Somewhere Beyond the Heavens part 12
*
The room was as quiet as a tomb. The air seemed stale and dead to everyone in the chamber as they watched the horror being displayed before them. Buck Rogers had convinced Ardalla to scan through the Earth frequency's to see for herself the devastation left behind by these Cylon aggressors. Buck, Ardalla and Kane were completely awestruck. The channel they picked up showed the Mars Colony had been completely decimated. Starbuck and Baltar were having slightly different reactions. Starbuck was disgusted by the scenes but he was also hopeful that this meant his friends and loved ones aboard Galactica were surely nearby. He prayed that if this were indeed the end, he would be able to spend it with Cassie, Athena and Apollo. Baltar, on the other hand, was trying to come up with a plan that would ensure his survival. It certainly appeared as if the Cylons were going to be the victors in this final battle. So, as the others concentrated on the battle being played out on the view screen, Baltar slipped away.
Baltar had wisely taken note of the path the Draconian Guards had taken from the time of his capture in the Star Fortress's hangar bay, to the time he and Starbuck were brought before the Princess in her chambers. He easily made his way through the maze of corridors and to his ship, The Avenger. Kneeling down beside a supply rack, Baltar could see that there were no guards around the ship at all. Apparently, the Princess and Kane did not believe Avenger was of vital interest to the security of their hangar. With no hesitation at all, Baltar sprinted down a metal staircase and across the hangar towards the Nomen Freighter and freedom.
"I've never seen anything like it", said a stoic Kane.
"These Cylons---you're people lead them across the universe and right to Earth's doorstep", exclaimed the Princess, trying to maintain a confident composure. "I think Earth is getting exactly what it deserves."
"My people didn't have any choice, your highness!" retorted an enraged Starbuck. "We're refugees from a system of 12 planets, a lush and thriving civilization that was completely destroyed by the Cylons simply because we loved freedom, we loved independence---to feel-to question-to resist oppression. But, to them, it was an alien way of existing that they could never accept!"
Ardalla smiled, "My father could approach their leader and -"
"Ardalla!" shouted Starbuck. "The Cylons ambushed our fleet of Battlestars at a Peace Conference while wave after wave of their fighters bombed our cities! They cannot be reasoned with! They are machines! A race of beings created by a Dark God for one purpose---the extermination of the life form known as man!"
Buck examined the Princess's demeanor and knew that she was wavering in her thinking. God, she was a stunning woman, he thought. If it weren't for Wilma and maybe under different circumstances---well, who knows?
"Princess, we've known each other for a long time now", said Buck softly. "You know me well enough to know that I am not a liar. I have met Starbuck's people on board their Battlestar and I have fought beside them once already. These are good people Princess and I believe that if we do not take up their fight beside them, our civilizations will fall as surely as theirs did."
Buck moved forward, taking Ardalla's hand in his. "Princess, I believe that if we don't join forces, the human race will cease to exist in this universe. I believe this is bigger than all of our societies combined. It didn't hit me until just now, but the very names of some of Starbuck's people hint at this battle being of biblical proportions."
"What do you mean, Buck?" asked Twiki.
"Well, Twiki, Commander Adama for example---his name could be a derivative of Adam, the father of mankind. And, Apollo was a god in Greek mythology as was Athena. Even you, mister Starbuck---"
"What are you saying, Buck?" asked a confused Starbuck.
"I'm not exactly sure, Starbuck. But, all of this may have been prophecy or it may have happened before in some other space-time continuum. Many of your friend's names are the names of God's from ancient Earth mythology. The helmets that your pilots wear are almost exact replicas of the headdresses of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. What I'm saying is that this day, today, we may be pawns playing out the dawn of some new era in this universe or it may be the Armageddon, the end of all things. I believe the choice is yours, Princess", sighed Buck.
Before Ardalla could answer, a guard burst into the room. "Your highness, your father commands you to return the Royal Fleet to Draco immediately."
"There is your answer, Buck", Ardalla said weakly. "My father's order must be followed. Guard, order helm to make for home."
"No! Belay that order!" interrupted Killer Kane. "Princess, I cannot allow you to do this. I believe we must fight!"
"But, Kane-"
"No buts", said Kane, taking her hand from Buck's. Ardalla let herself fall into Kane's arms. She laid her head on his chest and nodded in approval. They would stand and fight alongside the Defenders of Earth.
"Well, let's get going", exclaimed Buck.
"Hey! Beeda beeda beeda, where did the creepy dude go?"
"Baltar!" gasped Starbuck. *
"By the Lords of Kobol! It's a miracle" gasped Adama, choking back tears of joy.
"Ironically, there is some truth to your appraisal of the situation, Commander", said Zeus as he stepped down from the gurney.
"Your clothes---" whispered Salik.
"Yes, you refer to the shimmering white glow of these new robes. I am currently reflecting the protective aura of the Seraphs---the beings from the Ship of Lights", explained Zeus.
Cassie couldn't hold back her elation at the sight of her boy any longer. He looked so much like Starbuck as a young man. She reached to hug him but was startled when her arms passed right through him.
"Oh, my god!" she exclaimed.
"You're one of them, aren't you?" whispered an awestruck Adama.
"Yes, I am. As are you, my friend. At least you will be once you've transcended the crude matter of the flesh."
"I-I am no more than a man", said Adama.
"You are much more than a mere man, Adama. You are what your people may aspire to be. You are of pure Kobolian blood. You, your son and your daughter are the key tie between Kobol and Earth", said Zeus as he circled the Life Center.
Cassie sat down, completely floored by what she was hearing. Salik and Wilker thought that Cassie had the right idea, each of the men finding a chair to slump into. Adama stood in the center of the room as Zeus slowly circled him.
"How can this be?" stammered Cassie.
"The Adama family has already been to Earth. Many millennia ago, the House of Adam seeded Earth as the 13th colony of Kobol. Adam and his consort, Eve, were placed on Earth to start the human race anew. The Seraphs did this to counteract the actions of one of their own, the Prince of Darkness-"
"Count Iblis", finished Adama.
"Yes", said Zee. "Iblis, using the Cylons as his soldiers of evil, instigated the 1,000 yahren war that culminated with the destruction of the 12 worlds of the 3 suns."
"I'm lost", Wilker whispered to Salik.
"Today is the final battle between Iblis' forces of darkness and the forces of light assigned to protect the human race. Your medallion, Adama, has activated Earth's ancient Defense Force and, in turn, revived me from my stasis state."
Instinctively, Adama reached for the medallion clipped to the breast- plate of his uniform. It felt warm and seemed to be humming.
"Yes, you know this all to be true", said Zeus. "You've always known. That is why you lead your survivors on a quest for a mythological planet, and that is why they followed. You were touched by the hand of god and it called to the Kobolian blood running through your veins. Do you remember the day?"
"Yes! Yes, I remember now", said an excited Adama. "It was just after the Cylon attack at the Peace Conference. Apollo and I had gone down to the surface of Caprica. While Apollo was outside our family dwelling, a book fell from the shelf across the room. It was my wife Ilya's copy of the Book of the Word. I picked it up and opened it right to the scripture of the "Garden of Earth". That's when I decided to seek out the 13th tribe."
"This is amazing", cried Cassie.
Suddenly, the ships' alert claxon came to life, jolting Cassie and the others back into another reality. Cassie and the doctors raced to their battle stations, but Adama and Dr. Zee remained in Life Center.
"The time has come, Adama. You must have faith."
"I do."
"Launch all vipers, all batteries commence firing!!!" shouted Tigh over the bridge claxon.
Almost simultaneously, vipers roared from the Galactica's launch tubes. The vipers quickly swooped around their mother ship to face the unbelievable enemy force approaching. They weren't alone.
"Form scan positive, Colonel Tigh. Starfighters from Earth ship Searcher have rendezvoused with our fighters and are on direct intercept course with approaching Cylon force", reported Athena dutifully.
She paused for a moment as she met Tigh's gaze. They were both thinking the same thing. The odds were hopelessly against them, but still they would fight. Athena's thoughts also dwelled on her loved ones, the special people in her life that she would probably never see again. She thought of her husband, Croft, the rough warrior that had earned his freedom from the prison barge when he lead the Galactica to victory two decades earlier during the battle for the Gun on Ice Planet Zero. Of course, her brother Apollo, sister in law Sheba, and nephew Boxey were also out there in their skinny little fighters. Athena allowed a micron for prayer, and then continued with her duties.
The Searcher bridge was filled with a tangible dread that one could probably walk on. Each member of the command crew took turns being caught in an awestruck gaze at the main viewer.
"This is surely suicide", sighed Asimov.
"Admiral, communiqué coming in from EDD. It's Dr. Huer, sir", reported Devlin.
"On viewer, Devlin."
Dr. Goodfellow, Crighton, and Wilma entered the bridge just as Huer's face appeared on screen.
"Admiral, I hope you and your new friends arrive soon or their won't be an Earth left for you to defend", Huer said bluntly. "These Cylons ran right through our outer planetary defenses, came around from the dark side of the moon and immediately started bombing all major cities."
"Lord, no", whispered Goodfellow.
"So far, our shields are holding, but they are weakening every moment that passes. It doesn't look good", said Huer.
"Any word from Buck?" asked Wilma.
"I'm afraid not, Colonel. I was hoping that you had heard something. It appears Buck was unable to convince Ardalla to join us", said a defeated Huer.
"There is still time, Doctor. I wouldn't give up on Captain Rogers just yet", offered Theo as he sat placidly on Huers' desk.
"Dr. Huer, whatever came of those mysterious signals?" asked Wilma.
"I don't know how they play into all of this Colonel, but it appears the Cylons have been to Earth before", answered Huer.
"Yes", continued Theo. "We have unearthed an ancient starship in the region once called Roswell, New Mexico."
"Roswell?" said Wilma. "Buck's told me this story. 20th century legend placed Roswell as the sight of a UFO crash."
"Yes", said Theo. "Well, now it appears that that UFO was in fact a Cylon ship containing three Cylon Centurions. Somehow, as the Cylon force approached, the ancient fighter's homing beacon was activated and lead the Cylon's directly to Earth."
"Yes, but what of the second energy beam? Is that Cylon as well?" asked Dr. Goodfellow.
"As of now, we do not know", answered Huer. "However, our instruments are going reading one small quake after another at the bottom of the Atlantic. Some seismic event has apparently begun and its epicenter is the same as this mystery signal."
With no warning, Huer's image vanished.
"We've lost transmission, sir", reported Devlin.
"Understood. How long before we engage the enemy?" asked Asimov.
"All fighters are now engaged, sir", replied a clearly shaken Devlin.
"Lord help us", Asimov said.
Conclusion continues in part 13----
*
The room was as quiet as a tomb. The air seemed stale and dead to everyone in the chamber as they watched the horror being displayed before them. Buck Rogers had convinced Ardalla to scan through the Earth frequency's to see for herself the devastation left behind by these Cylon aggressors. Buck, Ardalla and Kane were completely awestruck. The channel they picked up showed the Mars Colony had been completely decimated. Starbuck and Baltar were having slightly different reactions. Starbuck was disgusted by the scenes but he was also hopeful that this meant his friends and loved ones aboard Galactica were surely nearby. He prayed that if this were indeed the end, he would be able to spend it with Cassie, Athena and Apollo. Baltar, on the other hand, was trying to come up with a plan that would ensure his survival. It certainly appeared as if the Cylons were going to be the victors in this final battle. So, as the others concentrated on the battle being played out on the view screen, Baltar slipped away.
Baltar had wisely taken note of the path the Draconian Guards had taken from the time of his capture in the Star Fortress's hangar bay, to the time he and Starbuck were brought before the Princess in her chambers. He easily made his way through the maze of corridors and to his ship, The Avenger. Kneeling down beside a supply rack, Baltar could see that there were no guards around the ship at all. Apparently, the Princess and Kane did not believe Avenger was of vital interest to the security of their hangar. With no hesitation at all, Baltar sprinted down a metal staircase and across the hangar towards the Nomen Freighter and freedom.
"I've never seen anything like it", said a stoic Kane.
"These Cylons---you're people lead them across the universe and right to Earth's doorstep", exclaimed the Princess, trying to maintain a confident composure. "I think Earth is getting exactly what it deserves."
"My people didn't have any choice, your highness!" retorted an enraged Starbuck. "We're refugees from a system of 12 planets, a lush and thriving civilization that was completely destroyed by the Cylons simply because we loved freedom, we loved independence---to feel-to question-to resist oppression. But, to them, it was an alien way of existing that they could never accept!"
Ardalla smiled, "My father could approach their leader and -"
"Ardalla!" shouted Starbuck. "The Cylons ambushed our fleet of Battlestars at a Peace Conference while wave after wave of their fighters bombed our cities! They cannot be reasoned with! They are machines! A race of beings created by a Dark God for one purpose---the extermination of the life form known as man!"
Buck examined the Princess's demeanor and knew that she was wavering in her thinking. God, she was a stunning woman, he thought. If it weren't for Wilma and maybe under different circumstances---well, who knows?
"Princess, we've known each other for a long time now", said Buck softly. "You know me well enough to know that I am not a liar. I have met Starbuck's people on board their Battlestar and I have fought beside them once already. These are good people Princess and I believe that if we do not take up their fight beside them, our civilizations will fall as surely as theirs did."
Buck moved forward, taking Ardalla's hand in his. "Princess, I believe that if we don't join forces, the human race will cease to exist in this universe. I believe this is bigger than all of our societies combined. It didn't hit me until just now, but the very names of some of Starbuck's people hint at this battle being of biblical proportions."
"What do you mean, Buck?" asked Twiki.
"Well, Twiki, Commander Adama for example---his name could be a derivative of Adam, the father of mankind. And, Apollo was a god in Greek mythology as was Athena. Even you, mister Starbuck---"
"What are you saying, Buck?" asked a confused Starbuck.
"I'm not exactly sure, Starbuck. But, all of this may have been prophecy or it may have happened before in some other space-time continuum. Many of your friend's names are the names of God's from ancient Earth mythology. The helmets that your pilots wear are almost exact replicas of the headdresses of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. What I'm saying is that this day, today, we may be pawns playing out the dawn of some new era in this universe or it may be the Armageddon, the end of all things. I believe the choice is yours, Princess", sighed Buck.
Before Ardalla could answer, a guard burst into the room. "Your highness, your father commands you to return the Royal Fleet to Draco immediately."
"There is your answer, Buck", Ardalla said weakly. "My father's order must be followed. Guard, order helm to make for home."
"No! Belay that order!" interrupted Killer Kane. "Princess, I cannot allow you to do this. I believe we must fight!"
"But, Kane-"
"No buts", said Kane, taking her hand from Buck's. Ardalla let herself fall into Kane's arms. She laid her head on his chest and nodded in approval. They would stand and fight alongside the Defenders of Earth.
"Well, let's get going", exclaimed Buck.
"Hey! Beeda beeda beeda, where did the creepy dude go?"
"Baltar!" gasped Starbuck. *
"By the Lords of Kobol! It's a miracle" gasped Adama, choking back tears of joy.
"Ironically, there is some truth to your appraisal of the situation, Commander", said Zeus as he stepped down from the gurney.
"Your clothes---" whispered Salik.
"Yes, you refer to the shimmering white glow of these new robes. I am currently reflecting the protective aura of the Seraphs---the beings from the Ship of Lights", explained Zeus.
Cassie couldn't hold back her elation at the sight of her boy any longer. He looked so much like Starbuck as a young man. She reached to hug him but was startled when her arms passed right through him.
"Oh, my god!" she exclaimed.
"You're one of them, aren't you?" whispered an awestruck Adama.
"Yes, I am. As are you, my friend. At least you will be once you've transcended the crude matter of the flesh."
"I-I am no more than a man", said Adama.
"You are much more than a mere man, Adama. You are what your people may aspire to be. You are of pure Kobolian blood. You, your son and your daughter are the key tie between Kobol and Earth", said Zeus as he circled the Life Center.
Cassie sat down, completely floored by what she was hearing. Salik and Wilker thought that Cassie had the right idea, each of the men finding a chair to slump into. Adama stood in the center of the room as Zeus slowly circled him.
"How can this be?" stammered Cassie.
"The Adama family has already been to Earth. Many millennia ago, the House of Adam seeded Earth as the 13th colony of Kobol. Adam and his consort, Eve, were placed on Earth to start the human race anew. The Seraphs did this to counteract the actions of one of their own, the Prince of Darkness-"
"Count Iblis", finished Adama.
"Yes", said Zee. "Iblis, using the Cylons as his soldiers of evil, instigated the 1,000 yahren war that culminated with the destruction of the 12 worlds of the 3 suns."
"I'm lost", Wilker whispered to Salik.
"Today is the final battle between Iblis' forces of darkness and the forces of light assigned to protect the human race. Your medallion, Adama, has activated Earth's ancient Defense Force and, in turn, revived me from my stasis state."
Instinctively, Adama reached for the medallion clipped to the breast- plate of his uniform. It felt warm and seemed to be humming.
"Yes, you know this all to be true", said Zeus. "You've always known. That is why you lead your survivors on a quest for a mythological planet, and that is why they followed. You were touched by the hand of god and it called to the Kobolian blood running through your veins. Do you remember the day?"
"Yes! Yes, I remember now", said an excited Adama. "It was just after the Cylon attack at the Peace Conference. Apollo and I had gone down to the surface of Caprica. While Apollo was outside our family dwelling, a book fell from the shelf across the room. It was my wife Ilya's copy of the Book of the Word. I picked it up and opened it right to the scripture of the "Garden of Earth". That's when I decided to seek out the 13th tribe."
"This is amazing", cried Cassie.
Suddenly, the ships' alert claxon came to life, jolting Cassie and the others back into another reality. Cassie and the doctors raced to their battle stations, but Adama and Dr. Zee remained in Life Center.
"The time has come, Adama. You must have faith."
"I do."
"Launch all vipers, all batteries commence firing!!!" shouted Tigh over the bridge claxon.
Almost simultaneously, vipers roared from the Galactica's launch tubes. The vipers quickly swooped around their mother ship to face the unbelievable enemy force approaching. They weren't alone.
"Form scan positive, Colonel Tigh. Starfighters from Earth ship Searcher have rendezvoused with our fighters and are on direct intercept course with approaching Cylon force", reported Athena dutifully.
She paused for a moment as she met Tigh's gaze. They were both thinking the same thing. The odds were hopelessly against them, but still they would fight. Athena's thoughts also dwelled on her loved ones, the special people in her life that she would probably never see again. She thought of her husband, Croft, the rough warrior that had earned his freedom from the prison barge when he lead the Galactica to victory two decades earlier during the battle for the Gun on Ice Planet Zero. Of course, her brother Apollo, sister in law Sheba, and nephew Boxey were also out there in their skinny little fighters. Athena allowed a micron for prayer, and then continued with her duties.
The Searcher bridge was filled with a tangible dread that one could probably walk on. Each member of the command crew took turns being caught in an awestruck gaze at the main viewer.
"This is surely suicide", sighed Asimov.
"Admiral, communiqué coming in from EDD. It's Dr. Huer, sir", reported Devlin.
"On viewer, Devlin."
Dr. Goodfellow, Crighton, and Wilma entered the bridge just as Huer's face appeared on screen.
"Admiral, I hope you and your new friends arrive soon or their won't be an Earth left for you to defend", Huer said bluntly. "These Cylons ran right through our outer planetary defenses, came around from the dark side of the moon and immediately started bombing all major cities."
"Lord, no", whispered Goodfellow.
"So far, our shields are holding, but they are weakening every moment that passes. It doesn't look good", said Huer.
"Any word from Buck?" asked Wilma.
"I'm afraid not, Colonel. I was hoping that you had heard something. It appears Buck was unable to convince Ardalla to join us", said a defeated Huer.
"There is still time, Doctor. I wouldn't give up on Captain Rogers just yet", offered Theo as he sat placidly on Huers' desk.
"Dr. Huer, whatever came of those mysterious signals?" asked Wilma.
"I don't know how they play into all of this Colonel, but it appears the Cylons have been to Earth before", answered Huer.
"Yes", continued Theo. "We have unearthed an ancient starship in the region once called Roswell, New Mexico."
"Roswell?" said Wilma. "Buck's told me this story. 20th century legend placed Roswell as the sight of a UFO crash."
"Yes", said Theo. "Well, now it appears that that UFO was in fact a Cylon ship containing three Cylon Centurions. Somehow, as the Cylon force approached, the ancient fighter's homing beacon was activated and lead the Cylon's directly to Earth."
"Yes, but what of the second energy beam? Is that Cylon as well?" asked Dr. Goodfellow.
"As of now, we do not know", answered Huer. "However, our instruments are going reading one small quake after another at the bottom of the Atlantic. Some seismic event has apparently begun and its epicenter is the same as this mystery signal."
With no warning, Huer's image vanished.
"We've lost transmission, sir", reported Devlin.
"Understood. How long before we engage the enemy?" asked Asimov.
"All fighters are now engaged, sir", replied a clearly shaken Devlin.
"Lord help us", Asimov said.
Conclusion continues in part 13----
