Battlestar Galactica:New Beginnings

by Phoenix4416

The Graystones survived in secrecy preparing for the Cylons possible return, then one day 40 years after armistice was signed, the Cylons launched their assault on the Colonies. Would their preparations be enough to turn the tide of war? Would the Colonials be forced to run and if they did would more survive? Chapters 1-15 updated 08/01/2020. The rest to be updated ASAP

17. Chapter 17: Cyllene

Chapter 17: Cyllene

Battlestar Galactica – Fleet Admiral Adama

Fleet Admiral Adama's Quarters

08/08/55

23:34

A bang rang from the hatch, likely from the marine posted outside. "Enter" Adama called out while taking off his glasses.

The hatch swung open and the marine came in and said "Admiral, a Mrs Fazekas would like to speak to you", the Marine a native of Virgon had no idea of the significance of that name but Adama sat stock still as he knew just who she was.

"Allow her in then return to your post Corporal."

The Corporal nodded and said "There's also two other men out here that came with her, sir along with a marine guard. They have pre-fall diplomatic papers. Mrs Fazekas said they are to stay outside if you so order it." Adama nodded to do so, and the marine turned to leave and allow Mrs Fazekas entrance.

An old woman who must have been in her late 90s and of Tauron descent entered, she had a couple of tattoos visible on her neck and one on her cheek and she still held herself like someone of some power. Moving into the room and cradling her side, once the hatch was shut behind her she locked eyes with Adama and said "Thank you for seeing me Bill."

"I will honour my father's oaths with this visit and I will hear what you want to say. But I am not Ha'la'tha and I will never be so, Gautrau."

The elderly Fidelia Fazekas looked down at Adama as he sat forward in his chair, hands together on the desk as he waited for her to make her move. Smiling as she moved forward slightly unsteady to the chair, Fidelia remarked "You sound so much like your father it's like I'm speaking with him. And yet I can also hear Sam in your voice." Letting out a breath as she eased into her chair, the Gautrau relaxed back into its comfort and just sat there staring at Adama. It was like two Lions waiting each other out, the first to speak being the loser in an age old struggle.

The Gautrau spoke "How far the Adama family has risen, to think that just over fifty years ago your family were little known figures in Little Tauron running under the name of Adams, and now look at you. My father would have been proud to have seen how far the Adama line would rise, he always knew your family had balls of steel after Sam tried picking his pockets as a kid." Before Bill had a chance to reply, Fidelia shifted tactics "I'm not here to cause you trouble Bill, or Fleet Admiral whichever you prefer. Your father made it clear that you were to be kept out of the business and I have respected that decision, but now…" holding her hands up in the air like sand was slipping between her fingertips, Fidelia continued "Now, the worlds have changed and we both need the other if we are to survive."

Adama pounced upon that remarking "I don't think…"

But Fidelia cut him off "The truth is I need you a lot more than you need me" this seemed to forestall the Admiral as he harrumphed and opened a drawer in his desk. Watching him as he pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, Fidelia continued "I've kept myself aware of your career all your life you know. There were several around me who said I should make use of your skills after the war on one of our ships, but I kept true to my oath with your father and uncle, and I let you be. You never saw it but I did, that pride in your father when you gained command of the Ithaca…" The Ithaca was an ancient Banshee Class Light Corvette with a crew of just 245 along with 40 marines. A tiny ship just 310 metres long, 158 metres wide and 68 metres tall with only a small docking bay capable of holding 2 Raptors. Even her internal space was lacking, with tight corridors, a CIC smaller than his current quarters and berths even smaller than that. She was designated as a patrol boat designed to chase down small fast vessels and support a large Battlestar, she would never have been able to go toe to toe with a Basestar. He'd gained the ship as his first command as a Grade 2 Commander after being Atlantia's XO for 5 years. It was a simple assignment designed to test his abilities of commanding a ship of his own prior to being given command of a more prominent vessel, and was something which regularly happened throughout the fleet especially when several in the Admiralty might have doubts. In the case of Adama it was rather two members from government oversight having concerns given his family history. As it was, Adama had lain all those doubts to rest and was reassigned to the Valkyrie just over a year later.

Filling the glasses before pushing one across to the Gautrau, Adama cut in "I find that hard to believe, my father was against me serving in the Fleet."

Shaking her head as she took the offered glass, Fidelia informed him "No, he was against losing his only remaining child on a fleet assignment gone wrong. Plus you never lived on Tauron during the struggles, you didn't see the military as it was then and there. He was always against the fight all Man must go through because of how easy it was to fall along the way, and he figured if he showed you how proud he was that you would eventually go the way a lot of us have went. I can't blame him, Willie, your brother was a fighter no matter how hard Joseph tried to teach him different, and Willie returned to the soil too young." At this the Gautrau touched a small black tattoo marked on her neck.

Drinking a large amount of the amber liquid before nursing the rest, Fidelia continued "When you finally got command of the Ithaca, I remember speaking to your father and him saying to me, 'you watch, Bill will have his own Battlestar under him one day.' He was right, three years later after your brief stint on the Corvus you gained command of that ship out there, the Valkyrie. Oh, your father was so elated, he bought a couple rounds of drinks for everyone at Goldie's that night, Sam would have been too. A year later Joseph passed away after making sure my blood oath remained, only this time he told me that if ever you needed assistance that I should give it. They say that sometimes the Gods let us see το σχήμα των πραγμάτων που έρχονται [the shape of things to come] when we pass, maybe he knew they would return and that we would be sat here right now. I do know that Sam would have wanted me fighting your corner."

"And now you think I need assistance" Adama stated.

Smiling behind her glass, Fidelia answered "I do, we all need assistance now, you more than most especially if you are going to deal with the Graystones." Watching Bill, searching for any hint that he might be a little intrigued by this, Fidelia saw little, the bastards harder to read than his father in a courtroom Fidelia thought. The truth was, as Adama slowly took his glasses off and placed them gently down on the table, he was intrigued but he refused to show it. "The Ha'la'tha long ago had an interest in Graystone Industries, this you likely know. Back then my father – the last Gautrau – was blind, more interested in buying his way into a company when approached for assistance and then stripping it and selling everything off. Daniel you see is a slippery ophis [snake], probably explains how he's managed to avoid returning to the soil so long. He approached my father through Joseph after he lost his position in his company. I was brought on a bit further down the line, but he was a cocky bastard from what I remember, and he had a hit list of either people on the board to blackmail or remove. He got his company back and then he played us and got everything else. He can walk through a river of shit but none will stick to him. You cannot trust someone like that. While your interests are currently aligned you can work with him, but never trust him or you could find yourself someplace you don't like."

Pouring another finger into each glass from the bottle before placing it back in the drawer, Bill spoke "Daniel Graystone as well as his family have already proven themselves to the Fleet multiple times, and I will reserve all judgement for him for myself and myself only." Even as he said that, he knew this was far from done, he could see the game Fidelia was playing though and he refused to play along with her.

Taking back the glass, the Gautrau replied, "Very well, don't say I didn't warn you" before grinning back at him. Taking a sip, she then reached into her suit jacket pocket and pulled out several sheets of paper placing them on the desk. When Adama made no move forward, thereby letting her explain first, she saw his reasoning of never take something the predator offers without knowing its worth otherwise you become the prey. Of course Joseph was always one to say that while the meat between a crocodiles teeth may feed you for a month, be wary the bite.

"There's no tricks there Bill, nothing that will bite you. It used to be that people when they had a problem would come to the Gautrau, to me, and present an offering first. Consider this as my offering to you since you are now the man with the power."

Adama reached across the table, picked up the folded sheets as if they were going to burn him, and then opened them up as he pulled his glasses on. Within were a list of names and civilian ships. Fidelia answered him before he even asked the question, "I know that our vaunted President has been running a census among the fleet which while she would like to see it as near completion, isn't even close. I also know that you are short a lot of pilots. Let's just say the Ha'la'tha have been running our own census of the fleet and ours is mostly complete. Right there is everyone with either flight experience or a Viper or Raptor rating within the fleet, something that will interest your Fleet Air Marshal I'm sure. There's just over 150 names along with the ships they are on. In addition are a couple hundred survivors that could prove useful."

As Adama made to speak, Gautrau continued "There's more…" before grinning at him and taking another drink, "Something you might not know about our President is that had this attack come a week later then she wouldn't even be Secretary of Education let alone President." Seeing the questioning look on Bill's face, Fidelia answered "I had my ears close to the ground in government circles, not to mention some politicians on my payroll. She pissed off Adar by ending the teachers strike in a way that left him open to more strikes from other groups. In essence she undermined him and left him weak…well weaker than he already was, and the Galactica ceremony was meant to be her last assignment before resigning. Papers were already ciculating from the presidents office sorting out who her potential successors would be when the attack came. Now from what all my people have been telling me she could make a damn good President, but if she thinks she thinks her way is right especially if it isn't, then she will undermine your authority to get her way. So again work with her and don't trust her, she's a politician after all."

Again, Adama was unreadable, his cold blue eyes staring Fidelia out, "There's one last thing, something even I didn't quite believe at first. Tom Zarek, terrorist or freedom fighter however you look at him…"

Taking his glasses back off and then reaching for his own glass of whiskey, Adama asked "What of him?"

"Did you know he's currently a prisoner on board the Astral Queen?" Seeing Adama look up sharply as he was about to drink, Fidelia answered her own question "You didn't, hardly surprising. From what my contacts tell me he was up for parole and on his way to the board on Libran. Right now he's got an entire ship believing every word he says like he's Zeus himself. Should his words ever reach the public…" Both knew just the kind of mess Zarek could cause with his eloquent rhetoric, his previous works had been banned after being able to inspire countless from all walks of colonial society, and that was mainly just the one book. "You need to eliminate him, now before it's too late, because once his words get out, once his presence is known, things will start to get messy."

Shaking his head, Adama spoke "No, we aren't there yet. Once we walk down that road it just gets easier to remove threats, even those that aren't. If that happens we become the threat, it's a road we can't come back from."

Fidelia's weary eyes closed as she listened before muttering out "Oh you dear old fool, so much like Joseph. If only Sam were here to speak the words of the street to you. One day you will have to end Zarek τὸ πεπρωμένον φυγεῖν ἀδύνατον [it's impossible to escape from destiny], it is necessary for the safety of the fleet."

"And I refuse to accept that. Zarek has made no move…"

"Bill, ἀνάγκᾳ δ' οὐδὲ θεοὶ μάχονται [not even the gods fight necessity]." Shaking her head, Fidelia laughed saying "Very well, don't say I didn't warn you. Just don't expect me to get his blood on my hands."

Both sat there as the room simmered into silence, finally Adama broke it by asking "What do you want?"

"What the fleet wants, relief, an escape from it all if you will. Back on Caprica and the rest of the Colonies there was an established order from the heights of power right down to the dirt we returned to. All that has gone now, but there are some enterprising individuals out there seeking to start a new order, but they are untrained, just children swimming against the tide, but even children can cast large ripples. There will be blood under their struggles, lines that shouldn't be crossed will become trampled under a stampede."

Catching the Gautrau's meaning, Bill spoke "You want to re-establish the Ha'la'tha among the fleet. And what? You're here for my permission?"

"Your blessing perhaps. And I don't want to re-establish the Ha'la'tha within the fleet, we need to re-establish them. Just to be clear it's already happening. The Ha'la'tha has a code which none of these upstarts seem to have, and we have an understanding of the order of things. Right now the fleet needs a controlled black market, not the uncontrolled one already running rampant across eight different groups…" Seeing a hint of surprise crack Adama's face, Fidelia worked out "You didn't know? Of course you didn't know, you've been focused on the outside threats you failed to see the ones at the bottom of society. You may be thinking of removing the black market but let me tell you that once you destroy one supply route, another will pop up just as quickly, more even and there will be bloodshed as they fight for more territory, more control. People will always need what they need, and people will always be there to cater to them.

"What we need is just one black market with established controls and rules, something where our children won't be sold into prostitution as is already starting to happen, because let me tell you, these people are fracking animals. I'm asking you to respect that, and to respect that the Ha'la'tha have the respect, the intelligence and the authority to establish this order and not starve our fleet doing it. Thanks to the Fleet I managed to get enough of my top people out as the bombs fell, people who know the business, know how far they can go before they have to stop." All of Fidelia's cards were on the table, the bones had been rolled, now it was up to Bill as to how to interpret them.

Bill sat thinking before getting the bottle back out and refilling the two glasses before quickly downing his drink, and then he sat some more "If this was to happen there would need to be limits on what was taken, a manifest. Limits on reprisals and accountability for when things went wrong. There will need to be order and no killings."

Nodding through all of this, Fidelia agreed "There will be. Within two hours we can take down the worst of black market, take down the heads and make the remaining vendors answerable to the Ha'la'tha whom in turn will be answerable to you although nobody else except my inner circle can know that. Of course if you want it done cleaner then you can always send in some marines to take down the Black Markets, but they'll stick out like a sore thumb and there's plenty of fleet personnel who rely on the market already. Under the Ha'la'tha, excess profits minus a thirty percent...twenty percent cut will then go back into the system. I'll even go one further and keep you apprised of any Fleet personnel or civilians in authority threatening the system and the Fleet. Simon, one of my guards has a manifest of what the weekly supply list will need to look like for now, essentially it's 10% of what is currently being rationed. Long term it won't have much effect, say for every 10 months of supplies, the fleet loses a month but with the ships out there we should be able to keep it manageable plus the medical ship as well as the greenhouses will be able to replace a lot of what is lost. If you want to find us we are on the Nebuchadnezzar, Jameson's Joke and the Tauron Blood which is my personal ship."

Rubbing his eyes, Adama stated "I'll find some way to get the President on board. If you provide me the names and locations of the current black market, I'll have marines go in and clear it out, doing so should smooth things over with the President. I can't believe I'm agreeing to this…"

"You're agreeing to this because you know that you need to deal with the threats from without rather than be struggling with the ones within. That's why I think you are the man to lead us, you understand the Cylons better than those who let us fall into this war. ἀετοῦ γῆρας, κορυδοῦ νεότης [An eagles old age is worth a sparrows youth]." Standing, Fidelia finished "I won't be around forever, but my daughter is smart and I'm teaching her the business the way the soil taught me. She will follow your lead. Just think about what I said, especially about Zarek." Downing the rest of the drink, Fidelia placed the glass on the table and then reached across, her hand held out. For several seconds it hung there with it seeming like Bill would decline to shake hands with the devil. But after several long moments, his own hand reached across and both grasped the others wrists, Adamas fingers gently pressing into the frail wrinkled wrist of Fidelia.

Pulling her suit jacket tight about her, Fidelia moved towards the hatch before stopping and turning, "Bill, as thanks for fighting as long as you did, for giving me a chance to get my daughter out of the University of Hermes on Virgon, I have something else for you." Turning back to the desk, Fidelia pulled a small folded sheet from her pocket and handed it to Adama. Opening it up he saw Gianne Miller, room 85-C, TTS Sylvania.

By then Fidelia was already back to the hatch, but as he was about to ask what the importance of the note was, she answered "It was lucky I had tabs kept on your family otherwise I might have missed her in my own census. You should head over and meet her and your beautiful newborn granddaughter. το αίμα είναι σημαντικό [blood is important]."

As Fidelia rapped on the hatch and the wheel spun, Adama looked up in shock like he had been shot, before looking back down and staring at the name written there, he had no idea who this Gianne was. He didn't even see as Fidelia walked out. As he was lost in the name, he was shook out of his reverie by a marine holding the manifest from Fidelia's guard "Admiral, is everything alright sir?"

Looking up, Adama finally realised what he must do, "Get me a Raptor and one marine escort prepared and on the deck in 15 minutes. I'm heading to the Sylvania."

Lumar Sector System 82-3318 – Survey team 12

Ice moon orbiting fifth planet

"Cyllene."

As if from a distance of a 100 miles away, the words lost in the drone of the frigid vicious blizzard, a voice replied "What?" Even as a reply though, this was lost to the wind, only the hints of it making it through, but a hint was enough for the other voice.

Looking up from the frozen white surface and the chugging drill glistening in the pristine snow, the first voice pulled at the thick white hood with an integrated rebreather covering his face his ginger beard revealing itself all covered in frozen icicles. Breath dragged away in plumes by the ever present gusts of the blizzard, and cheeks the colour of tomatoes on blue white skin, he shouted back loud enough to be clearly heard, "CYLLENE, I THINK WE SHOULD CALL THE PLANET CYLLENE!"

The second voice working hard with a torch welder whose flame was even flickering in the wind asked "WHY CYLLENE?"

"THE EX. SHE WAS A RIGHT FRIGID COW, HEART AS COLD AS THIS SNOWBALL AND SHE LOVED TO JUST TWIST MY BALLS OFF FOR THE SLIGHTEST THING THE WAY THE COLD IS DOING!" letting out a series of guffaws as he pulled his hood tight against his skin, he started feeding the next tube into the drill.

Turning off his torch with a fizzle, the second voice looked up, eyes covered in thick welding goggles, their lenses freezing up with his breath, he shouted over "OH, YOUR EX WIFE. SEE, THAT'S NOT THE WAY I HEARD IT…" Turning, his voice became momentarily lost as he muttered out "Fracking your own sister-in-law..."

Hooking two large metal spikes into the edges of the of the ice block he had just cut, he started to struggle as he lifted the ice block up and out of the hole even in the .6G of gravity. Eventually he dropped the ice block on a tarpaulin sheet he had pinned to the ground next to it, the block stopping the flapping as the winds threated to drag it away. Pulling the edges of the sheet free, he finally zipped it up before shouting "HOW ARE YOU DOING ON THE CORE SAMPLE?"

"IT'S DOWN TO 60 FEET. THIS FRACKING ICE IS HARDER THAN STEEL, IT'S ALREADY CHEWED THROUGH ONE DRILL HEAD AND THIS ONE'S NEARLY FUCKED." Across the moon with its thin atmosphere that Boomer and Crashdown had found a dozen teams from the mining ships were gathering ice samples to test for purity, core samples were also taken in areas where underground lakes were expected to be based on the seismographs, the only problem being that the ice sheets were thick. "I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY EXPECT US TO GET THIS SHIT UP TO THE FLEET, NONE OF THE MINING SHIPS CAN MAKE THE LANDING AND I DOUBT MANY OF OUR PEOPLE ARE GONNA CHAMP AT THE BIT TO BE DOWN HERE" Pausing a moment, the miner pulled his rebreather to his face and took in two deep breaths of pure oxygen, the planet having a lower concentration of oxygen than the human body needed, essentially it was like breathing at high altitude. In the time it had taken for him to take those breaths the drill started grinding again as if stuck and then a squeal sounded from it, "AH FRAK, THAT'S ANOTHER HEAD FRACKED. WE'RE DONE, THERE AIN'T NO WAY WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THIS ICE." Stopping the drill, he started extracting the core samples in their metal tubes, capping them and placing them in a crate.

Hearing this, the second miner activated his wireless "This is mining team 12 to Racetrack, we're packing down and will be ready for a pickup in 5 minutes. I repeat this is…"

"Mining team 12/Racetrack. Understood, we're coming down, ETA 17 minutes. Make sure the ceramics are in line, pop the flares and activate the transceiver."

Moving across to the area that had been marked as their landing ground, the miner replied "Understood. Mining team 12 out." Pulling several black ceramic pads across the ice, he used a laser measurement tool to line them up properly and started hammering them into the ice. The pads long ago having been designed for Raptors and Vipers landing on ice to stop the VTOL thrusters exploding the ice. Finally he activated the magnesium flares and the transceiver so the Raptor could find them within the blizzard. During all of this, the first miner had packed up his gear and dragged it over to the bagged ice sample.

As they stood huddled together, a white beam of light spread through the thick snow twisting in the air. The light buffeting side to side as the Raptor struggled against the strong winds before finally becoming visible. Inch by inch it descended over the pads, steam rising from the edges until finally it touched down. As the hatch opened, they started dragging over the sealed boxes of equipment handing them up to Skulls as he knelt on the wing before finally going back for the core samples and the sealed block of ice. After struggling with getting the block into the ship, they finally pulled the hatch shut behind them and the ship started to refill with warmth.

Pulling open his hood, the second miner announced "Frak me, that place is cold. Next time can you guys find us a nice tropical planet, a few palm trees, some coconuts, a nice sandy beach…"

Skulls grinned from behind his helmet "Hey don't blame us, we didn't find this one."

Tom, the first miner called out, "Hey Racetrack, you still looking for a name for this place?"

Strapping themselves in, the Raptor soon started rising into the heavy turbulence and after several minutes, into orbit. Below them the ice moon quickly spun, its days being just under 4 hours long combined with a highly eccentric orbit creating near perfect conditions for a constant blizzard. Only in a handful of sites had these conditions been abated usually due to the immense mountain peaks, the tallest standing at 92,314 feet and the average being 38,000 feet. Pulling away from the planet, the Raptor sped towards the large orbiting civilian fleet and more specifically the mining vessel Monarch which was geared towards ice asteroid mining and so had the better facilities to analyse all the core samples being gathered, the last thing they wanted after all being something like the Delvin mites which lived in ice and ate a person from the inside.

Colonial Fleet – Fleet Admiral Adama

TTS Sylvania

01:20

Standing there at the entrance to the former machine shop which had been quickly converted by the marines on board into a dormitory to fit 20 people, Adama looked in on the sleeping families and colonials. To those few whom were awake he was just a silhouette in a brightly lit doorway, one of the Sylvania's marines stood next to him. Adama stood there for the longest time, his gaze stretching the few metres in the dimly lit room to the military cot the marine had pointed to. On the cot under a navy blue cotton blanket lay a blonde woman, barely 24, and dead to the world. Next to her in a crate bundled with soft blankets lay a beautiful newborn baby girl who didn't yet understand the world she had been born into.

Admiral Adama didn't know what he was doing here, he just knew that he needed to see her, to see them both. No sooner had he set eyes on them, he knew, he knew that baby girl was Lee's, he just didn't understand why Lee hadn't told him about her. Not wanting to intrude on their privacy, Adama backed out of the doorway and turned to the marine.

"Sir, their bloodwork was taken yesterday and it's in cold storage on the Panacea, I've passed on your orders and they're starting a paternity test but they did cite a complaint on record due to the mother not giving consent. As to Gianne, she was picked up on Caprica by Raptor 312/Galactica and was transferred over to Colonial One before we pulled back out of Colonial Space. Once we had transferred the cargo and set up berths here, she was transferred over."

Nodding while rubbing his tired eyes, Adama asked "Did you get the Snapdragon to pull her file from the mainframe?"

Opening a file of freshly printed documents, the marine answered "Yes sir, it seems she was a third year based at Delphi studying at the academy there wanting to become a Doctor in the Colonial Fleet. We've had her working a small clinic on here…"

Cutting him off, Adama asked "Was she there around 9 months ago?" Adama had kept checks on Lee's movements throughout the Fleet and knew he was stationed at Delphi then while the Atlantia was under refit and had kept an apartment there.

Glancing back at his notes, the marine answered "Yes sir, she put her studies on hold for a year citing the pregnancy shortly afterwards."

All Adama could think was, Oh Lee. But to the marine, he simply took the file and replied "Thank you, I want her well looked after, but don't let her know I was here."

Caprica – Admiral Perry

Caprica City Outskirts, Ginsburg District

Silence.

Just utter complete silence.

Standing there with his eyes closed, Admiral Perry heard nothing. No traffic, no distant cars, no children playing on the street or families and passers-by talking amongst themselves, and not even the sound of birds. There was nothing and that terrified him more than he wanted to admit to himself.

Opening his eyes again, the Admiral looked down the immensely long road which stretched from the heart of Caprica City to its South-West border where Perry stood, a distance of 21 miles. If he had strong enough vision and the ground was completely flat then he would be able to see down this completely straight road to the heart of Caprica City. Long ago, just over 150 years, this had been a small town in its own right, Ginsburg, population just over 5000 before it became swallowed up by the greater Caprica City. While the now district had grown to 22,000 people in recent years as more and more apartment buildings filled in the areas towards the City centre, it still retained its own unique look from its days as a town whose main industry had been logging. Dozens of small independent shops lined the street many of which had been handed down from father and mother to son or daughter going back centuries in some cases. Buildings were often clad in painted wood or were of a rich red brick, parks dotted the former town and houses with little picket fences lined the streets branching off the main roads. There was a real old world charm here, or at least there had been.

Now the main road was gridlocked by hundreds of cars that had been trying to get to safety, he could make out dozens of rotting bodies, all that was left of people who had been running to safety and were taken out by the high intensity radiation of Neutron bombs detonated over the city. Due to having been detonated in the skies above the city, the destruction to the buildings and infrastructure was lessened but not entirely removed, the evidence being left behind of shattered glass, cracks in several weaker buildings and even several collapsed buildings. But as the weak winds drifted in lifting handfuls of rubbish into the air and carrying them further down the road, Perry knew that there was nobody alive, not here. It was only just starting to take hold that they had really lost, that the Fleet had fallen, and that the Colonies were done. He was willing to consider himself the last person alive until he looked down at the wireless which if he turned the volume up would still be receiving the beacon.

Pulling his strung together bag tighter on his back while leaning on the branch that had carried him so far, he crossed the road to the small Police Station. As he approached the thick wooden door he placed his borrowed walking stick against the wall before tightening the rag around his mouth and nose, and pulling his assault rifle from his shoulder aiming it towards the door. Reaching out, he carefully pushed the thick door open and stepped in. He didn't really know what to expect, dozens of dead civilians that had flocked here for shelter maybe, some police officers among them, signs of chaos or something, just not this, a reception looking like it was any other normal day with the police just being in the back somewhere. There was even a stale box of doughnuts and pastries left on a refreshment table next to a vending machine and police reports left scattered behind the counter under a coffee mug.

Moving further into the police station, a precinct designed to cover not only the local estimated population of 22,000 but to support neighbouring precincts, Perry carefully cleared each office, and hallway before further clearing the kitchen, bathrooms, armoury, holding cells and motor pool. Finally he decided it was clear. Moving back to the reception, he looked around before ripping a power chord off the coffee machine and tying it around the handles to the main door securing the premises, it wouldn't hold up to a Cylon he knew, but it would give him warning.

Finally happy, he dropped his makeshift bag and set to work. There was absolutely no way he was going into the heart of the city with what he had, he at least wanted a fighting chance. He was only grateful he had visited this precinct when Adar was doing one of his tours of Caprica City after reinvesting into the Emergency Services. Moving to the vending machine he was half tempted to smash the glass on the machine but he didn't want to risk the noise so openly. Looking around he went over to the desk and eventually found several rolls of tape, moving back he taped up the glass pane twice over both horizontally and vertically before finally smashing the glass with the butt of the rifle, the pane cracking and popping from its seal. While the sound was loud, a lot louder than Perry would have liked, it was a lot less than it could have been. Still Perry looked around and waited for a hundred Centurions to burst from the walls. When that didn't happen he pulled the salvaged parachute from his bag and spread it on the ground in front of the machine before emptying the machine's contents onto it. Finally he pulled several chocolate bars and a drink from the contents and started gorging on the contents, the tastes far and away better than roast squirrel.

Momentarily content, he moved back through the corridors of the precinct and while he stopped outside the armoury debating whether to start checking over the weapons, he reasoned that transport should come first. Once he knew what his transport options were he would have a better idea of what he could bring. So moving on, he stepped back into the motor pool.

The only light which entered the large garage came through the shattered skylights in the centre which left the edges of the room in the shade. Nevertheless, an armoured police van dominated the area directly in front of him. Knowing the effects a nuclear detonation would have on electronics, Perry knew it was fracked. Pressing further into the large garage he made out only one other vehicle, this one being a vehicle all Caprican Emergency services were required to keep and maintain, a nuclear hardened former military truck painted in Caprica City Police colours. Grabbing the keys off a rack and seeing a map showing the layout of the Precinct with a car park for other police vehicles behind the garage, he returned to the truck and put the keys in the ignition.

"Jupiter, give me this one" he muttered into thin air as he turned the keys to be instantly rewarded by a strong purr of the engine. "Thank you Jupiter, I owe you one." The truck was almost a purely mechanical one. Seeing the tank was full, he turned the engine off and returned to the armoury.

The armoury itself was clearly well maintained, however reflecting the district the weapons weren't exactly military grade. Still he started pulling the small collections of shotguns, assault rifles, semi-automatic rifles and handguns down and into several satchels that the armoury had. Repeating the process, he did the same with the ammunition, paying close attention to the two boxes of high explosive rounds which he kept separate as well as the crate of flashbangs and concussion grenades.

Pulling on some ballistic riot gear and replacing his shoes with better military style boots, he finally got to work on stripping the place of the last things worthy of note such as the first aid kits, radiation medication, Geiger counter, maps, wireless, two cans of fuel and then the food and water from the canteen before loading everything into his acquired truck. The maps were especially vital, several were projections for where nuclear fallout would hit hardest based off of windspeed and direction as well as altitude and numerous other factors. Of the dozens of these maps, a handful covered the scenario he was now in. Conducting one final sweep, he went back to the main offices and sat down at a reserve wireless station fitted with hardened electronics and its own reserve power source. Cycling through the frequencies for ten minutes but refusing to transmit in case the Cylons were listening in, he first heard the emergency beacon before finally hitting another far fainter channel.

Pulling the headset tighter as he increased the volume, he realised that whatever it was, it was incredibly far away, still on Caprica but faint. Listening harder he realised it was also encrypted and from the various lengths of the back and forth transmissions, it was likely some kind of Colonial Military frequency. Not wanting to risk giving away his location for this until he was closer to the source, he deactivated the set knowing the truck had its own, and returned to the garage where he used a chain to open its door. Entering the truck, he considered his plan, realised he was likely crazy, but knew he had to check it out first before going to the beacon. He even realised the dangers of using the truck, as quiet as it was out there any nearby Cylons would hear it, but it was miles to either of his destinations and then who knew what.

Satisfied, Admiral Perry started the truck and drove onto the main road, often onto the pavement itself, his destination the Phoenix Lair, the Presidential Bunker.

Colonial Fleet – Fleet Admiral Adama

Battlestar Galactica

Captain Lee Adama's Quarters

06:08

BANG, BANG, BANG!

The pounding of Admiral Adama's fist against Lee's hatch reverberated down the hall as Adama stood there patiently with the results in his hand, he didn't quite know how to break the truth to Lee. As to Bill, he was ecstatic that his grandchild had gotten out. On the other side of the hatch several footsteps could be heard before the wheel spun and a clank sounded as the locking bar was pulled back.

Opening the hatch, Lee looked out at his father, barefoot, belt undone, shirt bunched around his arms as he pulled it on. "Dad? Bit early isn't it? Is something wrong?"

"We need to talk son", Adama was again at a loss for words as Lee pulled the hatch open wider before closing it again once the Admiral had entered.

Turning to his father, Lee saw how things with him seemed so different, for once Bill was totally at a loss, something Lee understood only happened when it came to family. Seeing the folded sheets in his father's hand as Bill looked around the tight Officers Quarters, Lee asked "What's wrong?"

Looking down at the folded sheets a moment, Bill thought for a moment before asking, "Lee, do you know a Gianne Miller?" His blue eyes looked up to Lee and the silence which descended on the room confirmed it.

Lee immediately answered "Yeah, why?" but in the moments he had answered he realised why, "She's in the fleet?"

Handing over the papers, Bill answered "She is, I was informed during the night." As Lee started to open the documents, his father continued "So is your daughter."

You could see it when the words hit Lee and then when he fully registered them, the impact sent Lee reeling as he collapsed onto the bed. In the past fortnight 12 worlds had changed, and now his was changing again. He didn't know what to do, everything from their breakup ran through his mind, every argument he had for not wanting a child, and Gianne's counterarguments before she finally ran. Then the time afterwards, the emptiness lessened only by his assignment back to Atlantia. He'd thought she would have had an abortion, he never considered, and yet, she was here, is here and so is his daughter. My daughter? I'm a father? The words rang through Lee's mind and he looked up to his father, demanding "Where is she?" while pulling on a pair of socks and finishing to get dressed quickly.

"The Sylvania. I've got a Raptor scheduled to take you over in 20 minutes and I've got a crewman preparing larger guest quarters for them on the Galactica, although if she is more comfortable being on the Medstar Panacea that can be arranged." Lee somehow managed to take this in as he rushed in his dressing while his father stood awkwardly there. After seemingly forever, Bill asked "Lee, why didn't you tell me?"

"We don't exactly have the closest of relationships as father and son. Plus, me and Gianne weren't a thing anymore…" Lee trailed off his answer before he got into someplace he knew would just cause bad blood between them.

"Then there's something you might want to know, she came onto the Colonial One on Boomer's Raptor during the Fall. You were on the same ship and missed each other."

Lee looked up from buckling up his boots when he heard this, remembering how he had went to the Raptor just a minute after it landed passing the refugees it brought on board and yet he hadn't seen her, "Dad can we just leave this until I've spoken to Gianne?"

Seeing that there was a lot that Lee wasn't telling him, Bill nodded, before saying "Raptor 208, Helix is flying."

As Bill started for the hatch Lee pulled him up short by asking "How did you find out? Did she come to you?"

Looking back, the exhaustion apparent throughout his weathered features, Adama replied "Some things this family can't run from, the Ha'la'tha are just one of those things. The Gautrau came to me to offer aid last night, this was a gift."

Lee looked at him in surprise "The Gautrau? She's here?"

Nodding as he opened the hatch, Bill answered his son "I'm taking it to the President, but for now I think we need to work with them. By the way Lee, your daughter is beautiful." With that Admiral Adama closed the hatch behind himself.

Colonial Fleet: Fleet Air Marshal, Colonel David Cain

Battlestar Galactica

Portside Hangar Deck, Machine shop 1

08:17

Even during the early morning the portside hangar deck was already busy as dozens of service crew got to work repairing and rebuilding the many Vipers and Raptors the fleet had, most of the Vipers being of the Mk-II to Mk-IV variety. These older planes were far more useful to the pilots than the later Mk-VII's due to their lack of networks, and while there were still plenty of Mk VII's in the fleet, it would take longer for the pilots to become as proficient flying them without networks. The hangar deck wasn't as busy as it could have been, the majority of specialists being assigned elsewhere on the old Battlestar conducting repairs such as to Water Reservoir Alpha or preparing the ship for future maintenance in one of Nemea's drydocks.

Passing through the hangar, Cain eventually reached the primary Machine Shop for the deck. Stopping in the hatch, he watched as Chief Tyrol handed out work orders to several crew. As Tyrol made to pause to let Cain speak, Cain shook his head, allowing the Chief to continue. "Figurski, Socinus, Alanis, Demetriou, Callas and Siska, I want you working over in the starboard hangar stripping out all the museum crap before moving the planes we stuck over there into the alcoves. I also want you to log anything that is missing that a working hangar deck needs, I want two copies of what's missing since I need to get one over to the work crews on Nemea." As the checklist was handed over there were several groans from the selected crew due to how much of a mess the starboard hangar was due to how the planes stored there had been poorly stored since the museum was taking up many of the alcoves. Romanov, Keller and Stammis, we're long overdue for an overhaul of the hangar so I want you running inspections on every bit of equipment fore to aft. Every machine, every tool and every strap. It's going to take you a few days but whenever you find something not in optimal condition I want it tagged and logged. Turning to the last two people, Tyrol said "And finally Polaski and Cally, I want you up in Bay F5 setting the place up as a Type 6 manufacturing line. For now it's just sorting out electrical and clearing the boxes out of there, it's going to be a couple of days before we get the parts from Nemea. You'll be needing these…" Tyrol announced handing over a set of plans.

As the two crewmembers took the plans, Cain stepped out of their way to allow them past.

Looking up as they were leaving, Tyrol asked "Colonel, what can I do for you?"

Glancing around the machine shop, Cain asked "You can save me some time. Do you have the plans for every fit of Galactica, from before she left Daedalus Station in the first war to now?"

Rubbing his hand back through his thin hair, Tyrol exclaimed "Shit, yeah but you're looking at 14 different plans if going by the number of times the Old Girl even had a minor refit. That's at least five major refits during the first war. Anything you looking for in particular?"

Opening up a folder he'd brought with him, Cain explained "The Old Man's green lit a new type of simulator using holobands to train up new pilots…"

"How the frak did you get him agree to that? I couldn't even get him to allow an automated landing approach."

Looking up, Cain chuckled saying "There you go, you will never get him to agree to an ALA, not when they are so easy to hack and crash a plane into the deck. Haven't you ever heard of the Poseidon, Taurus or Annaxander in the first war? Anyway I need somewhere with an STR line with at least 40GbE speeds…"

Shaking his head, Tyrol said "The only places with active lines like that are FTL, Engines, CIC, Communications and the primary defensive batteries. I doubt the old man will let you hook into them. You would have to go back 45 years to when the ship was last wired throughout, back before the Cylons started hacking even our most hardened networks and we almost lost the Acropolis…" The Acropolis was one of the first 12 Jupiter's, and while like Galactica she didn't have networks vulnerable to outside attacks, she was boarded and several systems including several areas of fire control which had been networked were hacked by those Cylons. If it wasn't for her marines then the Acropolis would have been lost with all hands along with her battlegroup. Shortly after the Jupiters and other older Battlestar classes were rotated out and went through their second refit.

It was then that Tyrol looked up as he realised Cain's reasoning, "You smart fracker." At that Tyrol was already heading over to a wall of plans looking for the oldest sets, "Could be you're right in your reasoning sir, back during the war they had quick turnarounds during refits, as in too quick to rip out the old wiring, the best they could do was disconnect it and uninstall components. Come to think of it I'm sure I've seen some unused lines…we normally leave the wiring within the superstructure to the dockyard crew but it normally costs too much in time and cubits to rip out and sell off. Ah here we are."

Pulling out six thick tubes of plans, the Chief laid them down on a table before spreading them out. In total there were more than 200 sheets going deck by deck and even subdecks as well as into the very superstructure.

"These are some of the oldest plans, right back from her type two refit, its a waste of time going back to her original construction, she was completely gutted at Caprica...frak it would have been easier to look for what we need on Nemea…there they are, her second refit. What exactly are you looking for?"

Joining him, Cain showed him his own notes "An STR line leading up to the outer hull near a gun battery will do, but ideally to one of the old laser comm arrays or secondary tightbeams, we can cut off any intersecting lines. Also a large room with a Truman Cage [Faraday cage] built into the walls, and plenty of electrical power to run a decent sized server. Isolated life support if possible and a decent ducting system."

Looking up from the notes, the Chief announced while looking at an index of the plans departments "One of the old intelligence rooms should do it…" Flipping through the plans he eventually came to what he wanted, "Here we are, this was the main cyber intelligence room. It's had STR lines with 80GbE speeds and was hooked into both DRADIS, wirless and a number of other detection systems. Of course if the lines haven't been ripped out then they will have been cut off from those systems, and it even had access to a tightbeam array on the dorsal hull and another on the ventral. As to power that entire section is based right next to one of the main energisers and has a main power line running right by that room, it won't take much to get it back up. Life support…there isn't an isolated one for the room but there is one for the section, we can rig one up though if need be. It's also still going to have a Truman Cage with it being a former intelligence suite, after the second refit the main body didn't go through a big enough refit to strip out that section. If it had been in one of the flightpods then you would have been fracked since either in the next major refit or the one after they stripped the hot racks and lowered the decks. The Cage itself covers two rooms, the smaller one being a lockup for captured Cylon hardware so it won't take much to merge the rooms if you need to. Right now those rooms are largely unused, we've been using them as storage until we can finish getting the supplies salvaged from Ragnar stowed away on Nemea."

Seeing the 15 metre by 10 metre space as well as the adjoining 10 by 10 metre space, Cain saw the potential in them for what he needed. Looking up he asked "Do you mind if I get a copy of these and check out the wiring and suitability?"

"Sure, you're still rated as a deck chief. It will save me the job although if it does look alright I'll need to give the place a once over and sign off." Grabbing a set of tools and clipboard, Tyrol moved towards the hatch "I need to get out there but keep me apprised on the Holobands, I wouldn't mind giving one a try."

Taking the plans over to a copier, Cain answered "Will do, and thanks."

"And sir...it's certainly different having a pilot that knows this stuff."

Colonial Fleet – Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama

TTS Sylvania

To say that Lee was on edge throughout the short flight here would be an understatement, the truth was that Lee had been on edge ever since the moment his father had mentioned Gianne's name. In the quiet of the Raptor he just couldn't stop going over the last time he spoke to Gianne, how he had acted and how he had run away from his feelings instead of confronting them head on. He was always afraid he might turn out like his father and he used that to justify telling Gianne to get an abortion, but the truth was just not the same. But standing there everything was different, he was different, he just didn't know if he could face her. That conflict was still there, he could go back to the Raptor, take off and resume his duties pretending that none of this happened, but no, he couldn't, his father knew and what's more he knew and there was no changing that. Then she turned and saw him.

By the Gods she was beautiful, even now at the end of it all, stripped of her home and everything she knew she still radiated warmth as she held their daughter to her body, her blonde hair cascading down her left shoulder tickling the child's head. In that moment Lee remembered why he had fallen for her, she reminded him so much of Kara but she was so incredibly different and she saw the worlds in ways he never had but wanted to. She saw him, a smile on her face as she kissed their daughters head, and then the smile faltered as she recognised him and a cold wall emerged protecting both herself and the daughter Lee had told her to get rid of.

Stepping into the dormitory and almost tripping over his feet in the process, Lee moved towards her with shock, sorrow and elation fighting amongst themselves for control of his features and his voice. Other refugees in the room looked up at this colonial officer in their midst, while Gianne braced herself. She had thought she had managed to slip past him unnoticed on Colonial One, she had thought that was it, that they would go their separate ways and she could continue to love and nurture her child and not face the man who told her he didn't love her and to get rid of their child.

When he was just a few feet away, Gianne held her daughter tighter, and looking towards the floor entreated, "Don't Lee. Don't." Her knowing pain at the oncoming conversation was written across her face, it was like she was tied to a train track unable to escape an onrushing train.

Lee slowed, confusions showing before he finally stalled and held his hands up pleading, "Please, I don't want to fight, just…Gods I can't believe you're alive, both of you." He took a hesitating step forward as he struggled past his emotions and to push aside what he wanted to know as he realised how hurt she seemed by his presence. His eyes slipped down to the bundle held to Gianne's breast, to the tiny flecks of glistening hair, the smooth skin, button nose and pudgy little arms. "She's beautiful…" and then it hit him, the realisation of "…Gianne, I was wrong. I was wrong and I don't know how to apologise enough. I was afraid of being a father, I should have spoken to you, should have spoken to the old man. I'm sorry." His eyes glistened as he thought that his daughter could have been killed in the womb because it was what he was afraid of, back then he couldn't consider being a father but now he was one and he didn't know how to fix things and be a dad.

Gianne looked up from her daughter to Lee, there was such heartache there, such pain. "Lee…" she stopped herself from continuing, stopped to mull over her words, examining each one before putting them back together "Lee, I needed you then and you weren't there. You made it clear you wanted nothing to do with her, I couldn't count on you." All Lee could do was nod and silently agree. "She needs people she can count on through everything, especially now. She doesn't need someone who thinks she is a mistake…"

Lee's knees gave way as he agreed saying "You're right, she isn't a mistake. I want to be her father, I'll do anything for the chance to look after you both. I won't let you or her down again." He looked at her pityingly as he held out his arms, "Can I hold her?"

It seemed like Gianne wouldn't allow him that gift as she looked down upon their daughter's face, but after gently stroking her cheek and seeing the innocence in her daughter's smile, Gianne nodded and moved to carefully hand over their daughter to Lee. It was awkward, Lee was being extra careful not to fumble the delicate child, something more precious than he had ever seen or held, but eventually he held her safely in his arms and looked down upon his daughter's face. Tears came to his eyes and a smile burst forth from his lips as the child reached up with her pudgy hand for his stubble-dusted chin. Gianne just studied Lee as he held her seeing the raw emotions of surprise, elation, anxiety, fear and love spreading from him. She was afraid, but seeing him there she saw him as she hadn't in a long time.

Lee looked up at her, his smile beaming as he asked "What's her name?"

"Evelyn, after my mother."

As he looked down at Evelyn and kissed the top of her head breathing in the beautiful smell, Lee looked up saying "She's perfect. And her name is perfect, her grandfather will love it since my gran was called Evelyn." Pulling his eyes from his family, Lee glanced around the room seeing all the cots and the many refugees, before saying "My father, the Admiral, he's invited you to come stay on the Galactica or on the Panacea. Both of them are among the safest places in the fleet for you both."

A grimace went across Gianne's face as she reached out and took their daughter from Lee, "Lee, I'm not ready to get back with you, I don't know if I ever want to, not after what you said."

Nodding as he looked at her retreating form carrying Evelyn, Lee replied "I know. I'm not asking you to forgive me or to get back with me, I'm begging you to let me provide for you both, to protect you both. To be a father. You'll have your own room, it likely won't be big but it will be yours. You'll have armour plating surrounding you, Doctors on hand, food and whatever you need. You should be able to get a job as a nurse and finish your studies. We'll even be able to get a school set up at some point in the fleet. Most of all I will at least have the chance to be a father to Evelyn. Please."

It was all coming thick and fast from Lee to the point that Gianne saw his desperation, then as she looked down upon the tiny bundle that was Evelyn and saw Lee's blue eyes in her own, she knew that Lee could offer their daughter a greater measure of security. "Okay", the words were out before she realised it, and then she knew that they were right, "Okay, we'll come with you for her."

Colonial Exodus Fleet
Meeting Room 13 (former Intelligence suite)
Colonel Cain

Hanging in the air like a miniature cosmos, tiny specks of dust were filtered by the harsh electric blue light of a flashlight as Cain worked his way into the underdeck maintenance shaft. Within he was met by the heat cast from the distant engines mixed with the smell of ozone and machine grease. Casting the light around the small space he spotted a mass of wiring opposite to the various pipes which fed oxygen, water and other gases and liquids around this section. Getting closer he studied the various cables until he found what he was looking for in a high capacity fibre optic cable. Now the hard work could begin as he would have to crawl the entire length of the shaft to doublecheck for any breakages.

Bang, Bang, Bang! Rang out from the hatch above him causing Cain to jump and crack his head off the shaft, "FRAK!"

A female voice chuckled and spoke up "Sorry, the CIC told me you were here..."

Pulling himself back out of the shaft, Cain made out the dark hair of Zoe Graystone before he saw her face. Behind her a marine seeing him left the room.

"It's fine, I'm just checking on the cabling down here while I have some free time."

Looking around the room, Zoe asked "So is this where you plan on setting up the simulators?"

Nodding as he wiped himself down, "Hopefully, from the plans I have seen of Galactica, this section used to be an intelligence suite and should be perfect. We can even extend the room without any problems. I could actually do with your help while we talk shop if you are interested. Although you will get dirty."

Zoe was caught off guard, she had expected Cain to be like much of the crew and wary of her, "You're not like the others, they look at me like I'm a Cylon and yet you..."

"Couldn't really care what you are, if I am being honest," Cain stated bluntly. "I don't see a Cylon when I look at you if that's what you are wondering. To be honest I don't really know what I see apart from a human caught up in the same shit we all are, but I do know you aren't my enemy and I would like to get to know you more. Maybe when people see us working together we will actually stand a chance. So what do you say? Fancy getting dirty and doing some hands on work?"

Putting down the bag she brought which held two holobands and some plans, Zoe rolled up her sleeves and stepped towards Cain asking "Show me what you need."

Colonial Exodus Fleet

Battlestar Galactica

Fleet Admiral Adama's Quarters – Admiral Adama

Looking up from the many reports awaiting his attention as a banging echoed on his hatch, Adama called out "Enter" as he started to stand and walk towards a small framed picture near his desk. Opening, the hatch revealed Rear Admiral Stone whom entered the quarters and closed the hatch behind herself. Acknowledging her presence and waving off her salute, Adama offered "Take a seat Louise, I'll be a moment. How are things over on the Valkyrie?"

Turning back to the framed painting, Adama lifted it from its pegs revealing a small safe. As Adama entered his combination, Louise answered "The Old V is doing a lot better than she was, I'm actually both surprised and proud of how well the Old Girl has held up despite Caprica, Leonis and being chased down by the Toasters. Truth be told it's made me thankful for her last major refit before Adar came to power, had we been stuck with the old launch tubes we would have been swarmed. As it is my DC crews have managed to patch up the majority of the internal damage, there's still some but none to critical systems. My only worry right now in terms of damage is to the armour belt, we have a few weak spots but they will be replaced within the week. Well that and morale."

Nodding as he extracted a folder from the safe, Adama returned to his desk saying "Morale's down across the fleet. It should pick up a bit once we've extracted the water from Cyllene but it's still going to be bad. I'm working on a plan with President Roslin to have the pleasure ships like Cloud 9 as an area for shore leave. Part of the plan involves a minting press being set up on Nemea and a new form of currency replacing our current cubits so we can at least pay our crews. While rationing of essential items will remain in effect, we do have some luxury goods and in time some enterprising people will no doubt set up a few stills and other morale raising enterprises like they did in the first war. However, it is my hope that we will be able to raise morale a lot sooner." Placing the folder on the desk in front of him, Adama drank from his glass of water.

Looking down upon the tan manilla folder, Louise took in the large black borders, the black Colonial Fleet Seal, and the bold words pressed along it of;

OPSEC LEVEL: CODE BLACK 1

TIER 1 ALPHA AND REAR-ADMIRAL WILLIAM ADAMA EYES ONLY

UNAUTHORISED READING SUBJECT TO DEATH PENALTY

OPERATION SHADOWRUN

PART 4

COLONIAL FLEET ID #188 ALPHA 237865 THETA 0018736 OMEGA

Before Louise could say anything, Adama spoke "As of this moment, I am authorising you to become aware of this operation of which you will be part of. Right now, we are the only two people in the fleet who know of its existence."

Nodding, Louise asked "What's the operation?"

"While Galactica was taking on arms and ammunition from Ragnar Anchorage, one of my officers returned from Acting Fleet Admiral Nagala with my promotion and these orders. While I wanted to address this operation earlier, I had to be sure that we were in as little danger from the Cylons as possible." Opening up the folder and leafing through several pages before handing two over to Stone, Adama continued "At 23:00 you are to take command of the Valkyrie and depart the fleet for those coordinates. My own calculations based on my knowledge of Valkyrie's FTL limits puts those coordinates at around 25-30 jumps away so you should make it there in around ten hours at best possible speed…"

Looking over the coordinates and the map attached, Louise put in "We'd be redlining our jumpdrives, if possible I would like to stop for an hour at a midway point in order not to put a strain on the engines."

"That's your prerogative Admiral, eleven to twelve hours shouldn't harm the mission."

"If I may sir, why am I leaving the Fleet?"

Handing over an envelope with the orders within, Adama watched as the blood drained from Rear-Admiral Stone's face as she read them before she muttered "Frak me…do you think it worked?"

"There's only one way to find out."

Battlestar Galactica

CIC – Fleet Admiral Adama

23:00

Standing at the Information Management Table as the appointed time came, Fleet Admiral Adama watched on the DRADIS as the Battlestar Valkyrie broke formation from the fleet and jumped away on its mission. This late at night, most of the civilian fleet wouldn't notice its withdrawal, and those military officers that immediately did were put at ease as Admiral Adama had left orders stating that the Valkyrie was going on a scouting mission. Turning away from the monitors, Adama left the third watch and returned to his own quarters.

Colonial One

President Roslin's Office – President Roslin

"Morning Billy. What's on the agenda for today?" Laura Roslin asked as she entered into the section of the former Colonial passenger ship which had been turned into her office.

Placing several folders on the appropriated desk, Billy picked up a sheet saying "You have a 9am meeting with Professor Anson to address the education issue. A 10am with Mr Metcalfe to go over the currency reforms needed within his treasury position, towards that end I have received several documents from Admiral Adama which appear to be contingency plans the Colonial Fleet had drawn up should the Colonies economy be disrupted to a point that we have now surpassed. Included are designs for a replacement currency and how it should be dispersed into a fleet. At 11am you have back to back meetings with several candidates for the Secretary of Agriculture position, and then at 12:30pm I have taken the liberty of freeing up an hour and a half so that you can take lunch on Cloud 9 and meet with a few families. 2pm, I have been asked to squeeze in Princess Alice for a quick meeting, she will meet us on Cloud 9 and you can talk on the Raptor back here. 2:30pm you have a Quorum meeting, although while we have found emergency delegates for Caprica, Libran, Picon and Aquaria in addition to those delegates already serving for Leonis and Virgon, as yet we don't have delegates for Aerilon, Tauron, Canceron, Gemenon, Scorpia and Sagittaron. As there is nothing on the agenda of note which requires a vote, it is within both yours and the remaining delegates purview to carry out legislation as required. Admiral Adama has requested a meeting for 4pm in his office although he hasn't said what it's about so I've pushed your meeting with Coltran to tomorrow for a lunch meeting. 5pm is a meeting on the Galactica to discuss the supply situation, I've been informed that the results from the core samples will be available then. 6-8pm I kept open so you had time for paperwork and last minute meetings. 8pm for dinner and the rest of the night is yours."

Already feeling the weight of it all, Roslin spoke "Thank you Billy, I don't know what I would do without you. Can you put in a request to Admiral Adama for any officers he feels can fill in for the Quorum delegate positions until such time as we can get new ones either temporarily appointed by us or voted in later? Right now, I'll accept a fleet officer in those positions if only to have more structure to the government."

"If I may, Madam President? Might I suggest asking General Antonius, as far as I am aware Nagala ensured that he has command staff on both Marinestars which includes several dozen trained specifically in administration and to work as a go between for the marines and the government."

Looking up at him, Roslin answered "Excellent idea. Send a message across as soon as we are finished here. Have there been any changes since we last spoke?"

Looking down at his notes as he sat across from Roslin, Billy answered "There were three deaths last night, two of them pilots that had advanced radiation poisoning. Services are being scheduled for four days from now along with the 15 other Fleet personnel that recently died. Doctor Cottle has passed along a note saying he is expecting around 72 other fleet personnel to pass away by months end but that we are past the worst point. I've got you scheduled in to attend the ceremony. The last death was a 42 year old gentleman from Picon on the Rising Star. He had suffered internal injuries during the fall of Picon before he could be rescued, the doctors did what they could but his injuries were too grave."

Shaking her head as she stood up and walked to the whiteboard which had the numbers 442,826 representing the population of the Fleet. As she made to rub them out, Billy spoke "There were also three births, well two or is it three? A girl was born six weeks premature on the medical transport C.D.H. Goodwill [Colonial Department of Health]. She's being kept in an incubator for now but Doctors say she and her mother are both healthy. The other two were twins, a boy and girl born on the Medstar Panacea."

Smiling as she stood at the whiteboard having stopped before she rubbed out the numbers, Laura instead underlined them, saying "Send my congratulations to both families."

Nodding as he too smiled and Laura sat down again after getting a cup of coffee, Billy then announced "The Battlestar Valkyrie also broke formation and jumped away last night at 11pm. I would have informed you but fifteen minutes before they jumped away we received a notification from Admiral Adama that the Valkyrie was being dispatched on a routine scouting mission in order to make sure the Cylons weren't nearby."

As she blew on her hot mug of coffee, Laura spoke up "No doubt he wants to be sure the Cylons won't jump in the moment we start mining the water from Cyllene."

Point Dark Light 102

506 lightyears from Colonial Exodus Fleet

Battlestar Valkyrie

CIC – Rear-Admiral Louise Stone

10:14am

Appearing in a burst of bright white light, the Battlestar Valkyrie made its presence known to this darkened system. No sun shone its light down upon the scattered barren worlds in this system. Worlds of ice, frozen gases, rock and dust carved into obscene shapes by meteor impacts and radiation. With them were two slowly turning gas giants, one with a thin band of rocks and dust belting it, and the other with a small collection of rocky and icy bodies that were barely big enough to be considered moons. In the centre of the system, around which all these planetary bodies orbited was an impressively large gaseous body. Not quite big enough to ensure nuclear fusion could happen for it to become a star, and yet not small enough to be considered a gas giant, this substellar object was a T Class Brown Dwarf. The only light it cast was a barely visible red and purple glow as it stuggled to fuse deuterium and Lithium but was unable to fuse hydrogen and thus become a star. The galaxy was filled with billions upon billions of similar brown dwarfs far surpassing normal stars. In truth the galaxy was a dark place filled with embers that would never be, and outshone by the diamonds in the sand.

As the Battlestar Valkyrie moved into this shadow domain and a CAP was launched, within the CIC, Rear-Admiral Louise Stone looked up at the DRADIS feeds showing her their immediate vicinity. It didn't take long before the Tactical Officer Lucas Burroughs announced, "DRADIS CONTACT! At 178 Karom 112. Range 384,400km, it's at the edge of our DRADIS range. It looks like they've spotted us, they're launching raiders and moving to intercept…hold that…I'm getting Colonial Transponders."

"Set condition one and launch alert fighters. Weapons hold." Admiral Stone called out before turning to the wireless operator saying "Open a colonial priority one channel. Send hostile challenge and ID as well as the code word 'Ghost' and then put the reply up on the speakers." Inside Admiral Stone was a bag of nerves as she waited for the Lieutenant Burroughs to carry out the orders.

At his board, Burroughs got to work and announced "Attention unknown vessel, this is the Battlestar Valkyrie. Identify yourself or we will fire upon you. The code word is Ghost."

Looking up as the range closed to 355,000km and a small craft near the unknown vessel jumped away, Admiral Stone could only hope as the seconds ticked by. As the wireless broke in with static as a reply started to be received, several bursts of jump radiation were detected as more ships jumped in. And that reply? That lone countersign to Ghost..."Fleet."

Colonial Exodus Fleet

Battlestar Galactica

Fleet Admiral Adama's Quarters – Admiral William Adama
3:50pm

Walking with the President and Billy towards his quarters as they spoke of the goings on in the fleet, Admiral Adama broke in as they reached the hatch with its marine presence with "I'm afraid I am going to have to ask you to remain outside for now Billy. This could take some time, you might as well head to the mess, I'll walk the President to the meeting after we are done."

A little let down, Billy bowed a little saying "Of course" and then turning to President Roslin, "Madam President, if you need anything then let me know" before he turned and left.

Entering his quarters, Adama let on, "It looks like he thinks the world of you."

Smiling as she set eyes on the homely office and its attached quarters, Laura replied, "Oh he does, I'd be honestly lost without him."

Some time later

Watching the President as she absorbed everything to do with the Halatha, and understanding she was dealing with it as best she could, Adama unlocked his desk and produced a folder. Seeing it, Laura asked "More Admiral?"

Shaking his head, Bill replied "Not quite, this is something altogether different, and until now I couldn't risk divulging it to anyone apart from those who needed to know. That list currently has only myself and Rear-Admiral Stone on it, now I am letting you in on it…"

Realising something serious was happening and putting two and two together, Laura leaned forward stating "You didn't send the Valkyrie on a standard recon mission did you?" She now felt a fool for believing she had.

"No. While rearming at Ragnar Anchorage I received a field promotion from Admiral Nagala and with it came two sets of orders. One set was to take command of BSG-16 but the other set were these." Extracting the written orders, Adama handed them across to President Roslin while saying "They were covered by a Code Black 1 Operational Security Level, as such only myself and the Fleet Admiral which at the time was Nagala could read them. It's high enough that even yourself as President didn't have enough security clearance."

Looking across at him, Roslin asked "Then why are you telling me now?"

"Because my part of the operation has been in play since 11pm last night. As of midday any risk to the operation should this be leaked is severely diminished."

Looking down at the orders, Roslin's jaw started to drop as she read;

TO: REAR-ADMIRAL WILLIAM ADAMA. #204971-CAP16721A. C/O BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

FROM: FLEET ADMIRAL ROBERT NAGALA. #215622-PIC21423D. C/O BATTLESTAR ATLANTIA

OPERATION SHADOWRUN

COLONIAL FLEET ID #188 ALPHA 237865 THETA 0018736 OMEGA

[NOT TO BE STORED ELECTRONICALLY]

REAR-ADMIRAL ADAMA,

SHOULD THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONIES FAIL, AND NO COLONIAL FLEET OFFICER OF ADMIRAL RANK OR HIGHER REMAINS, THEN YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO TAKE MILITARY COMMAND AND WITHDRAW FROM THE COLONIES WITH BSG-16 AND WHATEVER MILITARY AND CIVILIAN SHIPS CAN BE SAVED.

YOU ARE TO SET COURSE INTO AND THEN BEYOND THE PROLMAR SECTOR USING PREVIOUSLY GATHERED CARTOGRAPHIC DATA. FURTHER DATA IS INCLUDED WITHIN THIS PACKET.

ONCE YOU ARE CERTAIN THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWED THEN YOU ARE TO DIVERT TO THE ATTACHED SHEET OF COORDINATES. BE AWARE THAT EACH LOCATION WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE FOR THE GIVEN TIME. SHOULD YOU ARRIVE LATE AT A LOCATION THEN YOU ARE TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEXT. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO ANY OF THE LOCATIONS, THEN YOU ARE TO PROCEED UNDER YOUR OWN VOLITION. ABOVE ALL ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF OUR SPECIES.

ONCE YOU HAVE REACHED THE LOCATION IN THE GIVEN TIME, YOU ARE TO AWAIT CONTACT FROM A SECOND FLEET OF COLONIAL VESSELS FORMED FROM A SHADOW COLONIAL FLEET SHOULD THEY HAVE MADE IT OUT.

YOU ARE TO THEN TAKE COMMAND OF THESE COLONIAL VESSELS AND THEN CONTINUE ON UNTIL YOU EITHER FIND KOBOL OR ANOTHER SAFE HABITABLE PLANET.

IF YOU FAIL TO MEET UP WITH THIS FLEET AT ANY OF THE RENDEZVOUS POINTS, THEN YOU ARE TO PRESUME THEM DESTROYED, AND PROCEED WITH YOUR CURRENT FLEET TO A SAFE LOCATION NEVER TO RETURN TO COLONIAL SPACE.

SIGNED

FLEET ADMIRAL NAGALA

Looking up from the orders, Roslin questioned "There's another fleet of survivors?" before continuing to question "I've never heard of the Shadow Colonial Fleet."

Nodding, Adama replied, "You are not the only one. My best guess is that Corman and Nagala kept a few ships off the books, possibly reactivated ships which should have been in the inactive reserves or scrapped. It isn't unheard of, during the first war in my very first mission I came across a fleet of what should have been destroyed ships, these ships being part of the ghost fleet offensive. The question is how he crewed them although I do know that during the height of the attacks the various military bases were being evacuated to the reserves but very few ships made it to us. What few reports I do have speak of the various anchorages being completely destroyed with only a couple of ships making it to Nagala. Either way there's a possible second fleet of survivors out there. I couldn't risk reaching out when we were being chased down, but it's been a couple of days now without Cylon contact so hopefully we are out of the woods for now."

"Let us just hope this pays off. Although I don't appreciate you keeping this from me." Taking her glasses off and leaning back, the President asked "How many ships do you think are in the fleet?"

Hesitating, Adama replied "I prefer not to guess but to instead wait for hard facts..."

"Guess."

Letting out a breath while looking down at the information packet, Adama replied "If they survived and managed to get out without the Cylons seeing, then best case I can see is there being two or three Battlestars, likely the oldest ones made along with half a dozen support ships and a couple of tankers. But theres a lot of ifs, I would prefer to wait and see. What I can tell you is that from all the intel gathered during the fall, everywhere in the Colonial space was hit just as hard and fast as the central colonies. Getting through all that unharmed...the admiralty would have had to have prepared for the worst and moved whatever fleet they had within minutes of the start of the attack."

Looking at Adama and seeing the fear hidden within his features, Roslin moved forward and started gathering together the various documents into the folder before saying "Here's to hoping then." As she tied the folder back together, the President hesitated a moment causing Adama to look up. She sat there a moment, her thoughts and memories formulating themselves before finally, quietly at first saying "Adar told me a few times that he suspectd the fleet were up to something but he could never pin down what it was. I admit I wasn't really listening and to be honest he was keeping much to his chest, but he said that things just weren't adding up with the fleet budget, his staff had found equipment seeming to go missing and then suddenly turning up when they looked further. I always suspected it had something to do with Admiral...I can't remember her name but she was the head of the Fleet..."

"Former Fleet Admiral Whitehall," Adama answered. "That probably explains her sudden retirement but that was years ago." Looking over at the clock as they ventured further into speculation, the Admiral spoke up, "We should be heading off to the meeting, Madam President." Standing he placed the folder back into the safe before entreating, "And Madam President, I ask that you keep everything we just spoke about to yourself for two reasons. First, we can't let word get out to the Cylons, and second I can't risk getting the fleet's hopes up when it could be for nought."

"You have my word, Admiral."

"...We can't land any of our mining ships so it's going to require smaller transports modified with High-capacity heater expansion tanks, D-25 plasma torches - Myrex hoses, centrifugal pumps. The list goes on but Nemea assures me that they can have the fleet transports modified in around 24 hours," Tyrol informed the meeting.

A slightly innebriated Tigh replied "Sounds like a lot of manpower."

"Ideally 4,500 men on the ground, sir if we are to replace all the water in the fleet and not just what Galactica lost. The problem is the mining ships we have only have half that in actual miners, the rest are part of the refinement process on those ships and will have their hands busy."

"Four thousand five hundred men? And where're the rest gonna come from?" Tigh questioned.

Looking at the Chief, Adama answered "The military can provide around a thousand men, if Antonius is in agreement?" General Antonius nodded. "I also seem to recall we also have a prison ship within the fleet."

Roslin looked shocked as she replied "Slave labour?"

Adama was in little mood for argument as he put across some points, "They are criminals. They've been sentenced to hard labour. And this is very hard labour. Not to mention physically dangerous. This is not for civilians, but..."

Apollo seeing the argument added "Their ship wasn't designed for long-term incarceration. These men have been stuck in cramped cells for weeks now. They might even prefer to get out. Do something, even if it is dangerous."

His arguments were sound and bent Roslin's objections slightly, "If they volunteer. But these aren't slaves and I will not have them treated as such."

Acting as a mediator, Lee replied "No. We could offer incentives. Points towards earning freedom."

It was an overstep as Adama questiioned, "Excuse me? You wanna start releasing hardened criminals into the fleet?"

But Lee wasn't standing down, "Sir, these men were on their way to Caprica for parole hearings which at least implies they may be ready for release."

Taking a stand, Roslin ordered, "Make it happen, Captain."

"Yes, sir."

The President continued to Billy, "To address Commander Adama's concerns, I'd like you to go along and set up a screening procedure to weed out the hardened criminals."

Seeing the lines being drawn, Adama put in "I would like to have a representative from Galactica who will report directly to me about security issues." This shocked Lee since he assumed he would be the one to do that. Off to the side of the meeting, Colonel Cain looked up from the paper in front of him.

"How about D?" Billy asked and seeing the questioning looks continued "Second Class Petty Officer Dualla."

Adama answered "I know who she is.

"I'm not sure she's conversant with the technical details," Billy continued.

"She'll be fine, but we should send someone from ground crew who'll make sure the chosen men know to use the equipment," Adama finished.

Speaking up, Colonel Cain added, "Sirs, I would like to go with Captain Adama so I can personally screen the former pilots on board the Astral Queen. We need every pilot we can get. Although I would suggest someone else for the ground crew aspect"

"Agreed, we will setup the meetings for midday tomorrow" Roslin answered.

Colonial Exodus Fleet

Battlestar Galactica

CIC – Fleet Admiral William Adama

07:23am (the next day)

Leaning over the information management table as he went over the plans with President Roslin, Admiral Adama's attention was broken when the DRADIS alert went off and Lieutenant Gaeta called out "DRADIS CONTACT! Bearing 215 Karom 186. Range 12,200km and holding." A second later he continued more relieved now "Contact reads as Raptor 106/Valkyrie."

"Confirmed" Dee announced from her own wireless console as she listened to the incoming message "ID's check out as does the password. I have Budget on the line, she informs me that the Battlestar Valkyrie will be arriving in 60 seconds along…" Dee paused a moment as she digested the information she was receiving "…along with a friendly fleet. They'll be arriving at Budget's location. Recognition code checks out sir."

Looking up at her, Adama ordered "Send back that we acknowledge. Mr Gaeta set condition two throughout the fleet just in case and have the fleet ready for jump on my order." Throughout the ship and the other military vessels the orders went out and alarms started to sound raising the alert level. At the same time, the Raptor jumped back to the Valkyrie to give the all clear.

Behind him, Tigh entered the room, going straight to his friend and CO asking "Sorry Bill, you caught me in the head. What's happening?"

"A Raptor from Valkyrie just turned up saying she's about to arrive with a fleet of friendly vessels. The alert is just in case." A questioning look came across Tigh's face, but as he looked at his friend he realised that this wasn't a surprise to Bill.

Looking across at the Admiral, Roslin said, "It sounds like Nagala's plan worked, but I honestly don't want to get ahead of myself just yet."

His attention now back on the DRADIS, Adama replied, "I know what you mean." Seconds later the DRADIS started beeping as more contacts started appearing. "WEAPONS HOLD! Hold the jump too but be alert. Mr Gaeta identify them."

Seeing the contacts, Tigh questioned "How can they be here, the entire Fleet was destroyed?"

At the DRADIS console, Lieutenant Gaeta was already calling out the contacts IDs "Reading…Gods…Reading the Battlestar Valkyrie…" Seeing the number of contacts and the names, Adama immediately clicked a button on the Information Management Table activating a shipwide intercom even as Gaeta continued to call out contacts. "She's brought the Warstar Sword, Nova Class Battlestar Nova, Mercury Class Battestars Argus and Enterprise, Hyades Class training Battlestar Leda, Andromeda Class Battlestar Andromeda, Pleiades Class Battlestar Theia, Hesperides Class Battlestar Acheron, Jupiter Class Battlestar Athena, Juno Class Battlestar Juno, Valkyrie Class Battlestar Xena, Skinfaxi Class Battlestar Ranger, Sobek Class Battlestar Theseus and the Selene Class Heavy Battlestar Europa. The warbook reports the Battlestars Athena, Theia, Andromeda and Acheron as having been scrapped and the Europa, Juno and Xena as having been sold to mining and private security companies. There's also the Nemean Class Shipyard Aquila which again the war book says was scrapped, and the Forge Anchorage along with 18 military and private security support ships. With them are 314 various civilian ships, mining ships, transports and everything else."

Looking up at the DRADIS, Adama could barely believe what he was seeing, it was like a dream from which he was afraid he would awaken. For days now he had believed his small group of Battlestars and warships to be it, the last of the Colonial Fleet or any Fleet. He had two tiny hopes, the first being that the Battlestar Pegasus survived since reports indicated they escaped the attack on Scorpia. The second tiny hope was that maybe one or two ships following Nagala's orders would make it away. But this, the Forge R&D mobile anchorage, the Nemean mobile shipyard he least expected to survive since it was supposed to have been scrapped, and a vast fleet of 13 Battlestars, 18 support ships and one of only four Warstars ever created.

Glancing at President Roslin stood next to him with tears in her eyes and her hand to her mouth as she struggled to control her joy at seeing what he was seeing, Bill saw within her features exactly what he was feeling. Time stood still, and then chaos swarmed the CIC as cheers went out, crew hugged one another and shook hands, and from throughout the ship more cheers carried. Knowing he had to control himself, Adama spotted Tigh moving to hover over Gaeta's shoulder as he doubted the existence of the contacts. Deactivating the ship intercom, Adama finally turned to Dee "Lieutenant Dualla, get me ship to ship with the Warstar Sword. Colonial priority one channel. Then put your reply up on the speakers." The Warstar Sword was a ship which normally rested at dock in the reserves, as such he had no idea who he would be speaking with.

About to carry out her orders, Dee informed him "Sir, I have Sword Actual on the line contacting us…and I'm getting Colonial recognition codes from all ships…they're genuine." At that, Dee pressed a button and a voice came through the speakers.

"I repeat, this is Sword Actual to Galactica Actual, Admiral Whitehall speaking. Are you there, Bill?" the female's voice sounded out.

Struck by the name, and seeing both Tigh and the President glance over at him with shock on their faces, Adama picked up the handset and replied "Admiral Whitehall, what a pleasure to hear your voice. News about your retirement seems to have been exaggerated." The former Fleet Admiral Whitehall that Adama had once served under had retired around 8 years previously, with many whispering that the suddenness of the retirement had been all down to President Adar.

"I wish I could go back to being retired, we have a lot to talk about."

To be continued

Merry Christmas everyone,

Apologies for the long wait for this chapter, I'm currently working three jobs so a lot of my time is taken up. However I wanted to give you all a few christmas presents in new chapters and to assure you that I am coming back to this series. No, you didn't read that wrong, I did say a few chapters. I have been working on a new arc for this story for some time now which will take us back to before the start of the war and show the build up, the formation of the shadow plan, and more importantly an entirely new perspective of the war showing just how the Shadow Fleet survived.

The next chapter will be going up tomorrow (christmas day) with the next ones by the end of December at the latest, I'm just going through them fixing a few things and and they are immense with many major battles. Better battles than have been seen in this story. Seriously wait until the Battle of the Forge or the even bigger Battle of Titan Point which took me weeks to work out.

It should be noted that this story will now be a loose crossover with the Expanse and Black Sails (characters and ships) although I am adjusting their backgrounds to fit in with the story. I would also like to give a massive nod to Tan.J whose Minerva Class designs I am using in the story for the Battlestar's Theia (Pleiades), Leda (Hyades) Hesperides (Hesperides),and Andromeda (Andromeda) in addition to the Skinfaxi class. Although I am editing the background for these ships. In addition I am using other fan designs for battlestars found on the bsg wiki although I do rename some where it either contradicts with lore or this story.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed this taste of things to come.