DR: Okay, here is the final act of the battle! Hang on to your hearts, and trust me. You'll see why...


Chapter 50: Come On Thunderchild!

"Hey, where's Achilles off to?"

Starbuck's sudden outburst caused Apollo to glance up. Sure enough the Thunderchild was turning away from the main battle and charging off on its own. Frowning, Apollo arced round slowly, trying to figure this move out. He knew Achilles. The man was no coward, so way was he running from the battle?

"Colonel Achilles, this Commander Adama. Why are you not following us in?" his fathers strict tones cut across the comm system.

"Sorry Commander, but we've detected a trio of Base ships making a run around our line. They should be entering your sensor range about now."

Faintly, over the comm, Apollo could hear someone call out on the Battlestar's bridge. Adama was silent for a long moment.

"Lords of Kobol… Helm…"

"Commander, you need to take down the main force first." Achilles softly spoken words made Adama pause in giving his order. "We'll hold them off until you can engage."

"Colonel, you don't stand a chance against three ships. I'll divert…"

"Negative Commander! I'm sorry, but you need everyone with you. We'll hold them back long enough." And with that Achilles cut the connection.

Athena sat in her chair, jaw hanging open as she watched the battlecruiser race away. She didn't even react when the first Base Ship was torn apart by multiple beams, including their own. Lieutenant Hathoway, seeing how her captain was occupied, continued to direct the crew as they followed the Reaper as the heavier ship altered course for a second Cylon craft. Everyone on the ship knew about Athena's relationship with the Colonel, and secretly they all wanted the best for them both.

Most of the fighter pilots didn't notice the absence of Thunderchild. For them, life had been reduced down to their gun sights and sensors, racing blips and darting shapes. Fire and death. The Pegasus bulldozed her way between two Baseships, unleashing a thunderous broadside into each one as she did so. Galactica was advancing a little more cautiously, her lasers cracking the smaller Cylon warships one after another.

Below, on the planets surface, thousands of armed men and women looked up into the evening sky, the flares of explosions clear. So far the Colonial plan was working; not one Raider had broken through and reached the surface. But everyone was tense.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Liger snarled as another Gunship was blown apart under his guns. Bit wiped his forehead as he waited for the hybrid cannons to recharge. It was amazing the wild display going on outside, as the Cylons continued to press their attacks despite hideous losses. He looked over at Leena, her zoid sporting several blackened scars on the new armour, from where the shields she carried had been penetrated. Right now she was sending a hail of fire into one of the small Assault Frigates that had slipped past the Colonials and were trying to break up the second line. Her lasers were eating into the ships hull when a bright purple light blinded him.

"What the hell was that?" He yelped, throwing his arm up in reflex. Liger too was disorientated, shaking his head about to clear his vision.

"We just too a hit from those Cybrid craft!" The panic filled voice of the operator on the Matriarch came back. "Our shield generator has overloaded! We're bare!"

Bit cursed as he finally regained his vision. Looking up and out, he saw three Cybrid ships burning hard for them. Behind them he saw a fourth, tumbling as fire poured from several points on its hull. Even as he watched a bright glare marked the detonation of a torpedo on the ship that had fallen behind. But the remaining three kept on coming.

"Those ships could land a force big enough to wipe out everyone!" Cassandra commented. "And our warships are already engaged!"

"Guess it's up to us to stop them then…" Bit ground out as Liger turned to face the oncoming ships, which were leaving their companion to its fate as Flare Squadron savaged it. A bright purple bolt lashed out from the one ship, streaking past overhead. Bit didn't see where it hit.

"Damn it, we can't take more of this!" Brad cursed even as he sawed another Raider in two. The shipyard was being peppered with bolts from all over, the hull suffering under the bombardment. Bit hoped the old ship would hold together.

As the cannons finished charging, he took aim. This time both barrelled flared as he fired, the twin beams lancing out, vaporising drifting debris that crossed their paths on the way. The first crashed into the ships bow, blasting off one of the prongs that made up the forward cannon. The other took a nick from the main hull before continuing on into space.

"Shit! I missed!"

"My turn…" Leena's voice was filled with fire as she brought her zoid to bear. As her own Hybrid Cannon primed, she used the main guns like a tracer, the hail of bolts leaping across space to pound the second ship. Adjusting the aim slightly, she fired.

The bright orange bolt leapt from the open mouth of the Iguanosaur, tore across space, and slammed into the Cybrid ship just where the bow spar met the main hull. It dug a deep, gaping hole in the dense metal work, and a shudder ran through the whole craft.

"Good shot Le… watch out!" Vega called out, prompting Bit to look back at the larger zoid. A dozen Raiders swooped in, lasers blazing. The bolts rained down all around her, many striking the zoid itself. Bit saw her rock as hits landed all over.

"Leena!" he yelled as a spray of zoid parts were blown off the back of the neck in a bright glare. Moving as quickly as Liger could, they moved over to stand besides the battered larger zoid. "You okay in there? Leena!"

Her cough was the first sign, then the static that had fallen across her comm screen faded to reveal her sitting upright again. "We're fine, just." She coughed again on the thin smoke that half filled the cockpit. "I've lost mobility though…"

"Yeah, we can see…" Cassie said quietly as she looked over the mangled left flank of the Iguanosaur. Most of the shots had been concentrated on the shoulder region, and now that area was a twisted mess. The side turret was gone, and the hyper thick armour was in ruins. She could only imagine what the effect would have been had the zoid not been wearing that armour.

Despite losing their main weapons, the Cybrid ships continued to push forwards, their launch pods primed and ready. But the Colonials were determined to not let them launch those pods, and as one four of the Military freighters broke formation, turning to face the oncoming ships. The reduced Flare Squadron continued to run them down, a volley of torpedoes leaving their bays and rocketing forwards. The Cybrids tried to shot the bombs down, but their thick hail of fire only caught the one. The others all rained down on the one ship, hammering it from stem to stern. Several punched through into the core of the ships hull, were the rows of drop pods waited. The multiple detonations caused the entire section to bulge outwards before being ripped apart.

As the glare of a Base Ship dying lit up space like a torch, another ship was pounded from all sides by the freighters. They didn't have the heavy weapons of the warships, but they were still powerful compared to the Cybrids. Even so, the Assault Ship had been designed to punch through heavy fire to deliver its payload. The outer hull was in ruins, the drives unresponsive. But it would make it through, the cargo of Cybrids intact.

Then one of the Gemini Freighters powered forwards, putting itself between the damaged Cybrid craft and the planet. Bit watched in amazement as the juggernaut like Assault Ship came on, crashing into the freighter with all the grace of a sledgehammer. The first cargo hull crumpled like a tin can, both ends of the freighter folding around the larger ship as it continued to push onwards.

Then a new sun bloomed from within the freighters drives, the ball of fire washing out and consuming both ships. When the glare faded the twisted hulk of the assault ship could be seen tumbling away, fires raging within the shattered hull. Of the freighter there was no sign.

Sadly, the third and final Assault Ship got into range, and even as the Blitz watched the side panels opened up and swung about. Even as lasers hammered the ships flanks two swarms of pods launched, racing for the planet. A pattern of fire lashed across their path, but the drop pods were too small and fast for the civilian gunners on the freighters. The Judge Super Satellite laid down a curtain before them, but most of the pods got through.

The Liger snarled as the Cybrid vessel, drifting almost powerless and its hull cracking, launched another spread, slightly smaller than the first thanks to the damage inflicted while the launch pads were open. Bit fired the Hybrid Cannons again, deep into where the remaining pods waited. Blooming explosions tossed dozens of pods into space, and slowly the whole ship began to break apart.

But the Blitz didn't have time to celebrate, as with their focus on the Cybrids the Cylons had gathered together and were now starting a fresh assault. Blue-white bolts slammed down all around them, and all they could do was girt their teeth and fire back.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Down on the surface the predicted landing site for the Cybrids was quickly passed to all units in the area. As luck would have it, the closest unit was the remains of the Imperial 2nd and 3rd Armoured Division. Both under strength after the first attack, the two units had been thrown together for this battle, supported by a unit of Helic Gojulas'. Even as the Cybrids punched through the atmosphere the zoids were moving out, a hasty plan already formed. Deep in the hearts of every Imperial there burned a fire to avenge the staggering losses the 1st Division had suffered.

Quickly a loose box had been formed, the Red Horns, modified with Cybrid shield units on their frills, forming the edges, while the Gojulas stood behind them, positioned to fire over the top of their Imperial allies.

And in each corner of the box stood a Dark Spiner, ready to unleash wave after wave of EMP.

Even as the first pod thudded into the dirt the Imperials were firing, filling the air with tracer. Their fire criss-crossed the airspace where the pods were falling, and it was only a matter of time before some connected. The thinly armoured pods were ripped apart, and the Cybrids contained within, although unharmed by the low calibre shells, tumbled free, the impact with the ground far harder than intended. Many were crippled as legs were broken or crushed, weapons smashed or bodies ruined.

For those who landed safely things were no better, for the Gojulas' were unleashing hell. Again and again their supercannons, the Republics heavy duty gun, roared their fury, hurling massively powerful shells out into the landing field. The Cybrids were caught in a murderous crossfire, and the human pilots were determined to ensure that the machines didn't escape.

X-X-X-X-X-X

"Sir, the Cybrid ships have been stopped. Flare leader reports all ships either destroyed or disabled. The Cybrids that managed to make it to the surface are contained."

Omega's report was about the only good thing Adama had heard yet. Ducking his head to avoid getting a lungful of smoke, he looked once more at the tactical display. The battle was turning into a sprawling brawl, and casualties were mounting. The Phoenix,one of their Guardians, had taken a hit from a Megapulsar. Only a last micron change of course had prevented it being a direct hit on the bow. Instead it had skimmed the side of the bow… and then proceeded to disintegrate the entire starboard hull. She now drifted, out of power and helpless.

As a second Base Ship lost hull integrity, Adama's eyes wandered back to where the Thunderchild was racing to stop those other three ships. He knew that the Battlecruiser did not stand a chance, but he also knew that Achilles had been right. He could not afford to send any other ships to help him just yet.

The Galactica shuddered as she nosed her way between the last two base ships, both raking her as she slide past. Galactica's gunners repaid the favour, sending crimson fire right back at them. Both ships looked close to destruction, but the Cylons were not giving up.

Ahead, the Pegasus began to circle around the vastly larger command ship, so far barely touched. A storm of blue-white bolts battered down the battlestars shields… just before a pulsar bolt slammed into her back. Yet despite the grievous wound, she kept on firing back.

Another bolt lanced out, crashing into the Reaper as she sawed into one of the Base Ships. The smaller vessel shuddered as most of her starboard wing vanished. He watched, heart in his mouth, as a hail of wreckage was showered on his daughter's ship, but fortunately it all bounced off as she fired her bow lasers.

Her beams reached deep into the heart of one of the Base Ships, and slowly it began to crack apart. Seeing how the forth was drifting nearly powerless, Adama made his decision.

"Tigh, direct the Pollex and four of our Guardians to assist Colonel Achilles."

"And of us sir?" Tigh asked quietly.

"We will engage the Command Ship." Adama couldn't look Tigh in the eye as he said that. They both knew that three fresh Base Ships could wipe out the destroyer force with ease. But they had to do something.

"Aye sir." Tigh nodded, seeing the pain in his old friend's eyes. As he turned away to carry out his orders, he witnessed Illa step up to her husbands side. They grasped each others hands as they both watched as Achilles engaged…

X-X-X-X-X-X

Thunderchild tore through space, her lasers blazing as she came in. The Cylons began to fire back, their megalaser bolts landing all over the smaller ships shields. Yet despite the odds, the battlecruiser sped on, pushing in closer. Inside her lean hull the lights dimmed as power was diverted to the shields and weapons, preparing for one lethal volley.

Closer and closer they came, until their secondary lasers could also engage. Red and blue bolts hammered the one Base Ship, the shields mottled from the varied hits. All those who had the chance were watching as the shields weakened, a few bolts slipping through to tear into the hull. But Thunderchild's shields were also weakening, as the Cylons continued to hammer her in reply.

When it seemed she was going to ram the ship before her, Achilles unleashed his attack. From two hastily opened tubes a pair of missiles screamed out, racing for the Base Ship. The first struck the shields, and in a blinding flash the small nuke detonated. The yield was tiny, only two kilotons, but it was the EMP effects that he was counting on. The shields fully collapsed in time to let the second missile, fired a couple of microns later, through.

Even as that missile detonated against the Base Ships core the second part of the attack began. Normally the four forward beam lasers were fire two at a time, to maintain a constant rate of fire. However this time all four fired at once, the beams slicing into the battered core, digging for the main power plant. When they met at the centre the core the tylium energiser at the heart of the Cylon ship was breached.

The two disks of the Base Ship flew apart, explosions consuming the inner faces as the energiser went critical. A shaft of fire burned up the central power trunk before erupting from both poles, signalling the break up of each disk.

For a moment it seemed that the two other Base Ships were stunned at the sudden death of their companion, but then the truth was revealed in a most horrific way. Seeing the energy spikes, Achilles grabbed hold of the railing around his command pedestal, yelling out what may become his final order.

"Divert all power to the shields, NOW! All hands, BRACE FOR IMPA…"

He didn't get the chance to finish, as just then both Base Ships fired their megapulsars. All four of them.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Athena's scream could have been heard throughout her ship when the Thunderchild vanished behind a glaring explosion. One of the pulsar bolts emerged from the other side, much shorter than it should have been. Tears ran unheeded down her cheeks as the gases dissipated.

What was revealed underneath was in some ways worse than if nothing had been left. Around the world people recoiled in shock and horror as they saw the twisted, broken wreak that had been the cutting edge battlecruiser. It was hard to tell just how much was left from the twisted, blackened form, but it was clear straight off that one of the energisers had blown. The hull was pockmarked with dozens of fires as she tumbled, wreckage following her like a trail of blood.

For those pilots who had been at Cimtar, it was like seeing the Atlantia blow up all over again. Many just stared at the twist hulk, disbelief written across their faces.

"Oh my god…" Adama gasped, while besides him Illa sobbed before collapsing into him. Holding her to him, Adama continued to watch what was left of Thunderchild roll over, slowly sinking towards the planet. Achilles had known going in that this was the likely outcome, but he had gone in regardless. Not because of vanity or pride, but because it was the right thing to do.

And the desperate gamble had paid off, having to deal with his ship had slowed the Cylons down, and even as they reset their systems the destroyers Adama had sent pounced, their forward weapons slicing into one of the ships. The remains of Flare Squadron, furious at the loss of their home, dived almost recklessly at the same ship, firing off their remaining warheads as fast as they could.

On her bridge Athena could barely see through her tears of grief and rage. She didn't even flinch when a megapulsar bolt leapt out and nearly ripped a fellow Guardian in two. All she saw was her suitor's broken ship.

A heavy tremor ran through the hull as the Cylons fired a spread of megalasers into the oncoming Colonials, but she didn't feel it. It was nothing compared to the agony in her heart… and the burning lust for revenge. Her gaze was locked onto the Base Ship as it grew closer and closer…

"Keep firing!" She yelled, even as the bridge lights almost went out as the forwards lasers drained even more power. The Base Ship now filled the view ports, the lines of fire that were her lasers tearing into their hull. She could even see how the hull plates were buckling and warping from the damage…

Suddenly the ship blew apart, those self same plates blasted clear before being engulfed by fire. The other ships swung clear, but the Rosetta plunged right through, debris clattering off the hull.

Slipping clear, she scanned for the last ship. She quickly found it, just beyond the wreck of Thunderchild, rotating to bring the lower pulsar to bear on the planet. It could blast every city on the planet to ruin from that position…

A bright beam of blueish purple rose from the planet, electrical like arcs of lightning crackly around the central beam. The beam slammed into the Base Ship, the electrical arcs playing out along the shields surface. Seeing their chance the Colonials opened fire once more, adding their own beams to the attack. The Cylons shields failed in microns, and very quickly the beams carved the ship apart.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Christian breathed out as the last Base Ship exploded. "All right, shut it down."

Gladly… As Mnementh shut down his charged particle cannon, Christian could still hear the rage and anger that burned within the mighty zoids mind. As did in his own.

Now no longer needing to point at the heavens, Mnementh allowed gravity to pull him back down before taking control once more. When they had learned about the flanking ships they had launched, hoping to buy time to allow the Colonials to catch up. Thunderchild's desperate attack had given them the time needed to set up for their own. It had been very difficult, balancing on his engine thrust, trying to maintain the same altitude. Mnementh could have entered space and engaged the Cylons directly, but his most powerful weapon would only work in an atmosphere. And so he had been forced to hover there while using the charged particle cannon to full effect.

Now all they had to do was kill that last ship, the biggest one of them all, and it would be over. Except the cleaning up… and counting the dead. It was not something that Christian was looking forward to.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Deep in the heart of his ship, Lucifer cursed loudly as he watched the screens around him. The remaining human ships had gathered around him and were mercilessly pounding away. Despite their damage they continued to attack. Already two of the smaller Guardians had been crippled and set adrift, and both battlestars were limping. But they continued to attack, while around them the last stragglers of his vast Raider horde were being hunted down by the faster and more nimble Colonial Vipers.

"Pulsar Nine is offline." Charybdis intoned without inflection. "Estimate only ten percent chance of our escaping without destruction." There was a sudden bang and a heavy tremor. "Make that eight percent. Pulsar Seven is now offline."

Lucifer would have snarled if he could, but his face was locked in one single expression. "Ready my personal transport." He ground out, mentally ordering the pedestal on which he sat to lower to the chamber floor. "Have all data in the mainframe transferred to my ships computer core."

Charybdis was silent for a long moment. Lucifer was about to repeat the order when the computer answered. "By your command."

Satisfied Lucifer stalked out of the command centre, flanked by his Cylon guards. Outside the chamber two of the Scarab Cybrids fell in step with the Cylon guards as they marched for the hanger bay. Distant explosions echoed throughout the corridors as they walked, and everywhere panels were off the walls, flames licking at delicate circuits.

Back in the now empty Command Centre Charybdis continued to speak, its voice projecting out of working speakers along Lucifer's route. "Data transfer in process. Hull integrity now below twenty percent. Setting tylium energisers to overload. Transport prepared for launch. Orientating ship to give maximum chance for transport to escape detection. Data transfer complete."

Lucifer stalked up the entrance ramp, followed by his guards and the few other IL series Cylons on board. In the small cargo bay he walked past four silent Cerberus HERCs, their eyes unlit. As the hatch sealed he spoke once more. "Charybdis, your contribution to the war on Man will be remembered."

"We all serve to destroy Humanity. Hull integrity below fifteen percent. Primary systems are failing. Downloading optimal exit vectors to transport mind. Farewell."

With a rumble the transport lifted off, as shrapnel from an exploding console skidded across the hanger bay. Engines hot, the small ship pushed out of the hanger, flame licking at her sides. Lucifer turned to look back at the huge command ship. Fires burned all across the hull, and only from a few points did weapons still fire. The Colonials were pulling back, most likely having detected the overload in progress.

Then a raging jet of fire erupted from all the hanger bays, and the centre of the massive ship was eaten away from within by a roiling ball of plasma. Onward and outward it grew rapidly, until the entire ship vanished. It continued to grow, and then started to dissipate, leaving not a trace of the titanic ship.

Lucifer stared at the point in space for a long moment, before the voice of the transports mind spoke. "We have cleared the local area. Colonial vessels are not pursuing."

Lucifer turned to look forwards once more. "Set course for Cylon home planet."

"By your command."


Zeke: Phew! It's over! (flops down onto the floor)

O'Neill: Yea, it is... but at what cost?

Areyn: Poor Athena...

DR: (Looks at Areyn Sun surprised) when did you slip in here?

Areyn: A while ago.

DR: Fine... Still a couple more chapters to go people, so stay tuned!