Mike Campbell paced the corridors of the Battlestar Orion. He wanted to speak to the Commander, he knew what he wanted to say but he was scared how she would react. He walked past her quarters for the fifth time but this time he stopped and reached out to knock on the door but stopped himself. He took a deep breath and before he realised what he was doing, he had knocked on the door. Moments later Commander Garrett opened the door and smiled. Her arm in a sling as it healed from her operation and her face was starting to heal from the beatings.
"Mike what can I do for you?" she asked.
"May I speak with you please Commander?" he stuttered.
"Of course, please come in." Vanessa replied.
Mike walked into the large quarters and closed the door behind him.
"Please sit, can I get you a drink?" she asked with a smile.
"Water please." He replied.
Moments later she handed him a glass and he took a sip from it.
"So what can I do for you?" she asked as she sat down.
"I've wanted to come and see you since you've been back, but I'm afraid it would appear, I'm more of a coward than I thought." he took a moment to compose himself before continuing, "Commander what happened to you was my fault, I can never forgive myself for what they did to you and I wanted to say that I am so very very sorry."
"How is any of this your fault?" she asked, genuine surprise in her voice.
"I knew the coordinates of the planets all along. If I had only asked Colonel Johnson or Captain Reynolds what had been deleted at the start, we could have come and saved you and none of this would have happened."
"What happened to me wasn't your fault. Bojay told me everything that happened and I don't blame you. I blame Galen Hunter and I put him in the ground. Mike if it wasn't for you then Orion may have never found us and I would still be there or I would be dead. So thank you and please don't blame yourself. You helped save me." Vanessa smiled as she finished speaking.
"Thank you." Mike said quietly.
"You're welcome. Now I don't want to hear any more of you blaming yourself, do you understand me?" Vanessa said.
"Yes ma'am." Mike replied.
Carrie sat next to her brother. He was still on a ventilator after being shot by their father. She hadn't left the Medstar in the week he had been there. He had come through the worst of it now and was starting to heal, the doctors were planning on waking him up within the next couple of days. She looked up and smiled as Skeeter and Vannick walked into the room.
"Good morning." Skeeter said with a smile.
"Hey." Carrie replied.
"Any news?" Vannick asked.
"He's progressing well and they're planning on waking him soon." Carrie replied.
"That's good news." Skeeter said sitting down next to the bed.
"Have you thought about getting off this ship and getting some proper sleep?" Vannick asked.
"I'm sleeping fine, there is a perfectly good bed here. I just have to stay till he wakes up." Carrie replied.
"You know he wouldn't want you to run yourself into the ground." Skeeter said.
"I said I'm fine." Carrie snapped back, "I'm sorry. I'm just so scared something might happen and if I'm not here."
"Hey he's going to be fine." Skeeter replied.
"I know." Carrie replied.
"Hey Darius you okay you look like you've seen a ghost?" Skeeter said.
"The girl who was just pushed past the door in a wheel chair she just looked really really familiar." Vannick replied, "Excuse me I'll be right back."
Vannick left the room. The girl didn't just look familiar she was the spitting image of his old girlfriend. They had had a child with when they were fifteen. As she was wheeled into a treatment room Vannick walked up to the nurse that had been walking with her.
"Excuse me, the girl who just went in there what's her name?" Vannick asked.
"And you are?" the nurse replied.
"Sergeant Darius Vannick from Orion. She looks like someone I used to know a long time ago."
The nurse looked at him for a few moments, "Her name is Jenny Rhodes."
"Can I ask what's wrong with her?" Vannick asked.
"I shouldn't tell you this but she has kidney failure. She was on the Medlia, luckily they found us just in time so we could help her. But she needs a transplant and if she doesn't get one soon then she's not going to make it." The nurse replied.
This hit Vannick like a lead weight. His mother's family had a history of kidney issues and this had happened to at least three members of his family that he knew of down the years.
"Test me to see if I'm compatible." Vannick said.
"The chances of you being compatible are very slim." The nurse replied.
"Please." Vannick pleaded.
"Why? You don't even know the girl." The nurse said.
"Because I think she's my daughter."
The Scopestar Medlia jumped into a nearby system from the fleet. The advanced ship was now more fully staffed than it had been before. Major Adam "Short Stack" Lewthwaite smiled as he walked onto the ships CIC. He remembered the first time he had seen this part of the ship and it had reminded him of something from a science fiction movie. He walked up to the dradis console and was greeted by his new XO Lieutenant Aaron Brown who had once been the communications officer aboard the Battlestar Olympus.
"Good morning major." Aaron said.
"Good morning. How have things been?" Short Stack replied.
"We've just arrived at our second jump point. Scans are underway to see if there is anything we can use." Aaron said.
"Dradis contact." The ships A.I known as Ghost said, "We have multiple Cylon contacts on the edge of long range dradis."
"Ghost have we been seen?" Short Stack asked.
"Negative," Ghost replied, "We are currently out of known Cylon dradis range. If we do not stop, we will enter their sensor range in 110 seconds."
"Bring us to a full stop and make sure the FTL is ready. Take as many scans as you can and then get us the hell out of here." Short Stack said.
"Yes Major." Ghost replied.
"You know it's going to take me a while to get used to a ship run by an A.I." Aaron said.
"You'll get used to it," Short Stack replied with a laugh, "If it wasn't for Ghost we would have been screwed a long time ago. We may not have much in the way of weapons aboard but with him we don't need them."
"Dradis scans complete." Ghost said.
"What are we looking at?" Short Stack replied.
"Four Baseships and a larger unknown contact. It looks as though it might be some sort of space station." The A.I said.
"Okay take us back to the fleet." Short Stack ordered.
"Yes Major. All hands prepare to jump back to the fleet in 5..4..3..2..1"
Bojay read through some paperwork as he drank his morning cup of tea on Orion's CIC. Since they had left Haven behind and the 42,000 people including the Vice President Natasha Cobb who had decided to stay behind, there had been lots to do, head counts, checking supplies and what they would need and how soon they would need it. Just fewer than one hundred thousand people had stayed with the fleet. The moral in the ship despite what had been happening was surprisingly good. Knowing Archangel was on the mend had helped with that.
"Dradis contact." Lieutenant Phillips said.
"Report." Bojay replied.
"It's the Medlia, Major Lewthwaite is on the horn."
"Put him through down here." Bojay replied.
"Medlia this is Orion XO." Bojay said, "Everything okay out there?"
"Colonel we've just found what appears to be a Cylon space station with four Baseships at our second jump point." Short Stack replied.
"Were you seen?" Bojay replied.
"Negative sir, we took dradis scans and then jumped home."
"Okay get yourselves back in formation and I'll inform the Commander."
"Everything okay?" Skeeter asked as Vannick walked back into the room.
"Erm yeah, I think so." Vannick replied looking like he'd seen a ghost.
"Darius what's wrong?" Carrie asked.
"Remember I told you that when I was a kid, I had a daughter?"
"Yeah I remember." Skeeter replied.
"She's here." Vannick replied.
"Seriously? That's amazing news." Skeeter replied.
"Has she been here all this time?" Carrie asked.
Vannick shook his head, "No she was one of the students the Medlia picked up. She's in renal failure and needs a kidney."
"Oh my gods I'm so sorry." Carrie replied.
"They've tested me and they're waiting for the results to see if she can have one of mine."
"Have you spoken to her?" Skeeter asked.
Vannick shook his head again, "What would I say? Sorry you're ill and hey I'm your biological father?"
"Maybe not like that, but why not?" Skeeter replied.
"What if she doesn't know she as adopted?"
"How about you wait and see what your results are first," Carrie said, "Then make your decision after that."
"Yeah that's probably the best idea." Vannick replied as he dropped down onto a chair.
"This is a good thing." Skeeter said patting his friend on the shoulder.
"I hope so." he replied.
Commander Garrett stood with Bojay on the CIC looking at the scan data and the pictures the Medlia had taken.
"This could be good." Vanessa said.
"Good how?" Bojay replied.
"We can find out once and for all if Grace was right about the Cylons resurrection."
"And how are we going to do that? Jump in and ask them politely?" Bojay replied.
"Ha ha," Vanessa replied sarcastically, "No we jump in, hit them with EMP's, send marines onboard and capture a skin job."
"Commander with all due respect is that really a good idea?"
"When Mark wakes up do you want to be the one who tells him we didn't do all we could to see if Grace was still alive?" She asked looking at her XO.
"No." he replied.
"We have to do everything we can, like Wedge said she's one of us. Please get the Gunstar captains, Majors Lewthwaite and Hannery and the President over here as soon as possible."
"Yes ma'am." Bojay replied.
Vannick sat nervously waiting for the test results to come back. He looked up as a nurse walked over to him.
"Sergeant Vannick?" she asked.
He stood up out of the chair, "Yes."
"Okay, you are compatible with Miss Rhodes and as you thought before she is your daughter." The Nurse replied.
Vannick dropped back down into the chair.
"Sergeant are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine, it's just a shock that's all. Okay what do we do now?"
"You have to get permission from your superior officer and Commander Garrett before we can do anything."
"Okay, I'll speak to them straight away."
"Do you want Miss Rhodes to know you're her father?"
"No," Vannick replied, "Don't tell her anything yet."
"As you wish but I need to stipulate that this needs to be done sooner rather than later."
"I'll get on a shuttle immediately."
Orion's main wardroom was full of the senior officers and the president.
"With all due respect Commander you want to put us at risk to find out if a Cylon might still be alive?" Captain West asked.
"I don't give a frak what she is, at the end of the day she was a member of this crew. She has saved countless lives and we owe her this." Vanessa replied.
Captain West didn't reply.
"I have to agree with the Commander, I for one wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her." Bojay added.
"So what's your plan Commander?" Milo asked.
"We take Orion and two of the Gunstars and we hit the station and any Baseships there with EMPs. Once they are disabled we send two raptors to the station loaded with marines. One team will stay with the raptors the other will go and snag the first skin job they find and then come back."
"Won't the EMPs take out the skin jobs as well?" Captain Reynolds asked.
"I've already asked Mike Campbell that and he doesn't think they will." Vanessa replied.
"So the station will be crawling with alive skin jobs when my marines go in?" Hannery asked.
"No Major the station will be crawling with skin jobs when MY marines go in." Vanessa replied.
"This could be a good opportunity to get intel in general about the Cylons." Milo said.
"So you agree we should do this Mr President?" Vanessa asked.
Milo nodded, "Yes. Grace was a member of this crew, as we all know, she saved Colonel Johnson, the marines on the Musa Sala, Major Hunter and the other survivors countless times on Sagittaron. We will do her the very same for her that we would do for anyone else. Where she's from does not matter, who she was does."
"Excellent. We'll take the Cryxus and Aries with us. Captain West you'll be in charge until we get back."
"Yes ma'am." West replied.
"I want to be ready to leave in two hours. I want to hit them fast and hard. Dismissed." Vanessa said.
As everyone began to leave Vannick walked into the room, "Commander, Major may I have a few minutes of your time please?"
"Of course Sergeant, is everything okay?" Vanessa asked.
"Kind of ma'am. I've just come back from the Medstar. I'll get right to the point. It turns out the daughter I had when I was 15 and was put up for adoption by my ex-girlfriends family, was one of the students picked up by the Medlia. She has kidney failure and if she doesn't get a transplant soon she is going to die. I've been tested and I'm compatible. I would like permission for them to give her one of mine." Vannick said.
"Absolutely not, that is completely out of the question." Hannery replied.
"Excuse me sir but why? She'll die otherwise." Vannick replied.
"You are one of my best marines. You have more experience against Centurions than any of my soldiers, you're too valuable to be laid out for as long as it will take you to heal up." Hannery replied.
"Major she's my daughter. You're a father, what would you do if was either of your children?" Vannick asked.
"We are at war and I need all the people I have." Hannery replied.
"Then I resign my commission."
"I don't accept." Hannery snapped back.
Both soldiers squared up to each other.
"Gentlemen," Vanessa said cutting them both off, "Sergeant I agree that we do not accept your resignation."
"But Commander." Vannick replied.
"Please sergeant let me finish. You are one of our best and experienced the Major is correct, but I'm not going to let your daughter die. We've lost far too many people already as it is. Permission granted."
Vannick smiled, "Thank you ma'am, thank you so much."
"Before you go running off is this something that can wait until tomorrow?" Vanessa asked.
"The nurse told me the sooner the better." Vannick replied.
Garrett looked at Hannery who was very clearly pissed off at her, "Very well then you'll have to miss the op scheduled for this afternoon. Please ask whoever is looking after you to keep me updated on the progress of you and your daughter."
"Yes ma'am I will." He replied.
"Well go then." Vanessa said.
Vannick dashed out of the room.
"With all due respect Commander that was completely out of order and unprofessional." Hannery bellowed.
"Major it's his daughter. Do you really think if we said no he wouldn't head over there and do it anyway?"
"Irrelevant you completely undermined my authority in front of one of my soldiers."
"You're dismissed Major, head back to the troop carrier and get two squads together." Vanessa replied.
"Yes ma'am." He growled as he saluted her.
Vanessa found herself walking around the ship before the Op. She smiled and spoke to crewmembers as they went about their jobs getting the ship ready. Before she realised it, she found herself on the gantry that overlooked the hanger deck. She stood and watched as her crew went about their work. She smiled to herself, even after all this time and everything that had happened to them, they went about their jobs as professionally as they could.
"Everything okay Commander?"
Vanessa turned to see Wedge walking up to her.
"Yes Captain everything is fine," she replied, "You're doing a good job filling in for Archangel."
"Thank you ma'am, that means a lot. I'll be glad to let him have his job back though. XO and squadron leader is enough for me at the moment." He replied.
"Never the less you've done a great job. Everyone ready for the op?"
"We certainly are. Vipers are going to be loaded into the tubes ready just in case we're needed. Hydra and Bria are going to pilot the two raptors over to the station."
They looked down and saw Major Hannery and his marine squads.
"Major Hannery isn't very happy we're doing this." Vanessa said.
"With all due respect, frak Hannery." Wedge replied, "We're doing the right thing. We owe it to her to see if we can save her."
"I couldn't agree more. Anyway I'll let you get back to work." She said with a smile.
"Aye aye." Wedge replied saluting her.
Vanessa saluted her acting CAG before he walked down to the hanger deck. She was doing the right thing.
The Battlestar Orion and the Gunstars Cryxus and Aries moved out of formation with the fleet.
"All ships report ready for the jump Commander." Lieutenant Phillips said, "Vipers are in the tubes and EMPs are ready."
"Begin the countdown." Vanessa replied.
Phillips clicked on his head set, "All ships standby to jump on my command. Jumping in 5..4..3..2..1.. Jump."
All three battleships jumped away before reappearing the other side.
"Jump complete." Phillips said.
"Report." Bojay said.
"All ships present. Dradis is picking up the large station and four Baseships." Phillips replied.
"Launch EMP barrage." Garrett ordered.
"All ships fire EMPs." Phillips said over the COM.
Dozens of EMPs streaked through space all hitting their marks.
"Targets powered down. One of the Baseships managed to launch a few raiders and they're heading towards us." Phillips said.
"Move up to condition one and launch vipers."
As the order came through Wedge and the other vipers rocketed from their tubes into space. The eleven raiders that had managed to launch headed straight for the fifty vipers just launched from Orion.
"All vipers let's make this quick, open racks and engage." Wedge ordered as he moved in for the attack.
"Vipers have engaged the enemy targets." Phillips said.
"Put the chatter on the speakers." Garrett ordered.
"What do you want to do about the raptors?" Bojay asked.
"Tell them to launch but hold back while the vipers do their job." Garrett replied.
Bojay picked up his hand set and gave the order.
Vanessa stood and listened as her fighter squadrons did what they did best and destroyed the raiders.
"Commander, Wedge reports the last two raiders have jumped away." Phillips said.
"Okay lets do this quickly, tell the raptors to head to the station. Instruct the Gunstars to target the four Baseships with nuclear missiles but hold off until the mission is complete. Instruct port side missile tubes to target the station with nukes."
"What about the vipers?" Bojay asked.
"Tell them to fall back but stay out there. I've got a feeling we're going to get company shortly." Vanessa replied.
Hydra and Bria flew their raptors closer to the huge station. The marines in the back all in their space suits. Hydra noticed that Major Hannery seemed on edge but refused to speak to him as he had a habit of shouting at her when she did. As they got closer to the station Hydra noticed a hanger bay.
"Raptor 3 this is raptor 1, I see a hanger bay up ahead, follow me in." Hydra said.
The two raptors flew closer to the massive station.
"Look at the size of that thing." Bria said.
Hydra led both raptors into the open hanger bay. Inside the hanger bay sat rows of both raiders and heavy raiders.
"Anyone else feel a little out of place?" Hydra said.
"It looks so… alive." Bria replied.
As the two raptors touched down, the marines opened the back hatches immediately and went onto the hanger bay.
"Squad one form up on me." Hannery said, "Let's get this done as quickly as possible. Jennings you guys hold the line back here."
"Yes sir." Sergeant Jennings replied.
The hanger deck was littered with fallen centurions. The marines moved quickly and quietly with their weapons ready.
Hydra and Bria both joined the marines outside.
"My gods this is intimidating." Hydra said.
"I never thought I'd see the inside of a Cylon ship." Jennings said.
"I hoped I wouldn't. I remember Archangel telling me about them, it's one massive living entity. He said it was as if all the Cylons run in symbiosis with each other." Bria replied.
"All I know is, I want out of here as quickly as humanly possible." Jennings said gripping his rifle tightly.
"The Major seems a little on edge." Hydra said.
"What's new? He's pissed off about Vannick and he's pissed off that we're here." Jennings replied.
Hannery led his men on point. As they left the hanger bay they had to step over fallen Centurions as they walked into the long corridor. Laying on the ground up ahead the Major could see a skin job lying motionless. He signalled to his men and pointed to the Cylon. Hannery reached the skin job first and nudged him with his foot, there didn't appear to be any signs of life. The Major kneeled down and turned the 5 over. Hannery's eyes widened as the 5 smiled up at him pulled a hidden hand gun and shot him in the face killing him instantly.
"Oh shit." Lance Corporal Jessica Simeon shouted before shooting the 5 killing him. Before the marines could react, a small group of skin jobs appeared from one of the side corridors and opened fire killing three of the other marines. Simeon, now the ranking marine returned fire.
"What the frak is going on?" Jennings said as they heard the gunshots switching on his radio, "Major Hannery do you need back up?"
There was a pause before they could hear gunfire erupt over the COM.
"Sergeant, Major Hannery is dead as are Bates, Gorman and Janks. We're under attack by a group of skin jobs, we're on our way back to you." Simeon replied.
"Jessica do you have a skin job?" Jennings replied.
"Negative sergeant." She replied.
"We're on our way." Jennings replied, "Captain we're going to have to go help, I'll leave six marines with you."
"We'll be ready for lift off." Hydra replied.
Jennings and the other three marines ran as quickly as they could. As they reached the door way, the other marines had made their way back. Jennings grabbed Simeon and dragged her backwards just as a bullet whizzed past her head.
"Thanks." She said.
Jennings saw three skin jobs still firing. He took a flash bang grenade from his belt and threw it down the corridor. Moments after the grenade went off Jennings quickly made his way to the three fallen Cylons. He took out his side arm and put a bullet in the heads of two of them before putting a shock round in the 4 who lay on the ground motionless.
On Orion's CIC everyone was waiting for news.
"Commander, Hydra is on the line." Lieutenant Phillips said.
"Put her through down here." Vanessa replied.
She and Bojay picked up their handsets.
"Hydra this is Orion actual go ahead." Vanessa said.
"We've encountered armed resistance, Major Hannery and at least three other marines have been killed. Sergeant Jennings is on his way back, they have a skin job." Hydra said over the line.
"Very well Captain. Get back as soon as you can." Vanessa replied.
"Yes ma'am. The marines are recovering the bodies and then we'll be in the air. Hydra out."
As Garrett put down her handset dradis beeped.
"Dradis contact, we have three Baseships on an intercept course." Phillips shouted.
"Tell the gunstars to move in closer to us and launch EMPs," Vanessa said, "Inform the gun captains to begin suppression barrage. Mr Phillips inform Hydra we have company and we are preparing to launch nuclear weapons as soon as they are clear."
As Jennings and the other marines moved back to the raptors more skin jobs appeared behind them and opened fire. Simeon fell to the ground as a bullet hit her in the leg.
"Frak." She shouted.
Jennings opened fire killing a 4 and 5 and making the others to fall back before he helped Simeon into the raptor.
"Are you okay?" Jennings asked.
Simeon nodded, "Yeah I'll be fine." She replied as she sat into the back of the raptor.
"Hydra we're all aboard, let's get out of here." Jennings said.
As the back hatches closed the two raptors began to lift off. As Hydra lifted off she turned her raptor to the on coming Cylons and opened fire with the ships chain cannons cutting them in two before turning and leading them both out back into space. As the raptors cleared the Cylon station they were met by a fierce battle. Two of the four Baseships had been knocked out by EMPs while the other two aimed their fire at Orion and the two Gunstars. Hundreds of raiders could be seen in a dogfight with Orion's vipers.
"Orion this is Hydra we are clear and heading back to the barn."
"Hydra this is Orion, clear the station as quickly as you can, we're sending nukes to destroy it." Phillips replied over the COM.
"Bria put your foot down we have incoming nuclear ordinance." Hydra said.
"I'm right behind you." She replied.
As the two Raptors sped away they could see in the distance a group of raiders move away from the battle and head towards them.
"Bria heads up we have six raiders inbound." Hydra said.
Moments later Hydra and Bria both watched as Orion and the two Gunstars launched a large volley of nuclear missiles which rocketed past them. Moments after the missiles hit and destroyed their targets the two Gunstars jumped away. As the group of raiders reached them Hydra and Bria both prepared to open fire but were beaten to the punch. Three of the raiders scattered from their targets as the other three were destroyed by a group of vipers that had given chase.
"Raptors this is Streaker, we'll mop up these remaining raiders and give you some cover." She said over the COM.
"Thank you Captain." Hydra said as the tension in her small bird calmed.
"You're very welcome."
"Commander one of the active Baseships has been destroyed, the other is backing out of weapons range." Bojay said.
"Excellent, what about the raiders?" Vanessa replied.
"They appear to be falling back as well." Bojay said.
Garrett smiled to herself, "How long till Hydra and Bria are aboard?"
"They've just touched down ma'am." Phillips said from his station.
"Recall all birds and get us the frak out of here." Vanessa ordered.
"All fighters you are cleared to return home," Bojay said over the COM, "Once all squadrons are back aboard jump the ship."
Vannick let out a nervous sigh as he finished signing the last of the paperwork on the Medstar. Doctor Laura Baines sat with him.
"So you know all the risks that are involved now. There is still time for you to back out." Dr Baines said.
"No I have to do this." Vannick replied.
"Alright then, we'll begin the procedure this afternoon. Now you have agreed Miss Rhodes has asked if she can meet the person who is saving her life." Baines said.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea." Vannick replied.
"Why not?"
"You're not aware of the situation?"
"That she is your daughter?" Baines replied.
Vannick nodded, "I don't want her to find out about me, I don't want to destroy her life."
"Sergeant with all due respect why would it destroy her life?"
"What if she doesn't know she was adopted? If she finds out I'm her real father it could ruin her memories."
"Listen to me, if I were you, I would go and see her. She doesn't need to know exactly who you are. This is a chance for you to meet your daughter for the first time. After all we've been through as a species, all those people we've lost and left behind I can't stress the importance of this chance. There are thousands of people out there who would give anything to have a moment with their loved ones."
Vannick looked out of the window of the small office and saw his daughter in one of the next rooms hooked up to various machines.
"Okay." He said, "When can I go through?"
"Now is as good a time as any." Baines replied.
"Thank you doctor."
"You're welcome sergeant." She replied.
Vannick felt more nervous than he ever had in his life as he made the short walk from the office to his daughter's room. He took a deep breath and opened the door.
"Hello." Jenny said as she smiled at Vannick.
"Hey, do you have a minute of two to talk?" Vannick replied.
Jenny nodded, "What can I do for you?"
"My name is Darius Vannick."
"Oh my gods you're the one who is giving me a kidney. I can't tell you how grateful I am to you. Please sit down."
Vannick took a deep breath before sitting down next to his daughter. He couldn't get over how much she looked like her mother, she was her double.
"I can't believe there was someone who is compatible here, what are the chances?"
Vannick couldn't believe how happy and smiley the girl was despite what she was going through.
"Looks like you beat some pretty high odds." Vannick replied with a smile, "So may I ask did you know you were ill before the attack?"
Jenny nodded, "But back then my doctors knew there was enough time before I got to this stage, that's why I was on the field trip to the science station."
"Was the field trip from your school?" Vannick asked.
Jenny shook her head, "No University."
"University at 18?"
"Yeah I was in my final year."
"You must be very smart?"
"So they tell me. I was studying astrophysics. I'm hoping that once I'm better I can continue my studies aboard the Columbus."
"I'm sure you'll be able to."
"Mr Vannick can I ask you a very direct question?"
"Sure but only if you call me Darius." He replied with a nervous laugh.
"Okay, Darius, are you my biological father?"
Vannick looked stunned by this, of everything he had not expected her to ask that, "Erm excuse me?" he replied flustered.
"I know I was adopted and one of the perks of being as smart as I am is that I know the chances of me finding a kidney this compatible, is from an immediate family member, from a parent or a sibling."
"Yeah, I'm your father." He replied.
"Wow, I always hoped that one day I might get the chance to meet you. I have so much to ask you." She said taking hold of his hand.
"I'm sorry I didn't fight more for you," Vannick said as he wiped tears away from his face with his other hand, "Did you have a good life?"
Jenny smiled and nodded, "Yes, my parents were wonderful."
"That's all I ever wished for."
"Can I ask you, why did you give me up for adoption?" Jenny asked.
"Your mother and I were both 15 when you were born. Her parents decided that we were both too young and that I wasn't suitable father material. They decided to give you up. This is the first time I've ever seen you, they wouldn't even let me hold you when you were born."
Jennings literally threw 4 out of the raptor and onto Orion's hanger deck at the feet of Commander Garrett who was surrounded by marines.
"You're Cylon model 4 correct?" Vanessa asked.
4 looked up and nodded, "Yes I am and you're Commander Vanessa Garrett."
"We have a lot to talk about." Vanessa replied.
"What makes you think I'll talk to you?" 4 said.
Jawbreaker appeared next to the Cylon and with one hand picked him up by the neck and lifted him off the ground.
"I can be very very persuasive." Vanessa replied with a smile, "Sergeant of the guard, please take our prisoner to the brig."
"Yes ma'am."
As 4 was taken away, Garrett and Bojay walked up to Jennings who was putting the last of the bodies onto the hanger deck.
"Are you alright sergeant?" Vanessa asked.
"Yes ma'am. I have some recommendations I need to give to you for medals. My men did good over there, all of them." Jennings replied looking down at his fallen comrades.
"Of course sergeant. Is Corporal Simeon alright?" Vanessa asked.
"She was shot in the leg just before we got onto the raptor. If it wasn't for her we would have a lot more bodies on the deck right now."
"I want you and your men to get some down time. You've all performed brilliantly."
"Commander if I may? If you need anyone to help break the Cylon, if he isn't forthcoming with information please let me know. I volunteer to get my hands dirty." Jennings said.
"Thank you sergeant but I'm hoping it won't come to that." Vanessa replied.
"But if it does?"
"If it does you will be the first to know."
Garrett looked up and down the hanger deck as all the fighters were being put back into their bays and the pilots started to head off the deck. Wedge walked over to them.
"How many did we loose?" Bojay asked.
"Six vipers and one raptor." Wedge replied.
"Frak." Vanessa replied.
"Was the mission a success?" Wedge asked.
Vanessa nodded her head, "Yes it was."
"Then at least it wasn't all for nothing. I'm going to hit the shower, please excuse me." Wedge replied.
"Do you want me to talk to the prisoner?" Bojay asked.
"No," Vanessa replied, "I want to question him. However can you ask Jawbreaker once he's done what he needs to do to meet me at the brig?"
"Using brute force to get answers from the Cylon?" Bojay asked.
"I'm hoping intimidation will work." Vanessa replied.
"Well you certainly picked the right person."
"Can you look into sorting out a funeral for Major Hannery and the other marines we lost?"
"Of course." Bojay replied.
"Oh and can you get me an update on Archangel and how Sergeant Vannick and his daughter are doing?"
"Yes ma'am."
The Commander stood and watched the Cylon prisoner through the two-way mirror. For the first time she was looking at a Cylon who genuinely looked terrified. She looked up and smiled as Jawbreaker walked into the room.
"Captain." She said with a smile.
"Commander. So do you want me to rough him up for you?" Jawbreaker replied.
"I'm hoping that if you put on your scary face that will be all it will take. I'm going to go in there first on my own but I'll call you in shortly after. Come storming in and see if we can scare him."
"Nothing physical?" Jawbreaker asked, almost sounding disappointed.
"Not unless I ask."
"Yes ma'am." He replied.
Vanessa took a deep breath and straightened her uniform before walking into the room. Without saying a word she sat in the chair opposite the cuffed Cylon.
"I have a lot of questions to ask you, how you answer them will decide on what we do with you when this is all over." Vanessa said.
4 didn't reply, he just sat looking at her.
"I'm going to cut through the crap and the threats and just ask you. Have you lost the ability to resurrect?"
4 didn't say a word, he just looked at her smiling.
"You may not be scared of me, but one word from me and the person who walks through the door will make you answer any question I ask."
"What you're going to send your dog Major Hunter in?" 4 replied.
"No not Major Hunter." Vanessa replied with a smile, "Captain." She said.
The door flew open and crashed into the wall. Jawbreaker strode into the room with a face that would make even the toughest man worried. He walked behind 4 and put his hands on the Cylons shoulders who winced at the contact.
"I'd like to introduce you to Captain Thomlins," Vanessa said, "But you can call him Jawbreaker, everyone else does."
Jawbreaker put his head next to the Cylons ear and whispered, "I'm just here to help you relax a little, so that you won't find it so hard to answer the Commander's questions."
Vanessa smiled at 4, "What happened to your ability to resurrect?"
"What makes you think anything has happened to our resurrection?" 4 replied.
Jawbreaker squeezed one of his hands on the Cylons shoulder making 4 wince again, "You know we humans have all kinds of pressure points on our bodies. You know there's one here on the spine where if enough pressure is applied it will permanently paralyse the person. I wonder if it's the same for Cylons?"
"Captain." Vanessa said in a mock stern way.
"It's just something I've wondered ma'am. I heard this model is the one who has all the medical knowledge, I thought he might be able to answer it for me." Jawbreaker replied.
"Galactica destroyed our resurrection hub. Without that we're mortal, just like you." 4 replied.
"Until you rebuild it?" Vanessa asked.
"We can't." 4 replied, "Because we don't know how to."
"What? How come you do not know how to rebuild some of your own tech?" Vanessa asked.
"Because we didn't build it."
"Then who did?" Vanessa asked.
"I assume the final five." 4 replied.
"The who?" Garrett asked.
"The final five Cylons, none of us know anything about them, who they are, what they look like, anything. It's how we were created, there's nothing more I can tell you any more about that, no matter what Captain Thomlins does to me."
Vanessa thought it seemed as though he was telling the truth, but could she ever be sure? She decided to change her line of questioning.
"So what about Galactica? Where are they?"
"Again I have no idea. We stopped keeping track of them around the time we became mortal. Who would have thought such a battered old Battlestar would have caused us so much trouble, they've been as troublesome as you have. As with Galactica, we've stopped coming after you as well, with us killing each other we don't need you to help as well." As 4 said that he knew he had said something he shouldn't have.
"What do you mean killing each other?" Vanessa asked.
"Nothing, I didn't mean anything."
"Do you want me to leave the room and leave you with Jawbreaker?" Vanessa asked.
4 looked up at the giant man who was now standing along side him with a sinister smile on his face as he cracked his knuckles. 4 sighed and the continued to speak, "We're in the middle of a civil war, why doesn't really matter but we've been split down the middle. My model, the 4s have sided with the 1s and the 5s while the 2s, 6s and 8s have turned against us and joined with Galactica."
"Adama sided with Cylons?" Vanessa exclaimed.
"Don't look so surprised, the 2s, 6s and 8s have always been more sympathetic to you humans. You have your own pet 6 after all. Speaking of 6 I would like to speak with her."
"That won't be possible." Vanessa replied.
"Commander please."
"It won't be possible because she was killed."
"When?"
"A week ago."
"Then she really is gone." 4 replied.
"Is there any way she may be alive?"
4 shook his head, "No way at all."
"How many of you are left? How many Baseships?"
4 looked at her for a few moments wondering whether he should tell the truth or not, "Approximately thirty."
This surprised the Commander, "Seriously?"
4 nodded, "Yes you've destroyed a lot of our ships, that virus you launched did more damage than you can possibly imagine. Then there are the other colonial survivors who have done a lot of damage themselves. What can I say Commander you've almost levelled the playing field."
Vanessa couldn't hold back the smile that appeared on her face, "Good because now I'm going to turn the tables completely and search and destroy every Cylon ship I can find. Captain." She said as she stood up to leave. Jawbreaker followed his commanding officer out of the room. As he closed the door behind them, he could see how happy the commander actually seemed.
"If he's actually telling the truth we can actually win this war." Vanessa said.
"That would be something. What about Grace though? Do we believe what he's saying?" Jawbreaker replied.
"Do you think he way lying to us?" Vanessa asked.
Jawbreaker shook his head, "No. I think he's scared for his life."
"So do I. Come on I have to talk to the President and Bojay."
Carrie watched as the doctor and nurse worked on her brother, taking the tubes that had been helping him to breathe out. Even though they told her he was going to be okay, she was still extremely nervous.
"How long till he wakes up?" Carrie asked.
"It could be a few hours." The doctor replied.
"Thank you." She replied.
"Have you had anything to eat today?" the nurse asked.
"No not yet." She replied.
"Well take this chance to go to the mess and get some food."
"I'll be okay, I don't want him to wake and me not be here." Carrie replied.
"The chances are it will be a few hours, trust me you'll be back before he's awake." The nurse said.
"And if I'm not?"
"Then I'll be here so he won't be alone."
"Okay," Carrie said standing up, "Oh I meant to ask, is there any news on Sergeant Vannick and his daughter?"
"They're still in surgery but as far as I'm aware it's going well."
"Can you also let Commander Garrett know that we're waiting for him to wake up now."
"Of course."
"Wow, this is all quite unexpected." Milo said as he sat with Commander Garrett and Bojay.
"He said they are specifically avoiding us." Vanessa replied.
"So do we go on the offensive?" Bojay asked.
"That's what I was thinking." Vanessa said.
"Unless they're luring us into a trap?" Milo said.
"Well I think there is only one way to find out." Vanessa replied, "This is what we've been waiting for. We take them all out then we can finally find ourselves somewhere to live our lives."
"What do you suggest?" Milo asked.
"Right now I don't know. We'll come up with a plan of action and take it from there." Vanessa replied, "While we're all together there is something else we need to talk about. Our Cylon prisoner, what do we do with him now?"
"I'm sure there is an airlock that will fit him nicely. Failing that, I have a full magazine here waiting for a home." Bojay replied patting his sidearm.
"They don't resurrect though now so if we throw him out of an airlock or you shoot him, it's technically murder." Vanessa said.
"With all due respect, so what? They murdered billions of us and have been trying to kill us for years now. I don't mean to sound like a psychopath, but I won't lose any sleep over it." Bojay replied.
"And look how many hundreds of thousands if not millions we and the other surviving colonial units have killed in return." Vanessa said.
"So exactly what do we do with him?" Milo asked.
"We can always give him an option?" Vanessa said.
"What kind of option?" Bojay said.
"He can stay in the brig for the foreseeable future or he can die." Vanessa replied.
"I'm letting you two decide this one," Milo said.
"Well you're the boss. It's your call." Bojay said.
"There is one other thing we need to talk about," Vanessa said, "Major Hannery was the only marine officer we had."
"Over one thousand marines on the troop carrier and only one officer?" Milo replied.
"The battle group was only supposed to be with us for two weeks before they went back to Picon space dock for an overhaul and extra crew. That's why there was only one officer with them." Vanessa said.
"So what do we do?" Bojay asked.
"We're going to have to choose some of the non coms and promote them." Vanessa replied.
"Any ideas who?" Bojay asked.
"I'm think we take this opportunity and promote a couple of them. Normally I would have suggested putting Sergeant Vannick in charge. He is one of the most experienced marines we have, but now he is going to be laid out for a while. I'm thinking we promote Sergeant Jennings to captain and Vannick to lieutenant when he is fully recovered." Vanessa replied.
"So are they the best choices?" Milo asked.
"I think so." Vanessa said.
"Without question." Bojay added.
Carrie sat in the mess hall and finished the first meal she had eaten all day. She looked at all the crew, doctors and nurses talking, smiling and laughing while they ate. The morale amongst the crew was the same as it was on Orion and it was nice to see, especially with what happened onboard every day. As she reached to pick up her tray and empty plate she nearly jumped out of her chair as Dr Gerrard sat down opposite her.
"Hello Carrie." He said.
"What the frak do you want?" Carrie replied.
"I was hoping to find out how you are and to apologise for what happened to you." He replied.
Carrie clearly on edge and nervous stuttered her reply, "Please just leave me alone, I'm fine but I don't want to speak to you."
"But I need to speak to you."
"I need to go, I have places to be." Carrie replied picking up the tray. Gerrard grabbed her wrist causing her to drop the tray. As it smashed to the ground everyone turned to look.
"It's okay." Gerrard said to everyone.
"Please let go of me and leave me alone."
"We have things that need to be put right." Gerrard replied.
"Just let go of me."
Before Gerrard could say another word a punch flew out of nowhere and connected with Gerrard's jaw sending him crashing to the ground. Carrie who was clearly shaken looked and saw Wedge standing next to her.
"Are you okay?" Wedge asked.
Carrie nodded as she moved closer to Wedge.
"Carrie please." Gerrard said as he stood up.
"I will give you one warning to stay away from her and it's the only one you'll get. Can't you see that you scare her? She has nothing to say to you." Wedge snarled.
"I have things I need to say to you." Gerrard said.
"Please go to your brother, I'll be right with you." Wedge said smiling at her.
"Okay." She said before walking off.
When she had left the room with all eyes on Wedge and the doctor. The young pilot went bounding up to him and stopped inches away from his face.
"She has nothing to say to you and you have nothing to say that she wants to hear. What you did to her she is only just starting to get over, not once but twice when the Cylons took her from me. If I ever see you in the same room as her again, I will take out my sidearm and I will not stop firing until I hear the click of my empty gun, do you understand me?"
Gerrard shakily nodded his head.
"Is everything okay?"
Gerrard turned and saw two marines standing next to them and nodded his head, "Yes thank you, we're fine."
"Remember," Wedge whispered, "You don't ever want to see me again."
Carrie had managed to compose herself by the time she reached her brothers room. Seeing Gerrard again hadn't crossed her mind in a long time, she had no idea she was would lose it like that at the sight of him. Anyway, she thought to herself, she had to forget this and be here for her brother.
"How has he been?" Carrie asked.
"He has stirred a little bit but nothing more."
"I spoke to a Lieutenant Phillips aboard Orion. He said that Commander Garrett will be coming over as soon as she finishes some business."
Carrie nodded, "Thank you."
Vanessa followed Jawbreaker into the brig where 4 sat alone.
"You've come to kill me then?" 4 asked.
Vanessa sat down opposite him, "No I've come to give you a choice. You stay here in this brig or you die, it's your choice."
"I'm a doctor," 4 said, "I could become a member of your crew?"
"Not an option." Vanessa replied.
"Why? You did it for 6."
"That was different, the circumstances were not the same at all."
"But..."
"No buts, I've given you your options." Vanessa replied.
"It's not really an option is it?" 4 replied, "Stay in here for the rest of my days or die. I think I'll take the first choice."
"Good, now if you excuse me I have somewhere to be." Vanessa said.
"Mark." Carrie said has her brother's eyes began to flicker.
The nurse rushed over to him as his eyelids began to move.
"Shouldn't be long now." The nurse said.
Vanessa walked through the corridors of the Medstar Compassion. As she passed military personnel they would stop and salute her and she them. She was so glad Archangel was coming round and was going to be okay, but she dreaded having to tell him about Grace. Even though he had told her that he loved her, he still loved Grace, it was going to hit him hard. She stopped at the doorway to his room and saw Carrie, Wedge and Skeeter sat with him along with one of the nurses. As she walked in she smiled when she saw him awake.
"He's just woken up." Skeeter said.
"Is everything okay?" Vanessa asked.
The nurse nodded.
"How you feeling?" Vanessa asked.
"What happened?" Archangel replied.
"You were shot. Don't you remember?" Vanessa replied.
Archangel tried to think, what could he remember, "The last thing I remember is a stand off between my father and I, and a 1, then Grace appeared then nothing. What the hell happened?"
Vanessa tried to hold in the disappointment at Archangel not being able to remember what she told him and he told her. Skeeter looked over at her, he knew what she was thinking as he had been with them both when Archangel had told Vanessa that he loved her.
"The cylon shot you before Grace killed him." Carrie replied.
"Where is she? Is she okay?" Archangel asked.
"Dad shot her before she could shoot him, she didn't make it." Carrie said.
Archangel couldn't speak, he didn't know what to say.
"We captured another cylon and interrogated him," Vanessa said, "The Cylons have lost their ability to download, she's gone."
"The cylon's lying." Archangel replied.
"Grace knew this had happened," Skeeter said, "She told me before we found the NCO fleet, she could feel it."
"What happened to our father?" Archangel asked.
"He's dead." Carrie replied.
"What happened to him?" Archangel asked as he wiped tears from his face.
"I killed him." Vanessa replied.
"Good." Archangel replied.
"Can you not remember anything else?" the nurse asked.
Archangel shook his head, "No, nothing."
"That's not a surprise," the nurse said, "It may come back to you, it may not."
"I have to go," Vanessa said, "It's nice to see you awake."
"Thank you." Archangel replied with a forced smile.
"I'll see you soon." Vanessa said as she walked out of the room. As she walked away she felt like all the wind had been knocked out of her. After all that had happened, when she thought he had been dying in her arms. She felt elated that he was going to be okay, but at the same time as though her whole world was falling apart. Somehow she had to put those feelings to one side and get on with things, she prayed he would remember.
"Stupid question but are you okay?"
Vanessa looked up and saw Skeeter walk up to her. She nodded her head in reply.
"He'll remember, you just need to give him some time." Skeeter said.
"Okay." She replied quietly.
"You know if you need to talk or anything, I'm here."
"Thank you, I do and you have no idea how much I appreciate it. I have to go." She said turning and walking away.
Skeeter watched her as she disappeared round the corner.
Vanessa composed herself and minutes later found herself outside Vannick's room. She smiled as she walked in.
"Hello Darius." She said, "Do you have a few moments to talk."
"Of course I'm not going anywhere." Vannick replied, "Please sit down."
"First things first how did it all go?"
"The nurse tells me it couldn't have gone better, we just have to wait and see if it takes."
"I'm glad it went well. Also I thought you'd like to know that Archangel is awake."
"Good, if you see him before I do give him my best."
"I will." Vanessa replied, "I wanted to tell you that the mission was a success but we did take some casualties. Major Hannery was killed during the mission."
"Oh gods." Vannick replied.
"To cut to the chase, that causes problems due to the fact he was the only marine officer we had. We've decided we're going to promote Sergeant Jennings to captain and you to lieutenant and his second."
"Really? Are you sure?" Vannick asked.
"Yes, you're the best marine we have." Vanessa replied.
"Thank you." Vannick replied.
"Anyway I'll leave you too it. Give your daughter my best, I look forward to meeting her."
"Thank you commander."
As Vanessa flew a raptor back to Orion she looked at her fleet. It was time to go on the offensive and it was time to end the Cylons once and for all.