EAS Lexington
Nova class Dreadnought
Sector 45 by 67 by 23
Near Brakiri space
The Hyperion class cruiser jumped to normal space pretty close to the local gate, near the Artigas. They were the third ship to arrive, answering the distress call of the Brakiri ship.
-Sir, Right in front of us-stated Lt. Commander Sheridan. The XO of the Hyperion class cruiser watched carefully the huge debris field of the EAS Artigas and the five Cylon Basestars. And at the left of it, from the Lexington's point of view, two Novas and an auxiliary ship were dealing with the remains of the heroic ship.
-What ships are those?-asked captain Sterns, watching the screen.
-Sir, the San Martín and the Rivera. The other one is the Catamarca. They are hailing us-stated the COMMS officer.
Captain decided to answer the call immediately.
-EAS Lexington, this is captain Berruti of the EAS San Martín. We have to report that we recover 34 crewmembers alive from the Artigas, the ship's life support was inactive, if we weren't that close to this system, they would freeze to death before anyone arrived.
-Thank God for that, captain. If you need anything, just let us know. Did you see the battle logs? Did the Cylons survive the battle?
-Yes, we saw the recordings, and according to the surviving crew, the Cylons were destroyed, no attacking ships survived. The Artigas gave a terrific fight.
-That's good news! Those soulless bastards pay with their lives! Now I wonder how did the fragging robots attack us so far from their territory and supply lines...
-If you ask me, I say they have a mobile base of some sort. According to Intelligence, their jump drive is relatively short-ranged and very dependent on this thylium fuel. As soon as the Catamarca finish with the rescue, and the tugs arrive to take the Artigas and the basestars, I say we "search and destroy" that base, or whatever those terminators have in the area.
-I agree, captain. Keep me informed, I will tell the crew. Sterns out.
Commander Sheridan, as soon as the communication ended, shared his thoughts with the captain.
-Sir, I think cap. Berruti is right. They must have something like a mobile station, perhaps even a drydock or shipyard...
-I agree. The Intel from the Minbari and the Prometheus showed the Cylons didn't have any homeworld or colony, only a few mining posts, and outposts. So it seems like they are a mobile civilization, like some kind of cyborg locusts.
-Actually, sir, I was thinking in a support ship, helping their battlegroups to fight. I never thought of a mobile civilization, but sounds very probable.
-Well, it's a logical conclusion, it reminds me of the Golden Horde, but in a space armada version. So, we will need to go for it, and search the galaxy for them, system by system. The San Martin would probably get the orders for that, and we will join them. And let me tell you something, Sheridan, I have known a lot of South Americans, and they always are fighting about traditions, soccer, you name it; but if someone else touches one of them, they'll put aside any difference and kick the ass of the offender as one. This Argentinian Berruti had a fire in his eyes, he will hunt down that Cylon base until hell itself. So, Commander, I want the crew ready for the hunt. The Lex it's an old lady, but still can kick some asses!
-Aye aye, sir! You heard the captain! Double-check in every system! I want the Lex ready to fight for yesterday!-yelled Sheridan, and the crew started to move on the double. Their peaceful days of patrolling were gone.
Caprica
President Adar's office
Dr. Eilerson, after the protocolar salutations, was nervous about what could happen now. His ego and charisma were not enough for hard-core political negotiations. Seeing how the Earth delegate was feeling, President Adar broke the ice.
-So, Dr. Eilerson, what is your government wants to discuss before we sign the treaty? Don't be afraid, you are between friends here.
-Thanks, Mr. President. We are happy to reach such a great accord between us. The issue is about how to not piss off the other galaxy powers doing it, sir.
-Wow, that was, pretty frakking direct! Hahaha! I like that sincerity of yours, Dr. Eilerson! Tell me, what can the United Colonies do to not piss off the other galactic Powers? I'm afraid I don't know anything about it!
-Well, sir, besides the Minbari and Earth, the other two big sharks in the water are the Centauri Republic and the Narn Regime. A third one is the League of Non-Aligned Worlds, a very weak alliance of several races with different sizes, power, and tech, which together, at least in the paper, are as powerful as the rest.
There are rumors of a great concern between the Centauri about you and your jump drive technology, they are afraid their former colony, the nNarns, acquire from you that tech and use it against them...And, there is something you should know, the diplomatic expedition of my government to the Minbari wasn't diplomatic, at all.
-What do you mean?
-We know for our contacts in Centauri Prime that some of the Houses of the Centaurum wanted to attack Earth and turn it into a colony. So, some idiot in the military suggested we should go and made some show of force with another powerful race to deterrent the Centauri, and the race chosen was the Minbari. Thanks to the Thessalia, that didn't happen, they save us from a stupid incident with the Minbari, that could end in a war.
The Narns have sent an embassy, with some ships and weapons to offer you, they are pretty greed weapons dealers, you should find their laser and beam weapons quite interesting.
-Really? Honestly after all that happened, we want any energy weapon anyone is willing to offer us. But as you have seen, we are no longer in the position of ignoring your warnings. Currently, only a few dozens of battlestars are all that remains of our fleet, and I doubt we could stand against almost anybody. How big is the Centauri fleet?
-Huge, Mr. President. They have thousands of warships, and their energy weapons are decades, perhaps a century ahead of ours. But you have still other things you could trade with the Narn, like your gravity plating. Just like us, Narn ships haven't artificial gravity, so you could easily trade that for their weapons. And if you get those, you could share them with us, and we will pay for them. Also, the Narn economy is fragile, and their homeworld is half destroyed, so any resource you can trade with them, they will be pleased.
-I will keep that in mind, Dr. Eilerson. Currently, we are producing below our capabilities, we didn't have a partner to sell our surplus, the commercial boost would be an excellent stimulus to recover.
Earth
EarthDome, Geneva
President Levy's Office
The Screen informed that a Gold Channel transmission from the Kobol colonies was on stand by. After giving the authorization, she picks up the call. Dr. Max Eilerson's appeared on the screen.
-Dr. Eilerson, glad to see you again. How was the meeting with President Adar this morning?
-Good day Ma'am President!. Our meeting went just fine, better than expected. The treaty was signed, he will make public the accords in a few hours.
-And what about our "recommendations" about sharing technology with other races?
-President Adar was in full agreement with your ideas, ma'am. And he also asked me to ask you about leasing our shipyards to build some of their ships until the Scorpia and Ragnar shipyards are rebuilt again.
-I don't see why we wouldn't, I think we could give them perhaps 5 slots in Proxima and 10 here on Earth for their ships. Offer them that, I will make the arrangements myself. Ah, I was forgetting to ask you about the other thing.
-What? I don't know what are you talking about, ma'am...
-Your other mission, Dr., the one related to your area of expertise.
-Oh, yes, sorry. At first, I was skeptical about the origin of these colonies, but now I'm just perplexed. They have a sacred text, called the Scrolls of Phytia, and in it, they said the human species was created by the Lords of Kobol, which is the Greek Pantheon, on a planet named Kobol, several hundred years light from Cyrannus Cluster. Well, apparently something really bad happened there, and the survivors boarded a ship called Galleon and ended in Geminion, about 2000 years ago. These survivors were the Twelve Tribes of Men, named by the Zodiac constellations.
-So, they claim to be colonies from Kobol, not from Earth, but they know about us... Do they think Earth is another colony of Kobol? And all this thing of the 12 tribes sounds familiar...
-Indeed ma'am President. And there is more, they have their own version of the 13th Tribe...
-Us, right?
-Exactly. That's what they call us. Their Scrolls said a group of dissidents left Kobol for Earth, many years before the 12 tribes left. This is could be a problem in our relations in the near future, cause their entire worldview is based on these Scrolls. They lack any archaeological record beyond them, and we are talking about the Hellenistic level of religiosity. I mean, most people don't even know how intolerant could be the Hellenistic culture towards others, mostly if they clash with no-pagan religions.
-What are you talking about, dr.?
-What I'm saying is, ma'am President, is the Colonial society is almost as intolerant to monotheísm as it was the Greco-Latin culture towards Judaism during the Maccabeans revolt, and towards Christianity in the first 3 centuries.
-So, they have a monotheístic faction, do they?
-Yes, but it's a very impersonal monotheism, more like deism or something, even more, I don't know how to describe it, like a monotheism but with a nameless god. Nothing even close to Abrahamic monotheísm, which they know nothing about. The situation is the monotheist were persecuted, but now are merely tolerated, and... Looks like the Cylons adopted the monotheist faith in their first rebellion.
-Good God... that's something I never could see coming.
The door ring song was played, someone was asking for the President. She look at her watch, and her left went to her forehead.
-Dr. I forgot I have an appointment with the Centauri Ambassador. Please, keep me informed about the Colonials' culture and religion, we need to act as smoothly as possible, we can't afford to lose these alliances. And there is something else, I have just been informed the Cylons attacked one of our Novas patrolling the League space. They were crushed, but our ship was destroyed, 34 crewmembers survived. Please inform the colonials, we will send you a full report as soon as we get one. Thank you Dr. Eilerson, you are doing one of a hell of a job there. Keep it up.
-Thanks ma'am President, I'll do my best.
The Golden Channel ended the communication, and the doorbell sounded again.
-Enter-answered the President.
An aide entered and announce the visit of the Centauri Ambassador.
-Lord Mollari, welcome.
-Madam President, it's a pleasure to meet you.
-Please, have a sit. First of all, I've been informed about your wise recommendations to our military about the Minbari, I am so disappointed they don't listen to you and thankful that God turned out it for good.
-Yes, Great Maker, you have probably used all your remaining luck this time! And I have to congrats you, on becoming an ally of the Minbari. The Earth Alliance is becoming a greater player in the galaxy thanks to these.
-And what the Centauri Republic thinks about it?
-Officially we are happy for you, as any good friend would, and also we are deeply moved by the destruction caused by these Cylon races. You have all our support in dealing with them, our Emperor Turhan has instructed me to inform you the Centauri fleet has orders to shoot on sight any Cylon ship we encountered.
-Thank you for that, please send my gratitude to Emperor Turhan on behalf of me and the Earth Alliance. And extra officially?
-Well the Centaurum don't share the optimism of our emperor. They are afraid of the increasing power you are acquiring. These new colonies you had now are just too big, and their stealth FTL technology is a concern...
-What? With all the advanced technologies you have and we don't, you are afraid just because we have just one thing you don't?
-Fair enough. But there is the issue of those technologies ended in other hands, for example, in Narns hands. They sent some ships with the Hope Fleet of yours, and we know they could reach a deal with the Colonies in exchange for Narn Energy weapons.
-Don't worry about that, Ambassador. We have reached an agreement with the Colonial government. We have told them that sharing the Stealth Jump technology with any other than us would trigger an arms race we would lose or even a war, and they agreed they had enough war for a generation or two, so they won't sell their FTL to anybody. We suggest they acquire from the Narns their energy weapons in exchange for gravity plating... I know you are upset, but it is something you already have, and even when that would improve the Narn capabilities it is not a game-changer against you.
-Yes, it's true... and that way you would obtain the Narn technology through the colonials...
-Very clever as always, Ambassador. You have to agree this is the best solution for everyone. We don't want a war between two of our neighbors, and we don't want to risk your security, after all, you have been a friend of Earth all this time. And you must understand we can't pass the opportunity to acquire technology, you know very well that Earth is far behind almost everyone in that matter.
-Yes, yes, I understand.
-Something else. As a show of friendship, I want you to know something, but for now, we want to not become public, at least not yet.
-Ok, I'm listening.
-Remember that little history you guys come up with, about Earth being a lost Centauri colony?
-Yes! It was a mistake, a very silly mistake, we thought you were Beta...
-I know, I know the history, Ambassador. The point is we just have found our long-lost colony. Long lost, like 2000 years lost...
-2000 years lost?!
-Yes. These colonies are 2000 years old, and they even still worship the same gods some of our oldest nations worshipped 2000 years ago. So, this is proof of an ancient human civilization, capable of star travel, older than any race we know, except for the Vorlons. That idea was just a conspiracy theory between some religious groups, discredited by most scholars, and food for several science fiction books and movies, and tv shows.
-Wow, I'm shocked, Great Maker! , this will change the image of the humans in the known galaxy.
-Yes, but mostly in our own world I'm afraid. So, for now, please inform your Emperor, but not the press.
-Don't worry about that, Madam, I hate your press as much as you do!
Lybran surface
Lybran Joint Command Center
President Adar descended from the Raptor quickly. After the protocolar salutations, he was escorted Into the Command Center, located in the Hall of the Fifth District High Courts building. The beautiful marble columns and ceiling, decorated with beautiful paintings of the Lords of Kobol, were a beautiful and almost sacred place now profaned by the military. Right in the middle, an old friend was sitting there, with a bandage on his right arm and forehead. As soon as everyone stands up in attention, he just turns to see who was just arrived. as soon as he recognize Adar's, he smiled.
-Justice Katha! What a surprise! Thanks the Lords you are quite fine, but what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on a ship or something?
-Mr. President, nice to see you again! Well, the gentlemen here wanted to know everything about the toasters and even more about the Earth troops. We were ambushed, and the Earth Marines came out of nowhere to save us!
-Remembering your old days, huh?
-Yeah, kind of. These toasters are quite better, still pretty dumb though, but the main thing is those plasma rifles of the 13th Tribe! Frak, they pierced anything with those things!
-Really l? How good are the Earth Marines?
-Those Earth frakkers are good, really good. I mean, after they rescue us we went to another place where our Marines were deployed, and you know when you look at the men's faces you see..., our guys were frightened, anxious, just too green. None of those boys and girls have been in real combat, this is their first time. But the Earthers, they were confident. They were very professional, but they knew how to endure a close-quarter fight, not only tactics and stuff but also the suffering, you know? Those soldiers are veterans, they have seen battle before this.
-I see. Well, you'll be happy to hear this, they're going to give us their weapons technology, and there is already a batch of some millions of these plasma rifles coming, I think tomorrow they will be here.
-Really? Excellent! Those things will be a game-changer. But, they ask something in return? I don't think they would give us for free...
We sign a treaty, they share with us their weapons tech, hyperspace travel technology, computers, and lots of supplies, and in exchange, we will give them our gravity plating, our hull Armour, and our jump drive. I thought it was u fair deal, cause they were giving us a lot more than we were giving, but they told me that the Earth is a powerful and rich nation among the galaxy, most of the aliens...
-Aliens! For Frak's sake, I almost died of an impression when I see a Minbari! There are even more aliens out there?
-A lot more. And looks like most of them are in some kind of debt with our cousins, something about a war where the Earthers save the asses of dozens of aliens from extinction... Well, what I was about to tell you is that the 13th tribe is technologically very bad in comparison with the rest of the species, mostly because of lacking artificial gravity. So if we help them with that it will be a huge boost to their entire civilization. And our jump engines! We have just outclassed warfare and logistics of half the galaxy.
-So, the 13th tribe saves our asses from the Cylons, and we make them the main power in the neighborhood... Sounds fair.
-In fact, they will share that power with us. We just form an alliance, called the United Human Alliance, with tech share, commercial and trade agreements, etc. We are about to sign another agreement with the Minbari, who saved us more than the Earthers. They would introduce us, the United Colonies of Kobol, to the rest of the Galaxy as their main ally, which means a lot of new friends and billions of cubits in trade! Tomorrow a fleet with supplies and humanitarian aid will arrive, and with them several alien diplomats
EAS Cortez
Cortez class explorer ship
We are in a position. Wow, it's the first time I see two Earth-like planets in a binary configuration.
It is impressive, sir. It will be a busy gate I'm afraid.
Yes, perhaps they will need more gates, perhaps one for each system.
Battlestar Hermes
DRADIS almost exploded! Look at the size of that thing...
It would take several nukes to destroy it, I'm afraid
They are hailing us
-Colonial ships, this is Captain Ferguson of the Explorer ship Cortez. We are ready to build a jump gate in this system according to the treaty signed between the Earth Alliance and the United Colonies of Kobol. We will start as soon as possible.
-Cortez this is Battlestar Hermes, welcome to the Twelve Colonies. You are clear to start the construction, if you need anything just let us know.
-Acknowledge Hermes, we will start immediately. We will contact you if we need anything. Thank you and have a nice day. Cortez out.
Two days later
Saggitaron
EAS Nelson
-Sir, the Hope Fleet is here.
-Finally. Inform the Colonials, we will need enough space and I don't want an accident.
Three jump points opened, and two hundred ships entered Colonial space. Between them are four modified Orestes and Artemis of the Gaim fleet, two Xill flying saucers, Primus with two Vorchan as escorts, two G'Quan heavy cruisers, two Brakiri, four Drazi Sunhawks, and two Pak'Ma'Rah heavy freighters.
The refugee camps in Saggitaron were once treated in two locations, with almost a million people, mostly evacuated during the Cylon attack and now homeless because of the bombings. After two days of eating rations, surrounded by Colonial troops and homeless these people were filled with despair and sadness. Their culture of isolation and religious pride made them feel even more uncomfortable receiving assistance from the other tribes.
However soon the sight of hundreds of transports landing near the tents made them change their anger and sadness by curiosity. Even lacking the military training other tribes had, the Saggitarians recognized those ships were not Colonial.
Hundreds of humans carrying a blue best with the phrase "Hope Fleet Volunteer" started to come and split up in the camp. They were very nice and smiling all the time, taking time to greet everyone, even when mostly the refugees barely look at them with grim faces.
Helped by the Colonial Mari es and local policemen, they started building different facilities, like kitchens, cafeterias, and something like stages.
One of them soon was filled with dozens of those volunteers carrying musical instruments. As the people started to gather surrounding the orchestra, the music started to sound. A beautiful symphony was played, all Te people changed their faces, showing now smiles while the sweet tones filled the air. Hundreds more abandoned their tents and joined. Concerning Hobbits, from the Original Soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, was chosen to start the small show, and soon after another merry theme was played to lift the heavy hearts of the refugees. The Spring of the Four Seasons of Vivaldi, the Allegro con Brio of Beethoven.
Not far from there a huge number of tables were being set. Behind them, a lot of tents with dozens of chefs and assistants were working while several soldiers bring one box after another of food supplies. After an hour or so, with the music still playing, the Colonial forces started to call the refugees to eat, and while the people started to. Line, dozens of waiters went out of the Earther tents with all the food you could possibly imagine. And not the typical food, pastries, cakes, pies, recipes of desserts from all the Earth were there in a sort of all-you-can-eat way, and when the colonials refugees started to serve themselves, they just don't know what to eat. The waitress encourages them to taste anything and then add them to their plates.
Ministry of Education Roslin arrived to see for herself the Earth's help. First, she went to the camps and heard the music. She went to the tables and they're one of the Earth Security officers, who was guiding the tour for the Minister and the press, invited them to taste the food. Croissants, Swiss Cheese, Serrano Ham, and Westphal bread in the salad tables, with a lot of snacks like potato chips, peanuts, cashews, etc.
And the sweet table they tasted peanut butter, the favorite of the Earth Officer, who was an American. However the waitress smiled and offered them Dulce de Leche, and after tasting it the peanut butter feels like crap. But more impressed with the food was with the people. It was a refugee camp, with a million victims of total war, many wounded or with some family lost, but the faces were happy.
-I don't know what you put in your food, but it's impressive to see all these people so... Happy.
-Yes ma'am, the recipe it's just love. And I don't want to look silly, but it's true. Those guys cooking inside the kitchen, some of them are famous chefs whose serving you and I couldn't pay for without bankruptcy. Some of the food here are luxury goods, and when people on Earth learn about the Cylon attack donations come out by the thousands. The same thing with music.
After launch, they were taken by Raptors to see the Search and Rescue operations in the Zero Zones. There are hundreds of Earth S%R teams, helped by drones and trained dogs look between the debris for trapped people.
Instead of the blue vests here others, mostly white, with a huge red cross or crescent, also helmets and some with Fireproof suits or Haz at suits. Some of them were dirty, with helmets, and a huge group of them were gathering near a big truck with a huge flag in it. The flag had three vertical stripes of the same size, one green, one white, and the last one red. In the white stripe, there was an eagle, holding a viper in her claws.
-Who are they?-asked Roslin, and the Earth aide answered:
-Those are the Topos, madam. It´s one of our most renowned Search and Rescue teams, made all of volunteers. They are from a country named Mexico, and that is their flag. Do you want to meet them?
-Yes, I would like to.
After walking a few steps, the Topos turn and remove their helmets as a sign of respect. Ministry Roslin, with a smile, started to shake hands with every single one of them. The men and women smiled and greet her, mostly in Spanish.
That same afternoon, the Hope Fleet volunteers organized several entertainments for the refugees, including music and games for children, and a cinema. Trying to not create a cultural problem, the organizers decided to show only classical movies from 20th and 21st centuries, avoiding violent movies, like terror, war, and things like it. Several discussions went over about if it was wise to present the saggitarians The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and others like it. Finally, they couldn't get an agreement, and while the people were already been waiting for half an hour, a Christian volunteer take the chance and played Hicksaw Ridge. when the others realize what this guy has done while they still were fighting about The Hobbit, the movie was already started and the audience was captivated.
-Look what have you done, stupid idiot! These are polytheists!-screamed at the guy a very upset supervisor.
-I know what I'm doing - answered him, watching the faces of the saggitarians.
During the entire movie, the men and women were frozen, watching. In the end, when the short interview with the real men of history was played, several people were shocked, they now could see it was a real story, about real people, with some ads for drama purposes.
The next day about 50 thousand people gathered to watch it again. The volunteers couldn't believe their eyes, and the Earth and Colonial marines were deployed to keep some order in such a great crowd. After this second time, 30 thousand saggitarians went to the recruiting offices to join colonial forces. The sight of that huge number of saggitarian volunteers was immediately covered by colonial press, the religious saggitarians who always refuse to serve were enlisting by the thousands, and when the news commented about the old Erath movie, Hicksaw Ridge was played in all main channels of the 12 Colonies.