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

19. Shadow Fleet Part 2: The Fall

Shadow Fleet Part 2: The Fall

Before we begin this chapter, here is a breakdown of the location of every Colonial Main Fleet Battlestar Group at the very start of the fall along with their battlestar classes and names. Keep in mind each BSG also has support ships and each BSG may be further broken down into smaller patrols within a jump of the main battlestar.

If you want to skip to the story just search for "And now the story…"

Helios Alpha

Caprica-Gemenon Patrol

13 battlestars located around the following

BSG 83

Mercury Battlestar Valiant

Jupiter II Battlestar Jupiter

Valkyrie II Battlestar Hera

BSG 44

Valkyrie Battlestar Valkyrie

BSG 80

Valkyrie II Battlestar Yashumen

BSG 79

Titan Battlestar Titan

Century Battlestar Odyssey

BSG 46

Valkyrie II Battlestar Solaria

BSG 22

Mercury Battlestar Perseus

Century Battlestar Apollo

Venus Battlestar Cicero

BSG 35

Jupiter II Battlestar Canopus

BSG 75

Jupiter Battlestar Galactica (Decommissioning. No Support)

Picon Patrols

16 Battlestars

BSG 30

Mercury Battlestar Ulysses

Challenger II Battlestar Serapis

Sobek Battlestar Atreus

BSG 11

Mercury Battlestar Assurance

Hyades Night Flight

Artemis III Battlestar Resistance

BSG 50

Nova Uned

Valkyrie I Praetoria – CO Commander Lyle. Docked

BSG 5

Mercury Battlestar Charon

Challenger II Battlestar Castor

Trident Heliopolis (Fleet reserve)

BSG 41

Hyades Battlestar Sparta

BSG 34

Jupiter II Battlestar Proteus

BSG 70

Mercury Battlestar Mercury

Trident Battlestar Electra

Challenger II Battlestar Pandora

Tauron Patrol

6 Battlestars

BSG 17

Mercury Battlestar Odin

Ares Battlestar Universal

Poseidon Battlestar Endymion

BSG 31

Mercury Battlestar Eagle

Trident Battlestar Typhoon

BSG 29

Valkyrie III Battlestar Gaia

Helios Beta

Leonis

6 Battlestars

BSG 82

Hyades Battlestar Nox

Minerva III Battlestar Cyclops

BSG 16

Valkyrie Battlestar Defiant

Venus Battlestar Talon

Hades Battlestar Hades

Juno Battlestar Hunter (rename in story)

Virgon

6 Battlestars

BSG 57

Mercury Battlestar Atlantia

Hyades Battlestar Retribution

Minerva III Battlestar Siren

Valkyrie II Battlestar Chelae

BSG 93

Ares Battlestar Ares

BSG 73

Sobek Battlestar Sobek

Helios Gamma

Scorpia

16 Battlestars

BSG 15

Mercury Battlestar Erasmus

Jupiter II Battlestar Pythia

Valkyrie III Battlestar Fox

Valkyrie III Battlestar Sirius

BSG 18

Mercury Battlestar Juggernaut

Ares Battlestar Thalia

Poseidon Battlestar Tempest

BSG 62

Mercury Battlestar Pegasus

Trident Battlestar Orpheus

BSG 45

Orion II Battlestar Diana

BSG 65

Challenger II Battlestar Surprise

Minerva III Battlestar Thor

BSG 97

Venus Battlestar Chione

Poseidon Battlestar Amphion

BSG 26

Orion II Battlestar Tribune

BSG 23

Jupiter II Battlestar Janis

Sagittaron

2 Battlestars

BSG 91

Nova Battlestar Antigone

BSG 60

Titan Battlestar Avenger

Libran

5 Battlestars

BSG 89

Hydra Battlestar Pontus

BSG 25

Poseidon Battlestar Samos

BSG 24

Valkyrie III Battlestar Artemis

BSG 40

Hyades Battlestar Erebus

Jupiter II Battlestar Jupiter

Helios Delta

Aerilon

5 Battlestars

BSG 87

Mercury Battlestar Kyrenia

Valkyrie III Battlestar Triton

Artemis III Battlestar Niobe

Ares Battlestar Solaria

BSG 84

Titan Battlestar Colossus

Canceron

6 Battlestars

BSG 37

Nova Battlestar Danos

Artemis III Battlestar Sophocles

BSG 66

Mercury Battlestar Tigress

Valkyrie III Battlestar Kos

BSG 39

Jupiter II Battlestar Saracen

Valkyrie III Battlestar Unicorn

Aquaria

5 Battlestars

BSG 96

Challenger II Battlestar Aetna

BSG 53

Venus Battlestar Acrotiri

BSG 92

Orion II Battlestar Orion

BSG 49

Challenger II Battlestar Challenger

Poseidon Battlestar Sterling

Border patrol/The Bay

28 Battlestars

BSG 42

Furious Class Battlestar Furious – Vice-Admiral Bacon

Hyades Battlestar Pacifica

BSG 86

Valkyrie II Battlestar Pleione

BSG 71

Valkyrie II Battlestar Hermes

BSG 19

Mercury Battlestar Columbia

Goliath Class Battlestar Hephaistion

Jupiter II Battlestar Memphis

Minerva III Battlestar Oceanus

BSG 20

Mercury Battlestar Acropolis

Hyades Battlestar Panther

Ares Battlestar Ares

BSG 21

Mercury Battlestar Talos

BSG 72

Titan Battlestar Mars

Hyades Battlestar Diomedes

BSG 32

Nova Battlestar Europa

Mercury Battlestar Therion

Jupiter II Battlestar Firebrand (ACTIVE RESERVE)

Valkyrie III Battlestar Merope

BSG 43

Nova Battlestar Revenant

Jupiter II Battlestar Champion

BSG 88

Nova Battlestar Aegean

Titan Battlestar Charon

Ares Battlestar Reliant (ACTIVE RESERVE)

BSG 27

Sobek Battlestar Vanguard

Artemis III Battlestar Imperial

Valkyrie Battlestar Repulse

BSG 81

Sobek Battlestar Neleus

BSG74

Valkyrie Battlestar Defender

Vitruvian Expanse Patrol

10 Battlestars

BSG 56

Titan Battlestar Resolute

Hyades Battlestar Illustrious

Juno Battlestar Medea

BSG 63

Hyades Battlestar Dauntless

Valkyrie III Battlestar Herakles

BSG 78

Titan Battlestar Aegir

Valkyrie III Battlestar Kobe

BSG 68

Valkyrie II Battlestar Ibis

BSG 33

Mercury Battlestar Enterprise

Challenger II Battlestar Ceres

Atticus Reach Mining Territory

Aristo System Patrol

2 Battlestars

BSG 22

Titan Battlestar Leonatus – Group Commander Rear-Admiral Collins

Valkyrie II Battlestar Domitus

Seneca System Patrol

1 Battlestar

BSG 47

Sobek Battlestar Theseus – Group Commander Cmdr Chandler

And now the story...

VIRGON ORBIT

BSG 57

BATTLESTAR ATLANTIA

CIC

25/07/55

16:17

1 MINUTE BEFORE THE FALL

Reading over one of many reports on the status of not only his BSG which held the Battlestar's Retribution and Chelae as well as 8 support ships, Nagala was thinking that he would just finish this report before going to do a round of the ship with a brief stop at the officers mess.

"Admiral…" the communications officer called out, "A civilian Raptor just jumped in and is transmitting a priority one alert in the clear. They say they represent Daniel and Zoe Graystone…"

"They've just jumped out" the tactical officer announced.

The communications officer continued, "They transmitted a message before they jumped." Moving over, both Nagala and his XO Colonel Lesley Finch picked up a headset as the comms officer started playing the message. On the screen sensitive data was also scrolling, the XO sending this to the tactical officer for verification.

"This is Zoe Graystone to all Colonial ships. An incursion by the Cylons into Colonial space is underway. This is not a joke. Already we have lost contact with Armistice station and the Pavilion Deep Space Array. Estimated Cylon strength is far superior to our own and we believe they have us surrounded. I urge you look to your ships, look to the Colonies and either trust me or at the very least man your defences. Help is coming."

Hearing every syllable of fear in that voice, Nagala's own eyes opened wide as he ordered, "XO, set condition one throughout the Fleet and get BSG 93 along with the patrol groups pulled right back, send runners to the rest of the Fleet. Tell them to go to Condition One." As the XO started relaying orders and the crew followed them, Nagala had the comms officer patch him through to Virgon Fleet Headquarters while moving to a tactical console and pulling up an overview of the entire Colonial Fleet.

"Oh Frak," Colonel Finch called out, "Sir, the data's genuine, I'm patched into the Pavillion feed and have started to run a check but it's already flagging already recorded data, it's been looping."

The tactical officer then called out, "DRADIS contact…it's a Colonial Fleet Raptor out of Picon…"

"Sir," the Comms officer spoke up, "The Raptor is transmitting on a priority one channel in the clear, 84 Cylon Basestars have arrived there."

Eyes opening wide in fear at the scale of the attack, Nagala ordered "XO, prepare the fleet to jump to Picon. Inform all Colony Defence Forces we are activating 1b of the defence charter. They are now Colonial Fleet warships and are to be properly armed…"

"I've got more Raptors jumping in from Caprica, Gemenon, Scorpia and Tauron…they're under attack by the Cylons. 75 Basestars at Caprica-Gemenon, 60 at Scorpia, 64 at Tauron.…" a now afraid tactical officer announced.

"HOLD THE JUMP!" Nagala knew exactly what would happen if he made the jump to reinforce Picon without reinforcements from Caprica and Scorpia. It would be a bloodbath with the groups jumping in one by one. He had six active Battlestars here at Virgon and another 6 at Leonis making it a total of 5 BSGs for 12 Battlestars in Helios Beta. Helios Delta had 9 BSGs for 16 Battlestars. In Helios Gamma, the system where Scorpia was located, there were a total of 23 Battlestars in 14 BSGs. Finally Helios Alpha had 18 BSGs for a total of 37 Battlestars.

Out in the Bay, primarily patrolling around the armistice line were 13 BSGs with 28 Battlestars, including many of the heavy hitters. The Atticus Reach mining territory had just two BSGs in BSG 22 and 47. Lastly the Vitruvian Expanse had 5 BSGs with a total of 10 Battlestars.

In all of these forces, pretty much all 18 BSGs were likely engaged in Helios Alpha meaning the system was fully engaged with the Cylons and no reinforcements would be coming from it. So a third of the fleet was wiped from his reinforcements list straight away. With Scorpia engaged, 16 Battlestars in 8 Groups that had either been docked there or assigned to both its protection and patrols around the Colony would be engaged and require reinforcing which, since they were in the same system, the seven BSGs between Sagittaron and Libran would be preparing to jump in.

"I need runners to get to our forces at Sagittaron, Libran, Leonis and Helios Delta with orders to hold position unless ordered otherwise by Corman. And I want Raptors sent to recon all engaged Colonies, we cannot afford to jump in blindly and leave the rest of the colonies undefended. I want more runners sent to pull back our forces to here from the Bay and the Reach unless countermanded by Corman." Moving to pull up the readouts of the various BSG locations, Nagala continued issuing orders "More Runners are to make for Titan Point and from there to make for BSGs 56, 63, 78 and 33. All are to pull back to here except for 63 which is to reinforce Titan Point. Once enough of our forces are back we will move to reinforce either Scorpia Shipyards or Picon HQ. And get me a Runner to the Forge, with orders for the R&D Fleet to protect the Forge at all costs. Have the Forge prepare to jump."

Pausing to think as the orders being transmitted to Virgon Fleet HQ were being carried out, Nagala considered the already engaged colonies, "And get a runner to Tauron. Our forces there are ordered to pull out immediately even if engaged, they are to send scouts to both Caprica and Picon, they are then to reinforce the location they will be most effective, we can't afford to lose both of their anchorages with their docked reserves. I need a runner to Picon informing Corman that I stand ready to assist and am pulling back our forces which will then form a reinforcing fleet, he just needs to hold on a short while. XO I need the war room up and running with fresh updates as they arrive."

Nagala now had a choice, everything he had heard so far seemed to point towards the truth and now he had to act. Opening his cigarette case and removing a false compartment revealing a data chip he inserted this into a nearby computer, "Command/Atlantia Actual. I need you to send Raptors to the coordinates I'm sending you immediately. Send at least two Raptors per location…" Nagala transmitted the coordinates to Virgon HQ while saying, "Order the Raptors to transmit the following, 'Shadow Run, I repeat, shadow run." With those words he had decided which of the shadow plans that was to be put into effect.

While he was stood there, he continued, "Have all the Fleet Reserves activated and if they haven't already, have the training ships fall back to Titan Point. Titan Point is now the tertiary command post. Get a Raptor to Port Royal, Former Fleet Admiral Nash's residence. Orders are his commission is being reactivated and that Shadow Run is in effect, he will know what it means and will give you coordinates. And get another Raptor to Ashberg Valley vet clinic for Dr Esri Nagala, she is to be transported wherever Nash goes. I'm also transmitting a list of 400 names, they are to be evacuated to the following coordinates immediately." Thinking carefully he added "I want all fleet academies on all worlds to load up as many cadets, instructors, marines and fleet personnel onto Raptors and transports as they can for transport. Half will go straight to the reserves around Colonial space and the others will go to Titan Point. Priorities for evacuation are both the academies and transfer stations at Caprica, Picon, Scorpia and Tauron as well as fleet command on Picon. Send every available transport and Raptor we can that isn't already transporting our own people."

Picking up a tac-pad while moving to the war room next door, Nagala continued speaking on his wireless headset, "And get Raptors to all the colony and civilian fleets, they are now being conscripted into the Colonial Fleet. Those in the Reach are to regroup in the Seneca system gathering together every civilian and mining ship they can. All mining colonies there are to evacuate. All colony and civilian defence fleets in the Expanse are to regroup at Titan Point or the Forge, whichever is closest. Former-Fleet Admiral Whitehall's commission has just been reactivated with the rank of Admiral, the data I am sending is pre-signed by Corman giving me the authority to do so. She will shortly be assuming operational command of all forces in the Expanse, until she does, Nash is in command." As more and more updates went out and status reports came in, Nagala was praying that Corman could hold on a little longer as the first Battlestar Groups started to arrive. Moving to an open comms console, Nagala tied into the civilian channels and typed a quick message before sending it.

From below at Virgon Fleet Command groundside, as well as the nearby Virgon Fleet Anchorage, dozens of Raptors launched with fresh orders being transmitted to them. As soon as they were clear, the vast majority jumped to over a dozen different locations.

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

SURTUR SYSTEM

BSG 33 Patrol 1

Mercury Class Battlestar Enterprise

Commander Klaes Cena's Office

16:19

"You're fracking a subordinate and you're her CAG, how else am I supposed to deal with this?" Commander Klaes Cena shouted out at his CAG Major Paulo Sematimba. Before Paulo or "Semi" as his callsign was could reply as he stood at attention in front of his CO, Cena continued "See I might have let you both off with a light punishment for fraternisation if, and I stress IF, you hadn't thought to frak her in a Raptor while on patrol. Do you understand what could have happened if a pirate managed to slip through because your attention wasn't focused on the job at hand rather than one of our Raptors?"

At that the ship's alarm started blaring as Colonel Sandrine Lucas called out over the intercom, "All hands set condition one. This is not a drill. I repeat this is not a drill. Commander Cena report to the CIC. Cylon Basestars have just jumped in. All pilots to your planes."

Both the Commander and Paulo quickly took off from the room as the alarms continued blaring. Nearing the CIC at a dead run, Cena heard the flak guns firing out scores of deadly shrapnel and then the various batteries firing at an enemy he couldn't yet see. Just as he was about to pass the marines guarding the entrance to the CIC, Cena was almost knocked to the ground as the ship suddenly shook under a hideous blow which flickered the lights in the section he was in.

Passing into the CIC, Cena looked up at the DRADIS while calling out "Status report, what do we have?"

Looking up from the tactical console, his XO, Colonel Sandrine Lucas at first ignored him as she ordered "STOP THE VIPER LAUNCHES! Sutton, pull whatever's left from the tubes and cut their networks." As the orders were carried out, Cena looked up at the DRADIS seeing what was left of his Battlestar Group drifting. The Challenger II Class Battlestar Ceres, Adamant II Class Avalon and the Manticore III Class Cheetah were without power and with nukes closing on them just as out of the hundreds of Vipers already launched, all were drifting aimlessly, crashing into each other and being plucked away by missiles fired from hundreds of swarming Raiders.

Turning to him, Lucas replied "Two new Cylon Basestars just jumped in immediately launching Raiders. We launched Vipers and managed to get a couple of hundred out between us before the Cylons hacked them all along with the rest of the fleet…"

Eyes going wide, Cena ordered, "We need to pull out and warn…"

Shaking her head, Lucas interrupted "Our jumpdrives are down. Cylons launched two dozen nukes at us, we got all but one which knocked out our FTL. We can't risk sending out Raptors with their networks up."

Seeing that Lucas had ordered a course to put distance between them and the Cylon Basestars, Cena knew it wouldn't work as the Cylons continued unleashing endless missiles at them, as well as the Raiders which were swarming closer. "Helm, turn us to Basestar Beta, head on approach at two thirds thrust, at 40km turn us hard to port. Give us a constant and unpredictable lateral roll. Tactical, I want all main batteries firing everything at the centre of that Basestar, and when I order you to, launch nukes. DO NOT OPEN THE TUBES UNTIL I GIVE THE ORDER. And keep a wall of flak on both sides. Flight, I need my birds back up and running."

Cena held on as the ship lurched under his feet with his helm officer Hana Cage pulling the Enterprise into a hard turn towards Basestar Beta. The sudden shift was enough to catch dozens of Raiders unaware as they flew into a wall of flak and the rest broke hard away from the incoming fire.

Opposite him, Colonel Lucas asked "Sir, what are we doing? We should be putting distance between us."

"It won't work, the Raiders would just swarm us or the Cylons would take out our ass. Our only chance is to take the Basestars out as fast as we can." Cena was determined and at the same time grateful. A few years ago the Enterprise was fully networked, but then a trip in the DRADIS shut everything down, and despite what caused the trip being repaired and assurances that would never happen again, he had ordered the Enterprise to have her networks severed with special approval from Corman. If that hadn't happened, his ship could be just like the Ceres.

Closing fast on Basestar Beta, the Enterprise rocked side to side, pounded by hundreds of missiles and a Raider launched nuke that got through damaging the port flightpod. Yet still she surged forward, her main batteries chewing into the centre of the Basestar, her unpredictable rolling stopping the Raiders getting too close. As she got closer, and the ship groaned, Cena moved to the tactical console and started selecting targets. And then at 40km she turned, protective armour over her missile tubes moved back, and Cena ordered "FIRE!"

With the turning of the Mercury Class Battlestar, the swarm of almost 600 Raiders surrounding her trying to get close enough to launch what few nukes they had were caught off guard again and pulled back out of the line of flak. Right behind them, hidden from by the flak four plumes of smoke and fire erupted as four missiles streaked away from the Battlestar at the same time sections of flak dropped. These four nuclear missiles burning their way towards Basestar Beta. A second later six more nuclear missiles tore free from the Battlestar but these ones on six different trajectories surrounding the Battlestar and doing their best to get through the swarm of Raiders putting as much difference between the missiles and the Battlestar as possible. Some missiles were taken down and some Raiders attempted to launch their own missiles at the now defenceless Battlestar, but it was already too late. Six bright flashes surrounded the Battlestar, deadly energies and EM radiation flying out in all directions. These deadly explosions joined almost as quickly by two more against Basestar Beta's central section causing the warship to become nothing more than a cloud of shrapnel. As the cloud was expanding, two last missiles flew free from the Battlestar towards the last Basestar which was blinded by the deadly radiation surrounding the Enterprise. Forward they flew before they finally hit against the sole surviving Basestar tearing an arm from it in a catatonic explosion and lighting up the middle of the ship leaving a gaping hole and several secondary explosions.

But the assault had also hurt the Enterprise. Against so many close nuclear explosions, she too had taken damage, the EMP knocking out her flak guns and several of her main batteries as well as overloading the engines causing breakers to shut them down. But around her all that remained of the Raider force was hundreds of drifting, fried wrecks. This move the Enterprise had made was something warschool taught was to be used only when a ship was being overwhelmed by fighters and had no fighter assistance of its own. The risks of it going wrong were extreme.

The Basestar too was truly hurt, the secondary explosions slowly building as tylium lines were burnt through.

Aboard this dying Basestar within its CIC, a Six called out, "The ship's done for, main systems are down, so are weapons, the Hybrid's dead, our FTL drives are overloading and we've got fires closing in on the main Tylium tanks."

"We can't let the Enterprise escape" a Two replied, "They're one of the only non-networked ships the Colonial Fleet has…"

Across from him, a four answered "All our ships are in play."

"I know, I've got a plan," the Six called out. "Come on."

Within minutes 15 Heavy Raiders took over from the Basestar as secondary explosions were tearing it to shreds, only 12 managing to get clear before the Basestar finally exploded as the main Tylium tanks finally went up. Away from the expanding cloud of wreckage these Heavy Raiders flew, aboard them 153 tightly packed Centurions. Their destination? The Battlestar Enterprise.

Virgon

Port Royal

Former Fleet Admiral Nash's Residence

16:19

Overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Bay of Diana with the hundreds of sailing ships and showboats docked at the marinas miles away along with the hustle and bustle of city life, Nash smiled at being located on the outskirts of the city where restrictions had been placed on building use and size. Former Fleet-Admiral Silas Nash sat on the balcony outside his bedroom watching the new sunrise and enjoying his retirement. In his hand was a steaming mug of coffee while around his shoulders was wrapped an old blanket pitted with a few tiny flecks of sand. Next to him was a wheeled oxygen tank since after the removal of the cancer stricken lung, his other lung in its old age was having trouble improving capacity forcing him to be short of breath. Finally on his other side, laid down on the bench with her head in his lap was a Golden Labrador he named Cassie.

Decades before, a lifetime ago even, he had lived in the maddening landscape that was Caprica City. Back then he had been a GDD agent. Back then he had been Jordan Duram but after an assassination attempt was made on his life, he had been placed in witness protection as Silas Nash while the STO were hunted down. Understanding that the GDD was not for him and that it had become infested with both corruption and the remnants of the STO, Jordan kept the name Silas Nash and started a new life enlisting in the old Caprican Fleet and quickly rising to become an XO of an Adamant carrier.

Then the war came and with it his rise through the ranks to commanding the one of the first Battlestars; the Battlestar Galactica. After several years, he rose again up the ranks through Rear-Admiral and Admiral, until after disagreements with the Colonial government over her aggressive form of leading the war, Fleet-Admiral Lucinda Cain was relieved of fleet command and instead relegated to Admiral. Having been second in command of the Colonial Fleet, Nash had been promoted to Fleet-Admiral which he remained in until the end of the war. After several years building up the Colonial Fleet and shoring up defences, Nash eventually stepped down after the death of his son and daughter-in-law in a traffic accident since they left behind a two year old daughter that now needed his care. In his place he left Admiral Whitehall whom both Cain and he had been grooming for command. Now, he was happily retired, his granddaughter having requested and been allowed a posting to the Fleet Reserves serving on Atlantia. When she wasn't there, she stayed with him as she was just now, this was partly due to saving her pay, and partly so she could make sure he was doing okay.

After the pneumonectomy where his cancer-stricken lung was removed, he had difficulty breathing since his remaining lung - the one which had taken a bullet meant to end his life decades before, and one which was weakened by age - was unable to do the job it now had to do. As such he had to drag an oxygen bottle around with him wherever he went and take a few puffs every couple of minutes. In order to maintain as normal a life as he could, he used a small oxygen conserving device he could carry in a satchel which could provide him with around 9 hours of air a day. In addition he kept a large oxygen bottle by his bed, and a replacement bottle for his conserving device in his car. Thankfully, the Colonial Fleet had donated to him an oxygen concentrator normally used to resupply a pilots tanks, from which he could resupply his tanks at extremely low costs to his electric bill.

As he sat there watching the sailing ships and the few fishing trawlers on the horizon, his mobile phone next to him on a small table, vibrated. Picking it up he read;

Shadow Fall. A Raptor is on its way and you are back in the fleet as Admiral. Corman engaged by Cylons. Cylon fleets at Picon, Scorpia, Caprica and Tauron. Almost 300 Basestars, likely many more. Indications we are surrounded, signal from the ribbon and pavilion has been looping for hours. I'm pulling back all ships from the line before moving to reinforce Corman. We will buy you as much time as possible. Good luck.

His mug of coffee slipped from his fingers, the porcelain cracking and splintering on the deck below as he read the first two words. Cassie's, head springing up at the action as she stared at Nash. The day they all feared and had long prepared for while hoping they were wrong, was finally upon them. They had to act fast, he knew that being up against just 300 Basestars would be punishing for the Fleet, any victory would likely be pyrrhic at best, and that was only if the Cylons only had 300 Basestars. If they had 400 or more then the odds went down. They had to hope the already engaged fleets could hold out.

Rushing to his granddaughter's room, Nash pounded on the door and opened it rousing the young ensign. "Come on, get up. The Cylons are here. A raptor is on the way, we need to be ready when it arrives."

Still struggling with confusion having just been rudely awoken, Emily asked, "What?" and then as the words started to fall into place, she replied "You're sure."

Already pulling down her Colonial Fleet duffle bag which he dropped next to the bed, and starting to struggle with his breathing, Nash replied "Yes, straight from Nagala. All of Alpha is engaged and so is Scorpia. Come on, get dressed and pack only what you need or can't live without. Move."

Moving from the room as Emily leapt from the bed, Nash returned to his own and took a few deep breaths from the oxygen tank stored there until he didn't feel light headed. Quickly dressing in his old uniform and then throwing on the oxygen conserving device in its satchel while adding a spare bottle to it, he kept the mask on with a slow steady rate as he pulled out his old service pistol which he belted on and then his bug out sack, taking it down to the front door. Next he took two smaller empty bags, one he started filling with photo albums, photos he pulled from broken frames, a laptop and hard drive with stored memories, his medals, and other items he would rather not part with. With the other bag he started filling it with clothes. As he moved back to the front door with them, he saw Emily's own duffle bag by the door and heard her as she was gathering up a few other items she wanted in another bag. Next to the bags wondering what all the chaos was about, was Cassie.

As he was about to place the bags down, he heard the drone of a Raptor as it moved to descend on the road outside. Taking the dog lead from the coat rack, he clipped it onto Cassie's collar while calling out, "THEY'RE HERE!" which was met by the bounding of booted feet as they came down the stairs. Having only just woken up, Emily looked worse for wear, her hair pulled back but not brushed, her uniform hanging open revealing her shirt and undershirt and service pistol hanging on its belt. A hunting rifle and automatic rifle was on her back, while in her arms was another small rucksack. "Get everything?" he asked her, "We might never be returning."

Nodding, a little out of breath, she replied "Yeah, what's left I don't need."

Pulling her to him, he wrapped one arm around her in a hug, kissed her forehead and comforted "We'll get through this, don't you worry. Come on."

Opening the door as the whine of the large Raptor Ultra had turned into a roar, Nash moved out with his granddaughter and Cassie. The hatch was already open with two Colonial Marines visible jumping out as it finally landed. Moving towards them, Nash called out "I have bags by the door" before moving towards the Raptor which was capable of holding comfortably 14 fully armed and armoured Marines. Another three marines were visible in the Raptor along with several bugout bags for them, two of these marines jumping down out of the Raptor. One lifted Cassie up and onto the large craft while another helped Nash onto the ship. Behind them the other two marines returned with their bags.

Moving to the front of the Raptor, Nash reached into a compartment of his bag and took out his phone, heading into the contacts list and scrolling down to Moira Erebus. Putting this number up on screen, he ordered "Pilot, I need you to get us to this location as quickly as possible" while handing over the phone.

Taking it, the pilot looked quizzically at the number she quickly realised were jump coordinates, she replied, "Yes sir, you might want to strap in."

Patting the pilot on the shoulder, Nash moved into the back where the Marines were pulling down chairs seats for them. Strapping in, the Raptor was soon in the air and jumping.

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

OURANOS SYSTEM

TITAN POINT FLEET ANCHORAGE – ADMIRAL ALEX MARIS

CIC

16:23

Titan Point Fleet Anchorage was long the beating heart of the Vitruvian Expanse. Built into an asteroid 56 kilometres in diameter, it was in itself one of the few Fleet anchorages of its type constructed and held a position as a minor colony. The Anchorage itself was built up around one end of the asteroid and held 18 construction docks capable of holding the largest of Battlestars, two of these being able to hold even the Zeus Class Warstars of which the Fleet had four in the inactive reserves. In addition to this were a further 87 smaller docking slips. The vast majority of these docks were used by the major mining and refining conglomerates which operated out of the Expanse, as well as the botanical cruisers, traders, waste reclamation and other vessels which followed the miners.

The entire Anchorage had taken 32 years to build to the point it was at now, constantly evolving as it became the hub for the vast wealth within the Expanse. Inside, sections of the asteroid had been hollowed out and the iron, nickel and the previously immensely rich titanium deposits which had been held there were used to create the airtight hallways and rooms of the anchorage. As it grew, people flocked to her and the wealth which had started to flow through her to the point that it held a permanent population of more than 15,000 Fleet personnel and marines as well as a further 1.5 million civilians, almost a tenth of the population of the entire Expanse.

Every day almost 200 ships docked for resupply and offloading of cargo and personnel, few staying longer than a few hours due to the traffic. For those whose crews wanted shore leave, small transports normally took off from nearby ships and landed in the hangars giving their crews hours or even a couple of days to sample the foods on offer, spend their cubits in the casinos and bars, stay in one of the hotels or even walk in one of the 21 large botanical domes set up on the asteroid. Two of these domes offered a winter wonderland and served for snowsports and recreation, and another hosted a smaller desert-like habitat with its own plant life which thrived in arid conditions. Six of the domes were even covered in plains and had cattle and livestock which supplemented the shipments of meat and dairy products from the twelve colonies. The remaining domes were either dedicated to crops, plantlife or aquaculture. Below the surface further areas had been given over to hydroponics, the plant life helping to support the life support, and the excess food being sold to the mining crews and other small colonies set up throughout the Expanse. It was expected that within no more than six years with the completion of three more domes and four more hydroponic sections that the entire anchorage would be self-sufficient in terms of food and oxygen production. The main products that would need to be imported from then on would be tylium and water, both of which were being supplied my mining crews in the area. Apart from that was the industrial goods, medical supplies, natural fabrics, and luxury products they were currently unable to produce.

There was always a Battlestar Group watching over this hub with another BSG within a handful of jumps in addition to whatever Fleet, CDF or Private Security ships were nearby. Almost 20 years ago when it became clear just how significant Titan Point was becoming, and with Fleet revisions of strategies for if the Cylons returned, Titan Point had been recognised as the primary fall back point for the Protected Reserves such as the Training Fleet Battlestars and support ships, and if the Helios Systems were overwhelmed, for the entire Fleet itself. The problem was that despite Titan Point having been created after the Cylons left, the Cylons knew the anchorage was the primary fallback point and had planned accordingly.

Space split apart 40,000km from Titan Point Fleet Anchorage leaving in their bright wakes eight Basestars. Time seemed to stop as the guard patrol of BSG 56 with the Titan Class Battlestar Resolute, Hyades Class Battlestar Illustrious and the Juno class Battlestar Medea were unsure how to react. Supporting them were two Manticore III Corvettes, the Blood Eagle and the Grappler. Out on patrol within a short jump were the Cygnus III Class Hood and the Berserk Class Mystic.

In addition, waiting to dock was a battlegroup belonging to the Leonis Defence Fleet which was here having escorted a civilian transport ship which had requested assistance after coming under attack by a pirate band. This group contained the Minerva II Class Battlestar the Renown and two Defender Class Destroyers, the Cassandra and Jackdaw.

Upon the arrival of the Cylon Basestars, chaos seemed to take effect as Vipers were launched by the Colonials, and the Cylon Basestars started deploying thousands of raiders.

Within the CIC of Titan Point, a nervous Admiral Augusto Nguyen ordered, "XO, jump runners to all nearby ships and send a runner to Picon HQ informing them that we are in need of immediate reinforcement from as many Battlestar Groups as possible..." Taking in the disposition of the forces arrayed against him, Nguyen continued "Keep launching Vipers and Raptors but have all ships hold fire. We will not fire the first shot, I will not be responsible for another 13 years of bloodshed. Lieutenant Cassidy open a channel to the Cylons, all frequencies…"

As his orders were carried out, Lieutenant Cassidy nodded to Nguyen saying, "You're on, sir."

Preparing himself, Admiral Nguyen, sixth in command of the entire Colonial Fleet swallowed hard before starting, "This is Admiral Nguyen of the Colonial Fleet to the Cylons. You are here in violation of the Cimtar Peace Accords. I respectfully request that you vacate Colonial Space immediately under Colonial Fleet escort, return to your side of the armistice line and we can discuss this violation and move past it at Armistice Station." As the seconds passed by in silence with no hostile action from either side, Nguyen began to hope and pray that he wasn't going to die today. With the seconds passing and the civilian ships being loaded with people preparing to evacuate, the captains of some ships seemed to hesitate. As there had been no move from the Cylons to vacate the area and they had instead continued launching more and more Raiders, Nguyen spoke again, "There doesn't need to be war between us. We can just go our separate ways and never meet again. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past." Nguyen was determined that if war should begin again today that history would remember that he held out for a diplomatic option as long as he possibly could.

A signal went out and the world began its rapid fall into anarchy.

"Admiral…" the tactical officer Major Byrne called out, "Our Vipers are losing power…all the Mk-VIIs between us and the Cylons are shutting down! They're being hacked! Only Leonis's Mk-Vs are holding up."

Knowing he had no choice, Nguyen ordered, "Major Byrne, have the Resolute fire a warning shot across their lead ships bow…" even as he ordered that hoping and praying he could stop this with diplomacy, he saw on the DRADIS as the Cylon Raiders started launching missiles even as he called out, "ALL SHIPS FIRE! FIRE EVERYTHING!"

But it was too late, he had waited too long for a peaceful end that would never come. The Raiders had advanced close enough to the Colonial Fleet Battlestars that their signal went out and the Colonial warships shut down one by one. Thrusters firing involuntarily as the Virus spread through the wide open network, hitting Damage Control first, opening bulkheads and venting the atmosphere on these ships even as Fire Control was infected and taken control of. No nuclear missiles would be able to fire, but everything else was now within the Cylons control.

Nearby aboard the much older, limited networked Leonis Defence Fleet Battlestar Renown, Admiral Kearns muttered "Jupiter no, they've hacked them…" before realising what was about to happen, "Admiral Nguyen, you need to target and destroy BSG 56 before they turn their guns on us, they're all dead. I'm officially transferring command of my fleet to the Colonial Fleet so start dispatch transports loaded with munitions and nukes to my fleet right now and get the reserves cleared of any networks and launched. XO, have our ships target the lead Basestar and fire. Helm, put us between the Cylons and the docks. Flight, have our Vipers on missile intercept duties with half defending the docked reserves, and launch Raptors back to Picon, tell them the Fleet is being hacked. Broken Castle." Broken Castle being the code word for a colony or military installation that was being overrun, the order requiring all military units to make for the installation as fast as possible. It was only ordered in the direst of circumstances when defeat was a strong possibility.

As the ship shook from the weapons emplacements firing, Kearns noticed fifteen nukes streaking away from Titan Point and to the Colonial Fleet positions before he lost contact with Titan Point as the Colonial installation at the tip of the asteroid started to go dark with the Virus hitting it. However the Virus wasn't fully successful here and only some of the systems around the docks went down, and it seemed to be focused around the docks where the few Fleet Reserve ships were docked. Like Picon Fleet Anchorage the networks of Titan Point were a mess dating back decades meaning only part of the networks, those mostly closest to control, the most modern docks and heavy weapons locations like the nuclear missile silos, were affected.

Within moments the Cylon Basestars and their thousands of Raiders moved towards the outnumbered and outmatched Leonis Defence Fleet. Scores of missiles flying forth to strike at the shutdown Mk-VII Vipers, and many more surging towards the Leonis warships as they fired pounding shot after pounding shot at the Cylon Basestars. As the Leonosian ships turned to present their portside they fired out a wall of golden flak which splintered against the surging missiles, crushing many but not all. Being Colony Defence Fleet ships, these ships didn't have the same strength armour belt or the full munitions silos that a Colonial Fleet ship had. Constantly these few ships moved forward placing themselves between the civilian ships which were loading as many evacuees as possible, the docked reserves, and the Cylon ships. And from the Anchorage, a vast wall of flak went up broken in many places by sectors of guns which were down due to the Virus, even as the few heavy guns opened up on the Cylon ships.

The result of this battle had already been decided as the hacked Colonial ships went up in nuclear fire. Then the reinforcements started to arrive, first the Cygnus III Class Hood which as soon as it arrived was hit by the Virus and started venting its crew, then the Berserk Class Mystic arrived. Older, one of the oldest ships in the Colonial Fleet, the Mystic was one of just 5% of Colonial Fleet ships which lacked both networks and the CNP, as such the Cylon Virus passed it by without incident. No sooner had she arrived and saw the outnumbered Leonis Mk-V Vipers which were falling fast due to the vast odds against them, the Commander of the Mystic opened fire on the Cylon Basestars, but Admiral Kearns transmitted "Commander, hold your Vipers and clear their networks. Break any networks you have immediately and form up with my fleet, I am taking command. Only together can we hope to protect the anchorage long enough for aid to arrive."

Even as the transmission went out, more ships arrived, these being specially designated Colonial Fleet Battlestars. As he saw these two ships arrive and his ship buffeted from a missile impact, Admiral Kearns knew what would happen as the Cylon signal went out. But what he expected didn't happen.

The Colonial Fleet Jupiter II Class Training Battlestar Basilisk and the Aeneas Class Training Battlestar Warspite being part of the protected reserves didn't have the CNP yet, nor did they have full complements of Mk-VII's or fully trained crews. What they did have was guns, lots of guns and a lot more fearful cadets assisted by experienced instructors who fired those guns. With these Battlestars were several squadrons of Mk-VI Vipers reserved for the latter stages of unassisted pilot training in addition to their MK-VIIs. The battle had begun as the Cylons targeted them and unleashed an immediate score of nuclear missiles.

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

VULCAN SYSTEM

THE FORGE R&D ANCHORAGE

COMMANDER FRED JOHNSON'S OFFICE

16:23

"Once Noah returns I will let him know and we may be able to sort something out, however Sam, I just can't authorise the upgrade without Noah's approval," Commander Fred Johnson informed the woman opposite him.

Chief Sam Rosenburgh wasn't to be put off, "Oh please, the old man is going to be gone for another four days. By the time he gets back I could halve the energy lost just powering the docks. You are the station commander, you can make it work. Consider the money just going up in smoke we could be putting towards getting better modelling systems."

Holding his hand up to forestall any further argument, Fred replied "I have Sam, but it isn't that simple. Upgrades to the Forge of the type you are suggesting requires both myself and Admiral Hudson signing off on them. If something goes wrong then it's my ass on the line."

"When have I ever let you down?"

At that moment the intercom buzzed just as an alarm started blaring placing the station at condition one. Ignoring the intercom, Fred instead rushed from his desk out of the double doors and into the CIC with Chief Rosenberg on his heels. "Colonel Drummer, status?"

Colonel Camina Drummer – normally third in command of the Forge after Fred and Colonel Louise Sallis whom served as the Forge's XO but was currently on the Battlestar Arion as part of the ship's trials – was currently acting XO of the Forge. Turning to the Commander as he entered, Drummer replied with her thick Tauron highlands accent "A runner from Virgon Fleet Command just jumped in, the Colonies are under attack and the Pavillion is transmitting a looped signal."

Turning to Sam, Fred said "We'll finish this later." Turning back to Drummer, he ordered "Colonel, get me a connection with the Argus, launch half our squadrons and have Raptors jumped to the Nova and any nearby friendly groups."

Drummer immediately had the orders carried out and within seconds Rear-Admiral Yao aboard the Mercury Class Battlestar Argus was on the line, "Commander, I have orders to stay and support the Forge."

"Admiral, I'm recalling…"

Before he could finish the sentence, alarms started beeping as Lieutenant Edin called out "DRADIS CONTACTS! READING 6 CYLON BASESTARS AT 217 KAROM 178, RANGE 5,800KM AND CLOSING. THEY'RE LAUNCHING RAIDERS."

Looking up at the monitors showing the star shaped contacts so incredibly close to the Valkyrie III Class Battlestar Asteria which was the furthest friendly contact from the station, Fred saw the positions of all the other Colonial ships. The Battlestar Argus on the other side of the Forge to the Cylons with 5500km separating them. Closer still was the sole Prometheus Class Battlestar Prometheus and the Moore Class Gunship Sarpedon with 2100km separating them, and the Cygnus III Class Agamemnon along with the Defender II Class Destroyer Volans at 1000km from the closest Basestar.

Even before the Cylons jumped in, Vipers from all ships were already launching, as close as the Battlestar Asteria was to the Basestars and their rapidly deploying Raiders, her Vipers were already turning to engage the Raiders even as the flak guns of the Valkyrie-III opened fire chewing up dozens of Raiders. This flak was joined by the Asteria's heavy guns which opened fire on the central section of the closest Basestar, a series of lucky shots breaching the open hangar doors from which two Heavy Raiders had been deploying, both Heavy Raiders being instantly destroyed by these shots causing a handful of secondary explosions within the vast hangar into which more and more shots were being fired. Then, everything changed. Rather than risk the destruction of the Basestar as this weakness was exploited, a Raider opened its visor, a flash of red strobed across the Vipers and the Battlestar Asteria, and the Colonists lost control of their own ships. Vipers drifted as computers shut down along with the engines, the Asteria's thrusters flickered throwing her off course, her guns falling silent, and then gasps of escaping air could be seen as airlocks were opened.

The Cylons had acted to protect one of their Basestars. They had acted rashly, and because of that, the Virus only affected the Asteria and her squadrons.

Stood in the CIC watching as this happened, and with an open line to Rear-Admiral Yao, Commander Johnson ordered "CUT THE NETWORKS! PULL BACK THE VIPERS AND ALL SHIPS AND LAUNCH A RAPTOR TO THE NOVA ORDERING THEM TO DO THE SAME!" What he saw terrified him, without a shot fired from the Cylons, an entire Battlestar and all her Vipers had turned on their people.

On the DRADIS, Fred watched as the unaffected squadrons spun on their axis and flew as fast as they could from the Cylons but he couldn't do anything to stop the support ships Agamemnon and Volans falling to the virus as the Cylon Raiders tore towards them. One by one their airlocks opened, the zoomed in cameras of the Forge picking out a handful of bodies flying free from their ships on plumes of life giving air.

As the Cylons came in closer and a Raptor jumped away to the Nova to warn them, Rear-Admiral Yao spoke rapidly "I have 65 pilots without networks…" Fred knew she meant the Argos Air Group but before he could interrupt, she continued "…I can't send them against the Cylons without support."

By now the Battlestar Prometheus, the sole ship of her class with many of the Mercury's lines but without the dual hangars, was overcome by the Virus, their systems shutting down even while their thrusters had been pushing them as hard as they could away from the Cylons. The Sarpedon was just seconds ahead of the Prometheus but just like the Prometheus, she was hit with the Virus and her systems turned against her crew. But by now Fred had a plan to at least save some of his people.

"Admiral, land as many Vipers as you can and jump to the Nova, once your networks are down and if we are still alive jump back, if not run." Before he could say more, and with the Cylon Raiders closing ever closer, almost all power to the main systems went down. No wireless, no DRADIS, no weapons, no main lights, minimal operations. As he looked out of the windows at the armour which now covered them, Fred waited for the end as all those around him turned to stare at him in question.

And then the Cylon Virus hit the station.

Aboard the lead Cylon Basestar, a Five, Martin Doral informed his brothers and sisters, "The Forge is down, airlocks are open, it's done."

Looking up from her own console and Eight replied "And the Battlestar Argus has jumped."

"No matter, we will deal with them later, chances are they will return to the Colonies. As for now I will have the boarding teams prepared."

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

SENCATHEA SYSTEM

ORBIT OF ASTEROID VE-SENC-82413-682-VAB – UNOFFICIAL NAME SANGA'S FORTUNE

BRS AJAX

CIC

16:23

"Just how much are we talking?" Commander Teach asked Colonel Vane.

"At least 200,000 tonnes, likely more, but it is deep" replied Vane with a throaty voice.

"How deep?" Teach asked while thinking how much that Rhodium would be worth when refined

"5km. Kubera is asking for several of the biggest charges, maybe even…"

"Commander…" the tactical operator called out, "…A Colonial Fleet Runner class Raptor just jumped in…"

Looking up, Teach was about to ask what they wanted when his wireless operator called out "They've opened a transmission…Shadow Run. The Cylons have launched a large scale attack at Caprica, Tauron, Scorpia and Picon. Around 300 ships and the Pavillion is down."

"Frak! Miss Emberley, send out a transmission to all ships in the system. 'Shadow Run is in effect. I repeat, Shadow Run is in effect. All ships are to go to action stations. All mining colonies are to evacuate, and all ships except the Sawtooth are to jump to the following coordinates as soon as ready. The Sawtooth is to provide cover to those that are evacuating, the rest of us aren't waiting'." As the transmission went out, Charles Vane went over to the FTL console and started entering in the coordinates all senior members had memorised long ago before sending them out to the system. While Vane was doing this, Teach was ordering, "Flight, have Raptors jumped to all outlying ships and bases, not just Shadow Fleet, with orders to evacuate and get to the rendezvous point. Mr Dawes, how long until our miners are back aboard?"

Anderson Dawes, head of mining operations replied "ETA for the main group is 3 minutes, for the last group it will be 9 minutes."

Shaking his head, Commander Teach ordered "That's too long. Have them divert to the Isabelle Bakas mining ship, it's going to take them longer to take off."

Acknowledging the order, Dawes had it sent out.

Within a minute as the last Raptor took off heading for the mining and security ships in other systems, the flightpods retracted and the Jupiter II class converted Battlestar jumped along with a dozen other vessels in the system. Coming out of the jump in an empty area of space just beyond the Ribbon, Teach ordered "Miss Emberley, have the Wasp take up guard position. XO, transmit coordinates to the Shadow Reserves and initiate jump." Every shadow fleet company had some of the most well maintained ships of their type in the colonies, this was especially true when it came to the FTL drives. As such the majority of the ships made their jump to the Shadow Reserves within a minute as soon as they got their coordinates. The result was of course much hotter jump drives but if all went well they would have time for a cool down.

Coming out of the jump in the red planetary nebula of the Tanalay system with the Gas giant of Acerrae below them. Ahead of them the Shadow Fleet lay at rest. At first dominating the scene was the Nemean Class mobile shipyard, Aquila, looking like some vast Battlestar and easily dwarfing the biggest of all Battlestars. Within one of her two drydocks was the Jupiter Class Battlestar Fenrir, still heavily damaged after all this time despite ongoing efforts by a small repair crew on the Aquila. In the other dock was the Jupiter Class Battlestar Athena, her armour long ago replaced along with her weaponry. Outside the Aquila were the armed and armoured Hesperides Class Battlestar Acheron, Pleiades Class Battlestar Theia and the Andromeda Class Battlestar Andromeda. Nearby was a Cygnus II Class Pocket Battlestar the Walrus, two Adamant Class ships the Solano and Victoria, one Berzerk Assault Carrier Roma, two Cygnus Class Heavy Gunships the Atia and Ariadne, one Minotaur Heavy Gunship the Mandible, two Defender Class Destroyers the Scopuli and Amun-Ra, three Manticore Class Corvettes Cavalier, Charger and True Blood and 37 Celestra Class Transport Ships.

Looming above all the ships was a vast creation. Still heavily wrecked, no amount of work could fix it all, the Daedalus Class Mobile Shipyard Prometheus hung there. Rings still broken, docks still wrecked and around her structure girders fixed in place securing her weaker sections when jumping. It had taken months of effort to repair her jump drives and shore her up enough for the move. Ever since then she had been prepared for a day they all hoped would never come but which was now upon them. More jump coils had been added increasing how much power could be buffered for a jump, and with it every working computer on the station was networked and even more were added to this system thereby increasing the stations jump range to six times the range it should be. The question was, were they ready.

"Charles, let's get the Fleet ready shall we."

As transports and Raptors started to take off from the ships under his command, flashes started to light up space around them as more of the Shadow groups arrived.

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

ATHENA PATROL GROUP 1

BATTLESTAR JUNO

ADMIRAL WHITEHALL'S QUARTERS
16:24

Ever since Athena Security had bought up the Battlestar Juno, Former Fleet Admiral Whitehall had made the Juno her flagship spending more time on her than she did at the corporate office on Caprica. However as she couldn't give as much attention to commanding the ship as she wanted she had elected not to take the Commanders quarters as her own but rather one of the two dignitary quarters. Smaller than the Commander's quarters they could be described as cosy and were more along the lines of a Jupiter's XO quarters albeit with the majority of her possessions. It was from here that Hermione did most of her paperwork overseeing Athena Security, while the War Room with its large map and dedicated computers was where she ran the deployment of the various Athena Security assets from.

Now, several years after Hermione had become CEO and since the buy up of Fleet ships, Athena had one Juno Class Battlestar Juno and one Valkyrie Class Battlestar Loki, both of which had underwent hangar upgrades prior to her forced retirement from the Fleet. In addition, Athena had one Adamant Class Light Cruiser, three Kira class frigates, one Cygnus class destroyer, two Berserk class assault carriers, three Minotaur class gunships, five Manticore Class corvettes and 32 much smaller Tachi class light corvettes. The Colonial Fleet didn't rate the Tachi class as much of a threat, they were 120 metres long, crewed by 10 with a marine complement of 20 and were originally designed to support fighters and raptors with PPCs and missiles. Now they were used by most of the various security forces and Colonies as patrol craft and customs ships.

Of these 49 ships, only the Tachi class ships and the two Battlestars were fully manned by both former Fleet personnel (whether cut in the Adar downsizing, the post-armistice downsizing or retirees), as well as civilians and academy dropouts that wanted decent paying work and were happy to have on the job training after boot camp at Athena's Headquarters. Since Canceron's recession, more than half of the civilians came from there, many having lost their job whether after the crash of Plutarch-Mitchel Engineering (and the subsequent buyup of many of its assets by other corporate entities including those of the Shadow groups) or before from across the civilian sector.

Even with the two Battlestars and the Tachi class fully manned, almost every other ship was running at two thirds to three quarters crew strength as was common among corporate security fleets. It meant a change from the four shift rotation of the Colonial Fleet on these ships to a three shift pattern which decreased effectiveness towards the end of a shift.

Right now as Hermione went over her paperwork on the various ships, she saw how they were all posted across the Expanse in five patrol fleets headed by the Battlestar Juno for group one and Battlestar Loki for group two, the Adamant Class Skye for group three, the Berserk Class Vorenus for group four and the Berserk Class Spectre for group five. These groups were further broken down with ships on patrol within a short jump of the flagship. Right now group two was on a miners protection gig while groups four and five were on two convoy protection runs which was where most of their cubits came from. They didn't earn an exorbitant amount each year, and the board had cut how much they each received to 10% over what they would have received as a Rear-Admiral which was a 90%+ reduction in the previous boards pay. All the profits went back into the business and into paying a larger wage and better benefits to their crews. This had meant Athena ranked among the top 100 Companies for worker satisfaction, not that it affected share price since Athena like all shadow companies had been taken private.

Next to Hermione's desk the wall mounted phone rang. Picking it up, Hermione said "Go ahead."

On the other end Commander Josephus Miller replied, "A Raptor just jumped in from Virgon Fleet HQ. The Cylons have arrived and are hitting all of Alpha and Scorpia. No word from Corman but Nagala has ordered Shadow Run, and your commission has been reactivated at the rank of Admiral."

Sitting there as what awaited them dawned on her, Hermione was quick to reply "Thank you. Recall our patrols to the Shadow rendezvous point and get Raptors to our other groups. Have groups 2, 4 and 5 evac the miners and convoys with them. Have all personnel notified that either their commissions are being reactivated or that they are being commissioned into the Colonial Fleet. I'll be there momentarily."

Standing up, Hermione moved to her locker and removed the uniform inside before putting on the jacket and taking out the box of Admiral's epaulettes Corman had given her should one of the Shadow Plans ever be ordered. Next she moved to a safe and picked up the five envelopes held within it before taking the one marked Shadow Run and departing for the CIC.

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

VULCAN SYSTEM

THE FORGE R&D ANCHORAGE

CIC

16:28

Standing there, Commander Fred Johnson waited for the end to come as all around him was almost pitch black, but the end never came. Opening his eyes, his heart racing, he looked around, "Status?"

Away in a far corner of the room by the damage control board, a flashlight was pulled from beneath a console and lit showing the person holding it to be Chief Rosenberg, a fearful expression on her face even as she pushed past it. "I took a chance and shut down the station and vented our O2 reserves from the airlocks. We should look like we've been hacked but it won't take them long to find out we haven't been."

While other Commanders might have been angry at being made so vulnerable to a possible follow up nuclear assault, Fred was instead grateful since he knew they were vulnerable already. "Can we clear the networks?"

"Not fast enough. We can isolate comms and maybe DRADIS but that's it. But we can load new software."

Shaking his head, Fred replied "How do you know it's the software?"

"Because each ship had a completely different network design and yet they all went down the same way in the same time frame. Whatever software it is must have a backdoor. But our people double-checked every single line of each programme two weeks ago, in those two weeks only two programmes have received fleetwide updates which we haven't yet checked since they weren't passed through the Forge first but instead Scorpia. Those are the Cicero Antivirus and the CNP, and it can't be…"

"…Cicero since the Prometheus had our own antiviral software," Fred finished. The Battlestar Prometheus had always been incompatible with a full installation of the Cicero Antivirus due to the network design and so rather than pay extra for a modified version for just the one ship, the Forge had instead created their own at a fraction of the cost. Looking at Sam, Fred ordered "Whatever you need to do, do it."

With that, Sam started gathering up some of her people and replied to Fred, "Since whatever code the Cylons are sending out didn't hit us I should be able to clear the CNP and get an archived software in its place in twenty minutes." Turning to some of the people she had gathered with her, Sam started calling out orders to them.

Looking around towards Colonel Drummer, Fred ordered "Drummer, since we haven't been nuked yet, we have to assume the Cylons want what we've got on this station, so I say we give it to them. I want all our marines and anyone trained to fire a gun ready to hold off boarders. Pull back all non-essential people to the disaster pods and give them firearms. Have our Chiefs disable the CNP in all our remaining Vipers and Raptors and have them loaded into the tubes but DO NOT LAUNCH. I want a squadron of those Raptors ready to jump to every colony and anchorage telling them the CNP is fracked. And prepare to set self-destruct. If we can't hold the station, then we won't let the toasters gain it."

Nodding, Drummer started passing the orders about.

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

SURTUR SYSTEM

BSG 33 Patrol 1

Mercury Class Battlestar Enterprise

CIC

16:29

"How bad?" Commander Cena asked his XO as he heard just how bad things were with the echoing sound of distant gunfire even reaching the CIC.

Colonel Sematimba replied, "At least a 100, possibly 150 Centurions. Our marines are being overwhelmed, some of these centurions seem to have tougher armour than the others but we can't tell until it's too late. Right now we've lost the Port Flightpod, and are only just managing to hold section 1 and 2 of the Starboard hangars. They are pushing hard for aft damage control with around 50 centurions, another 50 are pushing straight for CIC and the rest are spreading throughout the rest of the ship in 5 squads gunning down everyone in their way. We've already lost at least 200 possibly 300."

"Frak…" thinking, Cena ordered, "I want all the crew armed, and aft damage control to be destroyed if we can't hold it. As soon as wireless is back up and running I want a general distress broadcast, in the meantime as soon as a Raptor is ready I want it launched. We need help."

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

EMPTY SPACE, 1.2LY FROM SYSTEM VE-18-370

SHADOW RENDEZVOUS POINT 11

ATHENA SECURITY BATTLESTAR JUNO

ADMIRAL WHITEHALL

16:32

Within minutes of receiving communication regarding the Cylon invasion into Colonial space along with the reactivation of their commissions or their conscription, the Battlestar Juno was at as full readiness as was possible for the former colonial warship. As she sat at Shadow Rendezvous Point 11, deep within the Expanse and distant from any star system, one by one the ships belonging to Group 1 started to arrive.

Pouring over the information management table showing a map of the Expanse which was being rapidly updated with unit positions even as she was preparing orders, Whitehall looked up as the DRADIS beeped in alert. Even as she saw the newly arrived Raptor she had sent out scouting just one minute previously, the comms officer announced "Broken Castle! Admiral, Jaybird reports that Titan Point is under heavy Cylon attack from Eight Basestars. BSG-56 has been destroyed. Contact has been lost with the headquarters and around half the guns are down across the anchorage. Admiral Kearns with Leonis Battlegroup 2 is currently reinforcing them along with ships belonging to the training fleet."

"Gods we're surrounded...Commander, I want Raptors dispatched to Group 2, they are to abandon previous objectives and immediately proceed to the closest shadow anchorage for resupply before joining us at Titan Point. Have three more Raptors prepared for launch, and I want all our ships prepared to immediately jump to Titan Point's defence." As he moved to carry out the orders, Whitehall pressed a button on the information management table opening a channel to the fleet while typing out a message on a tac pad, "This is the Admiral, I have received word that Titan Point is under heavy Cylon attack and that BSG-56 has been lost. They have a Broken Castle situation and are being overrun. We are about to go to Titan Point's defence and will be in battle as soon as we exit the jump. For many of you this will be the first time you have engaged in a battle of the scale we are about to face. Make no mistake, these are no pirates, many of you will indeed not see out this day, but the people at Titan Point need us, the Fleet needs us, the Colonies need us. What's more we need those docked reserves. Remember your training and remember what you are fighting for and we will survive this. May the Gods watch over us."

Deactivating the comm, Whitehall passed the pad to the Commander while ordering, "Have this sent to the three prepared Raptors. They are to make all haste to Picon HQ, Virgon HQ and Leonis HQ. They are to stop for absolutely nothing, it is vital that this message gets through."

"Understood, sir," Commander Josephus Miller replied as he ensured the orders were sent to the Raptors which were currently waiting on the deck.

A minute later the fleet jumped.

VITRUVIAN EXPANSE

VULCAN SYSTEM

THE FORGE

16:37

One by one, seven Heavy Raptors coasted in towards the main hangar of the seemingly dead Forge, between them all 60 Centurions and 10 members of the significant seven models. The attack on the Forge hadn't gone as the Cylons were expecting, their orders had been to wait until the Battlestar Group had all launched their Vipers and gotten into engagement range, however after the daring assault by the Battlestar Asteria on one of their Basestars, the Cylons had been forced to end the Asteria before she ended their now crippled Basestar. However, none of the rest of the Battlestar Group had been in range which meant that the Battlestar Argus had managed to escape which could prove a problem for later.

Three of the Basestars had since been recalled to Titan Point Fleet Anchorage after an unexpected but not overpowering amount of non-networked reinforcements had shown up.

But now, as the Heavy Raptors coasted towards the vast station and finally set down on the main flightdeck, they were ready to take possession of the station which they had never been able to infiltrate, as well as its secrets which they had been unable to steal.

Appearing in a series of bright flashes came the Jupiter II Class Battlestar Ajax, the Valkyrie Class Battlestar Xena, and the Saturn Class Battlestar Icarus. With them were 2 Adamant Carriers, 1 Defender Class Destroyer, 2 Manticore Corvettes, 1 Cygnus Class Heavy Gunship, 4 Minotaur Heavy Gunships, 3 Impala Class Fast Attack Corvettes and 5 Tachi Class Fast Attack Corvettes. None of them Colonial Fleet. The Battlestars were under-armed, undermanned, and under-armoured, the same with most of the support ships but together they represented a significant threat, especially to the Cylons due to these ships lack of networks.

Looking up at the DRADIS showing the three Cylon Basestars and hundreds of Raiders holding position near the Forge along with the wrecks of the R&D Fleet. Even while the tactical officer, Major Jasmine Adar called out the information, Rear-Admiral Edward Teach was already seeing how the Forge was shut down with seven Heavy Raiders moving to land on it.

Teach activated the fleet-wide com and ordered, "All ships launch all Vipers and prepare Raptors for boarding actions on the Forge, we need to get her up and running. Ajax and Icarus along with the Minotaurs are to take up position between the Forge and the Basestars. Commander Castor, take the Xena, the Adamants, the Atia, and the Gaia down the left flank and hit Basestar Alpha. Go fast and hard. Commander Menzies, take the Manticores and the Fast Attack Corvettes down the right flank and target Basestar Gamma. My group will target Basestar Beta, remember we need to end this fast."

With his orders being carried out, Teach turned to his XO, "Charles, dispatch half of Ajax's squadrons to protect the Forge and make sure they take out the Heavy Raiders."

As the newly arrived fleet broke into three with the slowest and heaviest ships taking a guard position in front of the anchorage, the fastest ships taking off down the right flank and the next fastest taking off down the left flank, Vipers started to fire out from their tubes. Unlike the vulnerable, heavily networked Mk-VIIs the Colonial Fleet used, these were the tried and tested MK-II, III, IV and V, each flown by a pilot let go during the cuts to the Fleet. In all 320 Vipers were being launched with another 200 being held back in reserve on their Battlestars and carriers. Against them were 260 Raiders that had already launched and another 640 which were in the process of being launched. Already the Cylons were reacting to the presence of this new fleet, missiles rapidly launching at the numerous ships while the Raiders flew as fast as they could towards what they saw as their biggest threats; the Battlestars.

In return the deck vibrated under Teach as the Ajax's weapons opened fire just as the other Battlestars were doing. These weren't the heavy main batteries which Battlestars were originally designed with, and what little armour they had wasn't what they were built to have, instead the weapons were half the strength of what they should have been with medium instead of heavy calibre batteries, and armour less than half as thick which didn't completely cover these ships. But even at half strength, these were still formidable ships.

Far away as the Heavy Raiders moved to land on the landing pads of the Forge, suited figures stepped forth from the numerous open airlocks, airlocks which had been left open to fool the Cylons into believing the station had been vacated of air when in fact the inner airlock doors were kept closed. Carefully these numerous suited figures lifted tubes to their shoulders, and with mag-boots dialled up to their highest settings, they fired. From the tubes, numerous RPG's and rockets fired out on plumes of burning propellant, streaking forward and slamming into the Heavy Raiders. Bucking under the blows, every one taking at least three hits, each Heavy Raider came apart in clouds of fire induced shrapnel or crashed to the deck in burning pyres. Not taking a chance, around 50 suited Marines rushed forth from the airlocks, each carrying heavy weapons to take out any Centurions which survived the downing of their ships.

On board the Ajax, within the CIC, Major Adar called out, "Sir, I'm getting some strange readings from the Forge…there's survivors sir, they've just taken out the Heavy Raiders."

Teach looked over about to ask her to confirm it when the comm officer Ensign Lyons called out "Sir, I'm getting a tight-beam transmission from the Forge, they're alive sir, their codes are verified," Long ago it had been decided that the Shadow Fleet would receive the recognition codes for every ship and Commanding officer in the Colonial Fleet.

Picking up the phone, Teach spoke, "This is Ajax Actual, Rear-Admiral Teach speaking. To whom am I speaking?"

"Ajax, this is Commander Johnson, CO of the Forge. Thank the Gods you turned up. We had to shut down the station when we figured we were vulnerable to the Cylon hacking. You need to get a ship to the Colonial Fleet and warn them the CNP has a backdoor."

"Charles, send Raptors back to the colonies and anchorages immediately with the intel" Teach ordered his XO. "Commander I am here on the orders of Admiral Nagala as a reactivated Fleet officer. What's your status?" Looking up at the DRADIS, Teach saw one of the Impala's – the Indus – go down from a succession of missiles, as well as one of the Manticores – the Whirlwind – taking a nuke which crippled it causing her to fall behind adrift. In return Basestar Gamma was taking a heavy beating from the remaining ships in that group.

"We are installing archived software in place of the CNP and we are isolating the wireless and DRADIS from our network in case of further hacking attempts, but that's going to leave our guns blind until its complete" the deep voice of Commander Johnson replied. "We also sent away the Argus to join the Nova when we realised she was vulnerable…"

As the Vipers were heavily engaged by the Raiders which outnumbered them, Basestar Alpha already heavily damaged from the earlier battle, finally succumbed to the combined firepower, of the small attack force.

"Commander, I want you to continue to play dead, I don't think the Cylons realise it was you that took out their landing craft. I also need you to start powering up your jump coils, and be ready to jump to the coordinates I am sending you exactly when either I or another of my commanders order you to should I become incapacitated. It is vital you do not jump earlier."

Above him the DRADIS started beeping as four more Cylon Basestars jumped into the system on his group's right flank. "Icarus, Asgard and Komodo, turn to engage Basestar Epsilon, move in close and focus your fire. Thorny Devil and Circassian follow the Ajax in on Basestar Delta. Commander Castor, have the Atia and the Gaia focus on Basestar Beta, and your Adamants finish off Alpha while you bring the Battlestar Xena down the middle and hit Basestar Zeta from the rear…" A quick succession of missiles connected with the bow of the Ajax pounding away at her far weaker armour and throwing the ship about before they could reposition to bring the flak fields into effect. As the main DRADIS array took a series of significant hits, the DRADIS blanked out for a few seconds and returned to show that the Tachi Class Little Belt and Piranha were expanding clouds of debris. But what was more concerning were the hundreds of rapidly deploying Raiders from this new group as well as ten nukes on approach to his group from the new Basestar group.

"Evasive manoeuvres, turn to bring the flak guns into full effect. Flight, recall our Vipers and move them to engage the new Raiders." Beneath him the Ajax seemed to lift as more power was thrown into the engines turning her even more to starboard while still trying to bring as many of their main guns to strike at the distant Basestars. But as the missiles drew closer, he saw that they weren't targeting the Ajax but were instead focused on the weaker Saturn Class Battlestar Icarus. As quick as they could, the flak guns tore their way through these nukes, and yet still, one got through and struck against the Icarus. An instant was all it took, a star brighter than anything you could imagine was born against the alligator head and a second later as it died away, entire sections of the hull of the Battlestar were fracturing and breaking away, and the old Battlestar was left drifting forward under numerous secondary explosions.

As if in revenge, the left flanking group of the Adamants Vesta and Wolf tore apart what was left of Basestar Alpha followed seconds later by Basestar Gamma as the right flanking group of fast attack craft tore her apart. The Cygnus Class Atia and Defender Class Gaia meanwhile were moving into blocking positions against Basestar Beta while firing out their heaviest weapons, the dumbfire missiles of the Atia slamming themselves into the hangars of the Basestar in the hopes of secondary explosions even as the heavy gun turrets focused on the missile ports of the Basestar. In return the Basestar was firing four times as many mostly dumb missiles at the two warships, twice as fast.

Across the centre of the battlefield, the Valkyrie Class Battlestar Xena accelerated hard as she fired out pounding shot after pounding shot from her main batteries at the distant Basestar Zeta which dragged the focus of this Basestar from Teach's group. Turning hard to join her was Commander Menzies group of six remaining fast attack Corvettes.

Focusing back on the battle his own group was engaged in, Teach saw how the Minotaur Class Komodo was taking crippling damage as the Cylon Raiders launched by this new group tore chunks out of her since she lacked flak cannons that would have kept them at bay. She was going to fall, Teach knew it, and even if she didn't, the damage she was taking was too severe. By now half of the Ajax's squadrons had made it back to cover his ships, these squadrons being joined by eighty stripped Mk-VIIs launched from the Forge. "Flight, move three squadrons to cover the Komodo. Commander Furnia evacuate your crew and set your reactors to overload and set a ramming course for Basestar Epsilon." He hated selling away a ship so easily but he couldn't save her. "Commander Lucretius, move the Asgard behind the Ajax."

Even with the viper cover, the Komodo was still being swarmed by the Raiders which vastly outnumbered the colonial forces. Two transports flew out of her small rear hangar a minute later, one being picked apart by dozens of Raiders like a swarm of wasps. But as the group led by the Ajax focused their might on Basestar Delta, their shots ripping apart her armour and drilling holes into her, the Komodo accelerated ahead even as one of her thrusters choked and died. Across the battlefield, a bright light lit up space as the Defender class destroyer Gaia took a nuke to her portside, her thin armour failing to stop its power meaning within a second she became an expanding ball of gas, fire and debris and in her heart a blackened wreck.

It was a short lived victory for the Cylons though as the Cygnus Class Atia, already down two main guns, finally hit the reserve tylium tanks for Basesar Beta causing the stored fuel to show its highly volatile nature and tear the Basestar apart from the inside out. Wounded the Atia turned, racing to join up with the Battlestar Xena, two Adamants, one manticore, two Impala's and three Phobos' in their attack on Basestar Zeta.

Closer to home, the Komodo was finally destroyed by a swarming Raider attack unleashing hundreds of missiles upon her, the explosions causing her corpse to fly off course missing Basestar Epsilon, but the combined firepower of Teach's group finally took out Basestar Delta.

Two diamonds of light lit up space behind the three remaining Basestars and out of them, accelerating as if under the power of Hermes himself, came the Colonial Fleet Mercury Class Battlestar Argus and the Colonial R&D Fleet Nova Class Battlestar Nova. Their Raptors having jumped in minutes previously while the last of the weakest links in their networks were severed, they knew that they had a chance to avenge those who had lost their lives here. Accelerating forward while they launched all of their Vipers, these ships fired everything they had from their main batteries, clustering their shots in the centre of these surprised Cylon ships, destroying two of their FTL's before they could jump away. Raiders turning to engage them and fire off their Virus were met with empty silence joined by the sound of the angry guns of the Viper force led by Argos Air Group. Four nukes lifting off from the Battlestar Nova, accelerating hard across empty space towards Basestars Eta and Theta.

Hit from two sides, Basestar Zeta finally went up in a rolling debris filled explosion followed seconds later by secondary explosions destroying Basestar Epsilon. Of the four nukes, three were taken down by Raiders, while the last one bloomed to life against Basestar Theta tearing one of her arms off in the explosion and crippling the mighty ship. The Nova, Argus and Xena along with the fast attack corvettes focused on Basestar Eta while the Ajax and the remaining Minotaurs focused on finishing off Theta. The fresh 320 Vipers the Nova brought plus the 262 the Argus brought (having managed to land other ships vipers before she left) led by Argos Air Group started to beat back the Raiders which were already starting to run low on ammunition, their arrival giving relief to those pilots that needed to land. Within a minute the last two Basestars fell to the withering assault of the fleet, but not without loss as two squadrons of Raiders managed to disable the Impala Class Undaunted, and the Minotaur Class Thorny Devil suffered several internal explosions around her thrusters crippling them after a missile strike on a broken section of dorsal armour.

Without orders, the remaining Raiders fought until their ammunition ran out, but the majority were outmatched by the Colonial Viper Pilots long before that. Those few that remained eventually left.

Letting out a breath with the battle over for now, Teach ordered, "XO, have search and rescue craft gather up our people and have the crippled ships evacuated." Making sure he was patched into the Forge, Nova and Argus, Teach picked up his handset and spoke, "This is Ajax Actual, Rear-Admiral Teach speaking. Rear-Admiral Yao, I'm sending across a Raptor in a moment with orders from Fleet Command showing my commission was reactivated by Admiral Nagala and that I am in command of this operation despite my ships appearances." Before Yao could say anything, Teach continued, "Commander Johnson, how long exactly until you are ready to jump to the coordinates I sent you?"

A moment later, Fred's voice replied "Another 8 minutes, it's a big jump. We're pumping everything we've got directly into the coils. If we didn't have Daedalus's old coils too then we would never make it."

Looking down at his folder with mission specific orders, Teach replied, "Why do you think the Admiralty pushed for them to be installed on the Forge? Charles, send a runner back to Shadow Point Alpha. They are mission go in ten minutes." Focusing back on the Colonial Fleet personnel, Teach continued "Okay, here's the plan…"

TO BE CONTINUED…

Well that was the Battle of the Forge. Have you worked out what the plan for her is yet?

As you have read I've introduced more characters from the Expanse in this chapter as well as the Tachi class fast attack corvette based off the Rocinante from the show although technology on board is changing to be more in line with BSG. This fic will be more BSG focused than anything else.

Another chapter should be going up later today which will be focused on the epic Battle of Titan Point and will include a certain gunnery sergeant.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.