Orion," he shouted at the top of his voice, "We're here to rescue you."
The people nearest to them went from being terrified to relieved in seconds. People started coming up to them shaking their hands and saying thank you.
"We found a child outside called Jimmy is his mother here?" Bojay yelled.
He wasn't sure how far his voice could be heard over the people talking but moments later a woman appeared crying with relief.
"Did you find my Jimmy?" she asked, "Is he and my husband okay?"
"Your son is fine but I'm sorry to tell you that your husband didn't make it." Bojay replied.
….
Commander Garrett and President Vents stood overlooking the makeshift city on New Caprica.
"From what I can tell from survivors I've talked too they settled here a while ago," Milo said, "Then the Cylons found them around the same time they found us. It appears these people didn't or couldn't get to their ships in time when the exodus happened."
"I just can't believe we missed Galactica by a matter of hours," Garrett replied, "We still have no idea which way they're going."
"We keep finding evidence of them everywhere we go, it's only a matter of time before we cross paths." Milo said.
"If we'd made it here and they'd got us on this planet and their hands on Orion it would have been game over." Garrett said.
"But they didn't, we should be grateful for that and we managed to rescue all these people."
"It does make me think though is it ever going to be safe to settle on a planet as long as the Cylons are out there. This could be us."
"We should focus on the now. We have our freedoms, we found these people, there are enough supplies on this planet to restock all our stores to maximum."
"A jewel in the mud." Garrett replied.
"Definitely." Milo replied.
"When I was on that ship for those months the person in the room next to me was Adam Grayson."
"What?" Milo replied.
"We got talking. It would appear that he isn't the man we thought he was, he's being used against his will under threat of his daughter's life."
"And you believe him?"
"At first I wasn't sure. We talked for days. He told me that one of my senior officers is an NCO agent but didn't know who."
"That is worrying."
"He also told me that Mr Caprica, the man who is in charge is Galen Hunter."
"The Tylium billionaire?"
"Amongst other things. He's also Archangel's father."
The surprise on the president's face couldn't be hidden.
"Does Archangel know?"
"No he doesn't and I'm inclined not to tell him until we have too."
"Doesn't he have a right to know?"
"Yes he does but think about it, if we tell him his father is in the fleet and is the one pulling all the strings behind the NCO what is he going to do?"
"He would tear the fleet apart looking for him." Milo replied.
"Exactly. We'll tell him just not until we have too. Grayson also said he was going to help us take the NCO down from the inside."
"I hope we can trust him."
"So do I." Garrett replied.
….
A 1 gasped for air as he finished downloading into a new body. This was his third download but he had never felt this disorientated before.
"What the frak happened?" 1 said.
"The humans." A 3 replied.
"Be more specific, there are a lot of them out there." 1 said rubbing the pink slime from his face.
"Orion's fleet, they hit us with some sort of virus, it powered down every Cylons everywhere." 2 said, "They managed to isolate the signal that links us all together and exploited it."
"So they got away?" 1 said wrapping towels around him and getting out of the tank.
"Yes, they also went to New Caprica and rescued the remaining humans the Galactica wasn't able to rescue." 3 said.
"Well we've well and truly been cluster fraked today. It's a small mercy this happened after Galactica escaped and Pegasus was destroyed or the damage could have been worse." 1 said.
"There's more," 2 said, "While we were offline some of the Baseships collided, some of them hit moons or planets they were too close too. As they were offline we had brothers and sisters that didn't download."
"How many did we loose?" 1 asked.
"Hundreds of thousands. We don't know exact numbers." 3 said.
"We can't take those kinds of risks again, get everyone together, we have to come up with a plan to wipe these humans out once and for all." 1 said.