It's been ages but I felt like doing some more of this story so I hope you all enjoy

Part 9

The destroyers and carriers of the Earth Fleet slowly moved through space with support ships moving between the carriers as they prepared for deployment they were travelling through a supernova remnant several light years from Earth. In the centre of the fleet sat the fleet flagship the HMS Illustrious, one of Earth's many John F Kennedy-class Fleet Carriers, in the armoured control tower Field Marshal Edward Trent sat in the command chair. He was in his early fifties his full head of hair had turned grey while his moustache was grey and black while his uniform was impeccably maintained.

Beside the chair stood the ship's Captain a younger man with a full head of dark hair. "I didn't expect to see you back out here, Field Marshal, it's been a while" Charles Hague said trying to keep the conversation light.

"I'm sorry Charlie, I know this is your boat, I haven't earned this command you've done well with the Illustrious in multiple engagements but fleet wanted someone that all the Commonwealth nations knew and someone that the Americans would respect." He saw the younger man bristle a little bit but remain quiet "I know it sucks but it's what we're left with."

"Yes sir, I understand." He replied moments later an alarm sounded indicating sensor contact. Charlie Hague stepped forward and inspected the readings over the shoulder of one of the crewmen. "Unknown sensor contact, extreme range, there are no wormholes out that way."

"The Chigs?"

"Lots of ECM we'll have to get closer to confirm the type of ship."

"Have fleet continue dead slow." Trent said glancing at one of the displays "but have RSS Endurance and RSS Persistence move ahead of the fleet and challenge, we need to see what's out there." On the screen two of the Singapore Naval Destroyers which escorted the Commonwealth fleet accelerated forwards.

"Should we launch fighters?" Hague asked but the Field Marshal shook his head not wanting to waste the fighters fuel on nothing. Instead they watched as the two ships approached the contacts their C3 (Command, Communications and Control) systems feeding information back into the Illustrious' Battle computers. The data indicated the two ships were identical and were composed of two large domes which were facing away from each other, one on the top of the ship while the other was on the bottom, and connected by a central core structure. "Definitely not a Chig contact, First Contact?"

"Possibly, have Endurance and Persistence maintain their distance from target. Open communications" Trent ordered Hague turned to him a moment later and nodded. "This is Field Marshal Edward Trent representing the British Commonwealth Fleet of Earth, we mean you no hostile intent. Please respond in a way you are most comfortable with." He said there were several tense moments without anything happening meanwhile the distance between the two fleets was closing. Then suddenly steams of weapons fire were detected from the two ships targeting the two Earth destroyers within moments both ships and over one thousand lives were gone.

"Battle stations! All ships return fire! Launch Sparrowhawk fighters!" Hague commanded immediately taking command of the ship's operational battle. From the underside of the carrier, and the other ships in the fleet, dozens of fighters began to launch. The Commonwealth shared a single type of aerospace fighter the Sparrowhawk, like the American's SA-43 Hammerhead Exo-Atmospheric attack jet, the aircraft was designed to support Commonwealth naval ships and ground forces that may be deployed from them the design differed significantly from the Hammerhead however. Based on the Delta-wing concept of aircraft design the Sparrowhawk had two large wings that extended from the middle of the craft all the way to the twin tailed and engine rear. The rear tail fins were at a 45-degree angle giving additional control and stability while at the front of the craft two smaller wings gave additional control. Armament the Sparrowhawks also differed from the Hammerhead unlike its large "spray-and-prey" cannon the Commonwealth craft were armed with two cannons which were mounted one under each of the main wings. These weapons could be fired in both the forward and rear directions giving the aircraft a defence in all situations. On the top of each of the main wings there were also two external ordinance pylons each of which carried three anti-ship missiles. For atmospheric operations the craft could also carry bombs under the main fuselage.

"Why didn't out ship's point defence protect them?" Trent demanded looking at the data as more weapons fire now targeted the main fleet. Earth's own missiles and pulse cannons were also now targeting the enemy fleet causing damage to the ships.

"Analysis suggests these torpedoes follow a different speed and trajectory of Chig weapons." Hague suggested as the Illustrious itself was damaged by weapons fire. "Our point defence isn't configured to counter them; we'll have to take down the system for at least a minute to reconfigure on all ships."

"Reconfigure point defence! Command fighters to engage the enemy and enemy torpedoes of they are able." Trent ordered as he did the Sparrowhawk formations were already surging forwards as they did enemy fighters from either side of the enemy disks swarmed in engaging the Earth fighters with huge numbers. "Have gunnery crews continue to engage capital ships!" He ordered as another escorting destroyer exploded taking with it another five hundred lives.

"They are sir, but each time they do damage the enemy ships appear to rotate a little and present new armour."

"Then it's a slugging match Charlie, we just have to hope our superior numbers of ships can counter them until our point defence reconfigures!" Trent ordered as enemy torpedoes impacted along Illustrious' upper hull with the last one slamming into the armoured control tower.

For a moment the ship appeared to whether the impact of the explosive but then the tower exploded outwards as the hull failed. For a moment the Illustrious lurched in space diving out of formation but then it began to regain control as auxiliary control centres took over. Across Earth fleet capital ships and fighters continued to battle and die as the two fleets engaged each other.

In open space a single planet at the heart of a radioactive nebula the Battlestar Galactica emerged from its faster-than-light jump and angled its course towards the planet. As Viper fighters launched from the Galactica other ships from the smallest colonial transport ship to the massive Battlestar Pegasus emerged from their own jumps. As the fleet closed on the planet shuttles began to head towards the planet's surface, some would be tasked to harvesting the algae which was on the planet using it to help replenish the fleet's food stuffs and would be under the command of newly promoted Icarus officer Major Karl Agathon. While another team would search for a clue to the path that would take them to earth and this would be commanded by Colonel TC McQueen. For this operation the Icarus would land on the planet's surface and the remaining Wildcards would assist ground forces due to their experience operating on planetary surfaces.

"Admiral, we're receiving data from the star, it appears to be fluctuating in heat output it doesn't appear to be immediately dangerous." Dee reported from her station Admiral Adama and Colonel Tigh stood at the central planning table as they listened.

"Continue to monitor, we hopefully will not be here long anyway." Adama said Tigh nodded the harvesting of the algea wouldn't be a rapid process but with the numbers they were sending down it should be sufficient for a quick job.

"Oh to feel the heat of the sun would be nice" Tigh said quietly thinking back to New Caprica.

"You could go down, I'm sure McQueen and Helo would appreciate the help…"

"Ha!" Tigh laughed taking a step in one direction then turning back "McQueen knows what he's doing and it's Helo's first command I wouldn't want to step on his toes."

On the surface Karl "Helo" Agathon was standing in one of the tents they'd use as accommodation while on the planet. The Icarus had grounded several kilometres to the east and the marines, including the Wildcards, were beginning their own search for the Thirteenth Tribe's "Eye of Jupiter" which they believed was an artificial construction they had detected from orbit.

"We'll store the algea in those containers which will be collected by the Earth APC's" Helo said to the others that were standing there. "Work shifts will be six hours on eight hours off for all personnel. We haven't seen any indication of a hostile force but we could have animals on planet that could be a threat so I want sentries on all camp entrances." He ordered before dismissing them the only one to remain was Lt Sharon Agathon his wife.

"First briefing went well, Major" she said winking to him.

"Why thank you Lieutenant" he said "it's not much but I think we can make something of it."

"And Hera can enjoy some of the fresh air" she said crossing over the area to their daughter who was inside a play pen in the corner of the tent.

"It's certainly doesn't hurt, after all that time being able to visit New Caprica whenever we wanted to back on ship life is some change." He agreed moving over to join his wife and daughter "and we can do something to help the fleet."

"Hopefully everything goes to plan"

"When has that ever happened?" Helo asked laughing as he did. They both knew that what he was saying was true but that they'd come through it together.

In the air above them a pair of Hammerhead fighters flew Combat-Air-Patrol over the fleet. In the lead fighter was Captain Kara "Starbuck" Thrace while in the aircraft behind was Captain Louanne "Kat" Katraine neither of them were seasoned Hammerhead pilots but both had taken basic flight lessons with the Wildcards and other Earth personnel and knew how to handle the heavy fighter. They had taken the Hammerheads from Galactica because they handled atmospheric flight far better than the Viper consuming a lot less fuel compared to their normal aircraft.

"I don't know how they fly these things all the time, they are so slow." Kat complained perhaps for the tenth time since their launch.

"But they can take some hits and keep going" Starbuck pointed out "and they are quite forgiving."

"You don't need a forgiving fighter if you're a decent pilot" Kat retorted back. Kat was a hotshot pilot originally trained by Starbuck to fill space on Galactica following an accident that killed many pilots she had shown she had natural skill with the Viper and had proven herself to be a leader of pilots.

"For once I can't disagree with you, Katraine" Starbuck agreed. The two of them had been rivals since Kat had been signed off to fly Vipers solo and rarely did they see eye-to-eye.

"Tally, Tally, target on the right!" Kat called out banking her Hammerhead to the right with Starbuck mimicking the move "your old eyes missing things Starbuck?" They were thirty kilometres from the colonial settlement but there shouldn't be anything of interest.

"Funny" Starbuck snapped focusing on what she was seeing the "target" was a sight to behold. Laying ahead of them was the crumpled remains of Cylon Baseship which had crashed on the surface and fallen into a canyon. The three upper "arms" of the ship were broken and laying on the ground beside the ship while the bottom part of the ship appeared to have been compacted and ripped to pieces as the ship crashed. "Starbuck to Galactica, we've got a problem"

"Starbuck, Galactica Actual, report" Adama said from the CIC of the Galactica.

"Sir, we've got what appears to be a Cylon Baseship which has crashed on a canyon floor." Starbucks said flying over the wreck "we're approximately forty kilometres from the main landing point. No sign of life down there."

"Galactica Actual to fighters, return to Galactica, we are changing position to monitor until ground teams can make their way to target."

"Copy that Galactica, fancy a walk Katraine?" she asked as the two fighters pulled up heading back to Galactica.

"You planning on getting yourself added to the ground team."

"Bet your ass!" She confirmed.