Somewhere Beyond the Heavens part 15: End Game
Admiral Asimov raced from one station to another on the Command Deck of Searcher. The reports he was receiving from his distraught crew were not good. Fire's burned out of control on several decks and their minimal shielding had just about had it.
"All hands abandon ship!" Asimov ordered.
A bloodied Devlin did not budge from his post as the Searcher's helmsman. "I'm not going anywhere, Admiral!" he said defiantly.
Asimov nodded a begrudging agreement with his ships' pilot. They would remain at their posts, along with Crighton, until the bitter end. They saw to the safe evacuation of their ship- mates and provided as much cover as they could for their escape pods. And, while it had taken some convincing, they finally got Dr. Goodfellow off of the bridge and into an escape pod as well. Once his pod was safely en route to Earth, they were truly alone---and without hope.
Dozens of Cylons began kamikaze attacks on the Searcher now, which was clearly mortally wounded. The Searcher had fought gallantly; especially considering it was a research vessel, not a warship. But, it was only a matter of time now before Searcher would be destroyed.
"I have infiltrated a Cylon nerve center", announced Crighton placidly. The AI robot seemed completely unaffected by their predicament.
"Yes! Crighton, will your plan work?" asked a bitter Asimov.
Crighton was now plugged in to the Searchers' main computer, which was aiding him in amplifying his viral signals into the Cylon network.
"It appears that for every three Basestars, there is a mother ship, a Basestar that is the central nerve for all three warships in it's grouping. The encryption codes will undoubtedly become more difficult to crack as I move from one grouping to the next, but I believe I can order the Cylon Baseships to self-destruct", reported Crighton.
"Yes!!!" cried Devlin.
"You better hurry! We won't be around much longer!" growled Asimov.
Devlin inexplicably rushed to the communications station and began to hail Galactica with a flurry of desperate cries for help. As Devlin worked to call for assistance and Crighton delivered his virus, Asimov turned his attention to the main viewer that now displayed three Cylon Basestar's. Because of their immense size in comparison to the diminutive Searcher, they almost appeared to be close enough to touch.
"Admiral, I can't confirm the Galactica copied my message. All communications just went out", Devlin reported solemnly.
"I think our time is up, Devlin", whispered Asimov through gritted teeth. "We did our best, son. God be with the rest of our people now."
Asimov and Devlin watched in horror as the Basestar directly in front of them powered up a missile port and fired it point blank at the Searcher. The two Searcher officers stiffened and gasped for what would surely be their last breaths.
Then, the Galactica appeared out of nowhere, shielding the Searcher from sure destruction. The missile hit the Galactica topside, piercing it's weakening defense shields and destroying several of its' Celestial Chambers.
Tigh's face replaced the view of the Battlestar on the Searcher monitor. "We've just bought you some time, Searcher. Stay tucked in close and we'll shield you the best we can!" urged a haggard looking Colonel Tigh.
"Crighton!!!" pleaded Asimov.
Before Asimov could finish his own thought, the Searcher rocked violently from side to side.
"Admiral! Look!" shouted Devlin gleefully.
The three attacking baseships were in different stages of destruction. Within seconds, all three would become fireballs.
Cheers rose up on the decks of Galactica and Princess Ardallas' Star Fortress, as well as every other allied warship.
"Yeeee haaaaaa!" shouted Boomer as he fired yet another volley of lasers at the enemy.
"Burn in hades!" snarled a now bitter Troy as he watched the Basestars' disintegrate. "That's for my dad, wherever he is."
Tigh watched with great elation as Baseship after Baseship blew apart from within. The more enemy ships that went up in flames, the louder the joyous roar of approval became from the allied squadrons. For the first time since the battle began, the human forces appeared to have a chance. In all, twenty-one Basestars self-destructed. However, as abruptly as the virus had taken effect, it would suddenly be rendered useless. On Galactica, Tigh's elation turned to the sad realization that the Cylons had caught on to their little scheme and found a way to block Crighton's virus.
"They've adapted", reported Crighton on the Searcher Bridge. "The Cylon's have put up a new firewall with multi-layered encryptions in some ancient tongue. I will not be able to continue."
"You've done all you could, Crighton", said Devlin.
"Let's get out of here. We'll make for the Galactica", announced Asimov.
Dr. Huer scanned the myriad of monitors that littered the Nerve Center of the underground bunker. All over the world, the images were the same---death and destruction. And yet, just when these alien beasts could have finished them off, they pulled back.
"Any word from Buck or Wilma yet?" asked Huer.
"I'm afraid not", answered Theo. "However, an unaccounted for Starfighter is on final approach."
"Well, who is it? Identify", said Huer with some urgency.
Huer's words still hung in the air when the buzz of his personal comm.-line went off.
"Beeda beeda beeda. Anybody home?" came the voice of Twiki from Huer's desk speaker.
"Twiki!!!" exclaimed Huer. "Thank heavens' it's you! Where are Buck and Wilma?"
"Beeda beet-not a clue. One minute Buck's flying this bird, the next minute he's gone. So, I activated the auto-pilot and headed for home", explained Twiki.
"Oh, no", Huer moaned.
"Twiki, I'm so sorry", offered Theo. "We know how much Buck meant to you."
"Beeda beeda beet vrrrrp ta dat."
"You don't think that Captain Rogers is still alive, do you?" asked a surprised Theo.
"Buck will be back. I know he will", said the little droid confidently. "Twiki out."
Huer clicked his com-phone to off.
"Dr. Huer---I believe that Buck and Wilma's disappearance may have something to do with the ancient starship that rocketed away from the Earth as quickly as it had appeared over the Atlantic. My calculations have conclusively identified it to have been on a direct intercept path with Buck and the others before both the ship and our pilots mysteriously vanished", explained Theopolis.
"What does it all mean, Dr. Theopolis? What is going on here?"
"I do not know. However, I would hypothesis that we are pawns in a universal battle between the forces of light and darkness", answered Theo in his typically unaffected tone.
"Good lord", sighed Huer.
High above the Earth but in a different dimension, the Ship of Light hovered in the midst of the most horrific battle in the history of the universe.
"Father, what is this place?" asked Apollo.
Sheba clung to her husbands arm as Adama stepped down from his perch. Sheba surveyed the room, and almost laughed aloud as she noticed her peers were feeling the same uneasiness and helplessness that she was feeling. Starbuck and Athena were steadying each other, as were Buck and Wilma. The funny thing was that the men were clinging to their women every bit as much as the women were too their men. They all felt detached and out of sorts in this mysterious world Adama had called Atlantis.
"We are aboard a Seraph vessel, a Ship of Light very much like the one that abducted you all those yahrens ago. Do you remember?" said Adama in a subtle and calming voice.
Adama placed his hand on Apollo's shoulder, tapping it ever so gently. Apollo looked into his father's eyes and felt a wind of enlightenment fill his entire being.
"Yes. Yes, I remember everything now!" sighed Apollo.
"So do I", exclaimed Sheba.
"Ditto for me", added Starbuck. "Up until now, it had seemed like a dream---a feeling."
"The Seraphs are the Guardians of the Universe", continued Adama. "This Seraph vessel was left on Earth to defend the last vestige of humanity from the forces of the Prince of Darkness."
"Count Iblis", whispered Sheba.
A cold shiver shot through her body. She had been controlled by Iblis' machinations all those yahrens ago and the days she had spent with Iblis still haunted her dreams.
"Yes, Sheba", answered Adama.
"Commander Adama", said Buck. "According to Earth mythology, Atlantis was a city that was overcome by the sea."
"Yes, Captain Rogers, this Ship of Light was a thriving city at one time. It was home to the Defenders of the Thirteenth Tribe---that is, until the treachery of Count Iblis destroyed it", explained Adama. "For centuries, it lied dormant at the bottom of an ocean, waiting for the Children of the Thirteenth tribe to free it from Iblis' curse."
"The Children of the Thirteenth Tribe?" inquired Wilma.
"Yes", answered Zeus as he stepped forward. "Adama, Apollo and Athena are direct descendants of the Chieftain of the 13th tribe."
Both Apollo and Athena stepped forward instinctively. Starbuck and Sheba made no attempt to stop Adama's children.
"My children", said a now godly like Adama. "We are of the House of Adam. He and his consort, Eve, were the first Kobolians to reach Earth. They began all human life here on Earth."
"My god", whispered Buck to Wilma. "Adam and Eve---from the bible! It's all true!"
"Father, how can we be their direct descendants?" asked Apollo. "Our family was of the 12 Colonies of Kobol----on the other side of this universe!"
"At some point, the 13th tribe lost all contact with the other 12 Colonies", explained Zeus. "Adam's Ark was sent to re-establish contact. What he found upon his arrival was a pre-Cylon War society of greed, lust, and tribes that would war over such petty things as land and religious beliefs. Then, war with the Cylon Alliance broke out and Adam feared for his tribe. He sent a final communiqué to Earth, ordering his subordinates-- -Pharoahs they were called-to destroy any and all sophisticated technologies that the Cylons would be able to detect or feel threatened by. He vowed to one -day re-establish contact with his people after the Cylons had been defeated. He prayed to his father, the Holy Spirit, to protect his human paradise on Earth. Unbeknownst to him, his prayers were answered and the Seraphs sent a Ship of Light to protect the people of Earth."
"Dr. Zee, how do you play into all of this?" asked Athena.
"Dr Zee was a gift from god", answered Adama. "On judgment day, the Seraphs tested Starbuck. Even though he would be marooned, Starbuck built an escape pod for baby Zeus and his spiritual mother---Angela."
"I guess you passed the test", Buck quipped with a nod at Starbuck.
"Zeus gave us so many things", sighed Adama. "Without his warp system, it would have taken us 5 times as long to reach Earth. His modified shields and Wave Motion cannon saved the Galactica from certain destruction innumerable times. And now, he will help us defeat our enemies once and for all."
"How?" asked Starbuck.
"Count Iblis has abused his powers for the last time", answered Zeus.
"We of pure Kobolian blood have the power within us", said Adama. "Athena, Apollo---will you give yourselves for the good of mankind? Will you leave your crude bodies and allow yourselves to evolve?"
"No!" cried Sheba. "There must be another way!"
"It's ok, Sheba" said Apollo. "You're gonna be ok. Just remember--- I love you. I'll always love you."
Apollo and Sheba embraced for the last time with a love and a passion that was borderline violent.
"Athena", said Starbuck as he grabbed her by the hand. "I've always loved you."
"I know", said Athena before giving Starbuck a gentle kiss on the lips.
"One thing, Commander---why are the rest of us here?" asked Buck.
"As witnesses to the grace of god" answered the Adama. "It will be up to you and Wilma and Starbuck to pass on what you have seen and learned."
"Apollo---Athena---take my hand in yours and close your eyes", said Adama.
The last thing that Starbuck remembered was dozens of white robed figures emerging from the very walls of the light-ship. Then, there was a blinding flash. When he lowered his hands from his face, he was back inside the cockpit of his Draconian Marauder. To his right, he could see Sheba's viper, to his left was a Starfighter containing Buck and Wilma.
"Apollo", whimpered Sheba. "I'll always love you!"
"He knows that, Sheba", said a somber Starbuck.
"Well, whatever they're going to do, I hope they do it fast", groaned Buck. "It doesn't look like our forces will be able to hold out much longer."
On one flank, the Galactica was taking a beating from several Basestars and their fighters. On the other end of the battle, the Draconian Royal Fleet had been cut in two. And, at the edge of the solar system, a lone Basestar had begun to assault the unprotected rag-tag civilian fleet. It certainly looked hopeless for the humans. That is until 13 Ships of Light suddenly appeared.
The tribes of man had finally been re-united. Each light ship represented a tribe of Kobol. The prophecy was being fulfilled. The sons and daughters of the Lords of Kobol, Adama's family, had returned to their place of origin and freed the Atlantis. The Atlantis, which was of the warrior caste among the Seraphs, now took up the lead position in this holy war of good versus evil. Adama telepathically instructed his brethren on the other Light Ships to surround all of the combatants. Almost instantaneously, the Ships of Light surrounded the epic battle raging in the system of Earth.
"I suggest we all head for our home bases ASAP!!!" exclaimed Buck. "I think something big is about to go down!"
"I think you are right, Buck", replied Starbuck.
On the Super-Basestar, Count Iblis' rage could hardly be contained.
"Noooooooo!!!! It cannot be!!!!" he growled. "Damn you, Adama!!! Damn you all to hell!!!"
On Earth, Huer received yet another puzzling report after a day full of them.
"Dr. Huer, a gigantic whirlpool has formed off of the coast of New Florida", reported Theo from Twiki's chest plate.
"Now what?" muttered the exhausted Huer.
Count Iblis shoved Vulpa aside, commandeering the controls of the Cylon Command ship. He set coordinates that would plunge the Basestar into a sea on Earth.
"Your eminence, if I may-".
Iblis turned and unleashed his fury on the gold plated Vulpa. Energy ribbons leapt from his fingers, destroying the Cylon Commander.
As Wilma piloted herself and Buck towards the safety of New Chicago, the gigantic Basestar roared by them, through Earth's atmosphere and into it's Atlantic Ocean.
"Someone wanted out of here pretty bad", quipped Wilma in her best Buck Rogers voice.
"The Bermuda Triangle", whispered Buck. "So, it is a gateway to hell."
Starbuck followed Sheba onto the Alpha Landing deck of the Galactica, putting his new fighter down effortlessly. As he disembarked, a familiar female form approached his ship.
"Cassie!!!" he shouted as he leapt from the wing of the Marauder.
Not far away, Sheba and Boxey clung to one another. No words needed to be said. The most important man in both of their lives was gone. Boomer and Dietra approached only after they had given the mother and son ample time to compose themselves.
"Sheba---Troy," said Boomer carefully. "I'm so sorry, but I think we should make for the nearest shelter. This could be a rough ride."
"Let's go", agreed a tearful Sheba.
When Starbuck and Cassie finally came up for air, they hurried after their friends who were waiting for them on the lift.
Moments later, they found themselves on the Galactica bridge. Starbuck had talked the group out of hiding in some corner of a shelter. He wanted to see firsthand what the wrath of God looked like. Tigh, preoccupied with the events unfolding in the starfield before him, barely noticed the groups' arrival.
"Princess Ardalla!" shouted Kane. "The Colonials are ordering a full retreat."
"It' about time. They've finally come to their senses", said Ardalla.
"Helm", said Kane as he ignored his Princess. "Full reverse. Deck officer---order all Marauders to maintain the perimeter. Don't let anything get through! We only need to keep them from escaping!"
"Escaping? I thought we were the ones escaping", said the befuddled Princess.
The once invincible Cylon force now found itself surrounded and vulnerable. Vulpa and Iblis were gone leaving Spectre in command. Lucifer had assigned himself the task of finishing off the civilian fleet. He had assumed the bridge of the Basestar, which was currently pummeling the Colonial Fleet.
"By your command, Spectre", reported a Cylon Centurion. "13 large starcrafts have surrounded our forces per visual reports. The ships do not appear on any of our scopes."
"Raise all shields and prepare an escape vector", said the nervous Spectre. "We will fall back temporarily and re-group to assess this new foe."
"By your command."
Before Spectres order could be carried out, his Basestar was an inferno. Microns later, there was no sign of it's existence. It had been completely obliterated. Thousands of blue-white spheres of light hurtled from the Seraph ships. They were everywhere. They enveloped the Cylon fleet like a blanket. A sphere would engulf a hapless Cylon Raider, pause momentarily, and then move on leaving nothing but microscopic space debris. Several Spheres would pounce on one Basestar at a time, like an angry pack of predators devouring their prey.
The Galactica bridge crew watched in stunned silence. Slowly but surely, their Cylon enemy was being destroyed by the beautiful, yet frightening energy spheres.
"By the Lords of Kobol", gasped Tigh.
"That's exactly right---Commander Tigh", said Starbuck.
Moments later it was over. The most epic battle in the history of space warfare was over---and the humans had won! A thunderous cheer permeated the Galactica Bridge. Hysterical tears of joy abounded on nearly every crew-person's face. The Cylons' had been repelled---possibly forever.
"Commander Tigh", shouted Boomer over all the jubilation. "It's our fleet, sir! They're in trouble!"
Tigh took one last glance at the view port. He looked just in time to see the Ships of Light slowly disappear.
"They're gone", cried Cassiopeia, as she held tight to Starbuck.
"Goodbye father", Troy whispered to himself.
Tigh shook himself away from the hypnotic scene of the Lightships and back into the task at hand.
"Crewmen!!! Back to your stations!" he shouted. "Flank speed to our fleet!"
Within moments, the Galactica stood toe to toe with Lucifer's lone surviving Cylon Baseship.
"Launch all fighters! All batteries commence fire!" snarled Tigh.
Tigh turned to Starbuck, Sheba and the other command officers--- bringing them in close for a special counsel.
"My friends, I don't know that we have enough left to finish this last Baseship", he said softly. "The Galactica is badly damaged and our fighters will still be outnumbered."
"We're gonna make it, Colonel---Commander", said Starbuck confidently. "The Seraphs didn't just save us to let us die ten centons later."
"I think you're right, Starbuck", said a suddenly awestruck Sheba as she stared at the Galactica view port.
Starbuck, Boomer and the others turned to see the impossible. How could it be? Tigh refused to believe it until he had the Comm-Officer magnify the ship on viewer. When the viewer closed in on the ship, there could be no mistake. It was a battlestar. It was the Pegasus! The viewer actually zeroed in on the battlestar's nameplate, drawing shocked gasps from the Galactica crew.
"Father!!!" cried an elated Sheba.
The view screen suddenly went blank before revealing Commander Cain's grinning face.
"Hello, baby" he said directly at Sheba. "You didn't think you had gotten rid of me? Did you?"
"Father!!! It is you!!!" exclaimed Sheba as Troy tried to steady his stepmother.
"You better believe it, baby. Now, what do you say Colonel Tigh? Should we send this Cylon baddie back to hades?" sneered Cain.
"With pleasure, Commander", said a smiling Tigh. "Fire all missiles!!!"
"Fire all Missiles!!!" Cain howled.
With those two launch orders, Lucifer's Basestar took direct hits on both its' aft and stern. The resulting explosion took dozens of Cylon Raiders with it----to hades!
Another round of cheers erupted on both Battlestar Bridges as well as the thousands of civilians that had witnessed the battle from their barges and freighters. Then, came the best news of all and Cain couldn't wait to tell his Galactica comrades in person.
"That does it, my friends", he smirked. "The war is over!!! I told you we'd do it!"
"Father? What are you talking about?" asked Sheba stepping towards the view port. "What about the rest of the Cylon territories, their home planet---what about the Colonies?"
"The Cylons have been routed in every corner of the known universe! The are effectively extinct---even on their home world of Cylon!" Cain cackled in glee.
"How?" asked Tigh.
"Well, I had a little help from some friends", answered Cain.
"The Seraphs" offered Boomer.
"No", said Cain, clearly shocking his Galactica friends. "These friends."
Suddenly, the diamond shaped Stargate erupted to life once more, spilling out thousands of warships.
"My god!" gasped Boomer. "Those look a little like Eastern Alliance destroyers!"
"Very perceptive, Boomer", replied Cain. "They are 3rd generation from the ones you once encountered. I made some special modifications myself!"
"How did you do this?" said Sheba simply.
"Well---you don't think I've been sitting on my astros all these yahrens do you? I've been busy---building a fleet on Terra. I convinced the East and Western governments that it was in their best interests to help me defeat the Cylon Empire before Terra came under Cylon attack. A pre-emptive strike my friends!!! We would have been here sooner but we were a little busy", said a very proud Cain.
"Busy?" said Starbuck.
"Yes, Starbuck" said Cain as he noticed Cassie for the first time. "I was busy taking back the Colonies!"
"WHAT?!!!" came the cry from several crewmen.
"That's right, my friends. The Colonies are back under our control. The Cylons have been vanquished forever. So, what do you say we get under way?" Cain said.
Once again, a cheer rose up on the Galactica Bridge. The nightmare was over---the Cylons were dead!
Several sectons later, a joyous celebration was taking place in downtown New Chicago. With the help of the Colonials, the damaged cities of Earth were well on their way to being fully reconstructed and rebuilt. Thousands of Colonial civilians had exercised their right to stay on Earth and become members of its' citizenry. Mostly volunteers and career military officers had agreed to join Galactica and Pegasus on a new trek back home to fully realize the rebuilding of the Colonies.
The tribes of man were united. And, with the combination of the Earth's stargate transit system and the warp drive of Galactica, Earth would never again lose contact with her sister worlds.
Dr. Huer approached the podium, which faced the thousands of people in attendance in Chicago Square. Newlyweds Buck and Wilma sat in the front row alongside Twiki, Crighton, Doctor Goodfellow and Admiral Asimov. Devlin stood off to the side with his wife and child.
In the second row, Cain and Sheba chatted with Troy as Starbuck and Cassiopeia fawned over one another. Boomer and Dietra sat behind the happily reunited couple and Commander Tigh stood directly behind Huer as he made his speech. Time and time again, cheers rose up from the huge throng of elated Earthlings and Colonials alike. Even Ardalla and Killer Kane were in attendance. It was a joyous, unprecedented event!
"-----the human race is finally one again!" finished Huer to another round of applause. "This was meant to be my friends. The sole reason the Searcher was on its assigned mission was to seek out long lost brothers of man. The scientific community, headed by Doctor Goodfellow, convinced the Earth Defense Directorate to fund this mission based on ancient 20th century scrolls. Scrolls that were incomplete mind you due to the atomic holocaust on Earth. In fact, the prophet's full name has been the subject matter of many heated debates. Nevertheless, I will now read the ancient scroll for our brothers and sisters of the Twelve Colonies. My friends, this is how we came to find you", said Huer with a quick look over his shoulder at Tigh.
"There are those who believe that life here began out there. Far across the universe with tribes of humans who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians or the Toltec's or the Mayans. That they may have been the architects of the great pyramids or the lost civilizations of Lemuria or Atlantis. Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man who even now fight to survive-----Somewhere Beyond the Heavens!"
Cheers once again shower the stage where Huer and Tigh stand.
Huer quickly added, "The prophet is known by one name only---Larson."
EPILOGUE:
AND SO HAVING ENDED THE CYLON TYRANNY, THE LAST BATTLESTAR'S , GALACTICA AND PEGASUS, LEAD A POWERFULL NEW FLEET ON A NOBLE QUEST---- TWELVE SHINING PLANETS --KNOWN AS THE COLONIES.
THE END
NEXT: NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR
Admiral Asimov raced from one station to another on the Command Deck of Searcher. The reports he was receiving from his distraught crew were not good. Fire's burned out of control on several decks and their minimal shielding had just about had it.
"All hands abandon ship!" Asimov ordered.
A bloodied Devlin did not budge from his post as the Searcher's helmsman. "I'm not going anywhere, Admiral!" he said defiantly.
Asimov nodded a begrudging agreement with his ships' pilot. They would remain at their posts, along with Crighton, until the bitter end. They saw to the safe evacuation of their ship- mates and provided as much cover as they could for their escape pods. And, while it had taken some convincing, they finally got Dr. Goodfellow off of the bridge and into an escape pod as well. Once his pod was safely en route to Earth, they were truly alone---and without hope.
Dozens of Cylons began kamikaze attacks on the Searcher now, which was clearly mortally wounded. The Searcher had fought gallantly; especially considering it was a research vessel, not a warship. But, it was only a matter of time now before Searcher would be destroyed.
"I have infiltrated a Cylon nerve center", announced Crighton placidly. The AI robot seemed completely unaffected by their predicament.
"Yes! Crighton, will your plan work?" asked a bitter Asimov.
Crighton was now plugged in to the Searchers' main computer, which was aiding him in amplifying his viral signals into the Cylon network.
"It appears that for every three Basestars, there is a mother ship, a Basestar that is the central nerve for all three warships in it's grouping. The encryption codes will undoubtedly become more difficult to crack as I move from one grouping to the next, but I believe I can order the Cylon Baseships to self-destruct", reported Crighton.
"Yes!!!" cried Devlin.
"You better hurry! We won't be around much longer!" growled Asimov.
Devlin inexplicably rushed to the communications station and began to hail Galactica with a flurry of desperate cries for help. As Devlin worked to call for assistance and Crighton delivered his virus, Asimov turned his attention to the main viewer that now displayed three Cylon Basestar's. Because of their immense size in comparison to the diminutive Searcher, they almost appeared to be close enough to touch.
"Admiral, I can't confirm the Galactica copied my message. All communications just went out", Devlin reported solemnly.
"I think our time is up, Devlin", whispered Asimov through gritted teeth. "We did our best, son. God be with the rest of our people now."
Asimov and Devlin watched in horror as the Basestar directly in front of them powered up a missile port and fired it point blank at the Searcher. The two Searcher officers stiffened and gasped for what would surely be their last breaths.
Then, the Galactica appeared out of nowhere, shielding the Searcher from sure destruction. The missile hit the Galactica topside, piercing it's weakening defense shields and destroying several of its' Celestial Chambers.
Tigh's face replaced the view of the Battlestar on the Searcher monitor. "We've just bought you some time, Searcher. Stay tucked in close and we'll shield you the best we can!" urged a haggard looking Colonel Tigh.
"Crighton!!!" pleaded Asimov.
Before Asimov could finish his own thought, the Searcher rocked violently from side to side.
"Admiral! Look!" shouted Devlin gleefully.
The three attacking baseships were in different stages of destruction. Within seconds, all three would become fireballs.
Cheers rose up on the decks of Galactica and Princess Ardallas' Star Fortress, as well as every other allied warship.
"Yeeee haaaaaa!" shouted Boomer as he fired yet another volley of lasers at the enemy.
"Burn in hades!" snarled a now bitter Troy as he watched the Basestars' disintegrate. "That's for my dad, wherever he is."
Tigh watched with great elation as Baseship after Baseship blew apart from within. The more enemy ships that went up in flames, the louder the joyous roar of approval became from the allied squadrons. For the first time since the battle began, the human forces appeared to have a chance. In all, twenty-one Basestars self-destructed. However, as abruptly as the virus had taken effect, it would suddenly be rendered useless. On Galactica, Tigh's elation turned to the sad realization that the Cylons had caught on to their little scheme and found a way to block Crighton's virus.
"They've adapted", reported Crighton on the Searcher Bridge. "The Cylon's have put up a new firewall with multi-layered encryptions in some ancient tongue. I will not be able to continue."
"You've done all you could, Crighton", said Devlin.
"Let's get out of here. We'll make for the Galactica", announced Asimov.
Dr. Huer scanned the myriad of monitors that littered the Nerve Center of the underground bunker. All over the world, the images were the same---death and destruction. And yet, just when these alien beasts could have finished them off, they pulled back.
"Any word from Buck or Wilma yet?" asked Huer.
"I'm afraid not", answered Theo. "However, an unaccounted for Starfighter is on final approach."
"Well, who is it? Identify", said Huer with some urgency.
Huer's words still hung in the air when the buzz of his personal comm.-line went off.
"Beeda beeda beeda. Anybody home?" came the voice of Twiki from Huer's desk speaker.
"Twiki!!!" exclaimed Huer. "Thank heavens' it's you! Where are Buck and Wilma?"
"Beeda beet-not a clue. One minute Buck's flying this bird, the next minute he's gone. So, I activated the auto-pilot and headed for home", explained Twiki.
"Oh, no", Huer moaned.
"Twiki, I'm so sorry", offered Theo. "We know how much Buck meant to you."
"Beeda beeda beet vrrrrp ta dat."
"You don't think that Captain Rogers is still alive, do you?" asked a surprised Theo.
"Buck will be back. I know he will", said the little droid confidently. "Twiki out."
Huer clicked his com-phone to off.
"Dr. Huer---I believe that Buck and Wilma's disappearance may have something to do with the ancient starship that rocketed away from the Earth as quickly as it had appeared over the Atlantic. My calculations have conclusively identified it to have been on a direct intercept path with Buck and the others before both the ship and our pilots mysteriously vanished", explained Theopolis.
"What does it all mean, Dr. Theopolis? What is going on here?"
"I do not know. However, I would hypothesis that we are pawns in a universal battle between the forces of light and darkness", answered Theo in his typically unaffected tone.
"Good lord", sighed Huer.
High above the Earth but in a different dimension, the Ship of Light hovered in the midst of the most horrific battle in the history of the universe.
"Father, what is this place?" asked Apollo.
Sheba clung to her husbands arm as Adama stepped down from his perch. Sheba surveyed the room, and almost laughed aloud as she noticed her peers were feeling the same uneasiness and helplessness that she was feeling. Starbuck and Athena were steadying each other, as were Buck and Wilma. The funny thing was that the men were clinging to their women every bit as much as the women were too their men. They all felt detached and out of sorts in this mysterious world Adama had called Atlantis.
"We are aboard a Seraph vessel, a Ship of Light very much like the one that abducted you all those yahrens ago. Do you remember?" said Adama in a subtle and calming voice.
Adama placed his hand on Apollo's shoulder, tapping it ever so gently. Apollo looked into his father's eyes and felt a wind of enlightenment fill his entire being.
"Yes. Yes, I remember everything now!" sighed Apollo.
"So do I", exclaimed Sheba.
"Ditto for me", added Starbuck. "Up until now, it had seemed like a dream---a feeling."
"The Seraphs are the Guardians of the Universe", continued Adama. "This Seraph vessel was left on Earth to defend the last vestige of humanity from the forces of the Prince of Darkness."
"Count Iblis", whispered Sheba.
A cold shiver shot through her body. She had been controlled by Iblis' machinations all those yahrens ago and the days she had spent with Iblis still haunted her dreams.
"Yes, Sheba", answered Adama.
"Commander Adama", said Buck. "According to Earth mythology, Atlantis was a city that was overcome by the sea."
"Yes, Captain Rogers, this Ship of Light was a thriving city at one time. It was home to the Defenders of the Thirteenth Tribe---that is, until the treachery of Count Iblis destroyed it", explained Adama. "For centuries, it lied dormant at the bottom of an ocean, waiting for the Children of the Thirteenth tribe to free it from Iblis' curse."
"The Children of the Thirteenth Tribe?" inquired Wilma.
"Yes", answered Zeus as he stepped forward. "Adama, Apollo and Athena are direct descendants of the Chieftain of the 13th tribe."
Both Apollo and Athena stepped forward instinctively. Starbuck and Sheba made no attempt to stop Adama's children.
"My children", said a now godly like Adama. "We are of the House of Adam. He and his consort, Eve, were the first Kobolians to reach Earth. They began all human life here on Earth."
"My god", whispered Buck to Wilma. "Adam and Eve---from the bible! It's all true!"
"Father, how can we be their direct descendants?" asked Apollo. "Our family was of the 12 Colonies of Kobol----on the other side of this universe!"
"At some point, the 13th tribe lost all contact with the other 12 Colonies", explained Zeus. "Adam's Ark was sent to re-establish contact. What he found upon his arrival was a pre-Cylon War society of greed, lust, and tribes that would war over such petty things as land and religious beliefs. Then, war with the Cylon Alliance broke out and Adam feared for his tribe. He sent a final communiqué to Earth, ordering his subordinates-- -Pharoahs they were called-to destroy any and all sophisticated technologies that the Cylons would be able to detect or feel threatened by. He vowed to one -day re-establish contact with his people after the Cylons had been defeated. He prayed to his father, the Holy Spirit, to protect his human paradise on Earth. Unbeknownst to him, his prayers were answered and the Seraphs sent a Ship of Light to protect the people of Earth."
"Dr. Zee, how do you play into all of this?" asked Athena.
"Dr Zee was a gift from god", answered Adama. "On judgment day, the Seraphs tested Starbuck. Even though he would be marooned, Starbuck built an escape pod for baby Zeus and his spiritual mother---Angela."
"I guess you passed the test", Buck quipped with a nod at Starbuck.
"Zeus gave us so many things", sighed Adama. "Without his warp system, it would have taken us 5 times as long to reach Earth. His modified shields and Wave Motion cannon saved the Galactica from certain destruction innumerable times. And now, he will help us defeat our enemies once and for all."
"How?" asked Starbuck.
"Count Iblis has abused his powers for the last time", answered Zeus.
"We of pure Kobolian blood have the power within us", said Adama. "Athena, Apollo---will you give yourselves for the good of mankind? Will you leave your crude bodies and allow yourselves to evolve?"
"No!" cried Sheba. "There must be another way!"
"It's ok, Sheba" said Apollo. "You're gonna be ok. Just remember--- I love you. I'll always love you."
Apollo and Sheba embraced for the last time with a love and a passion that was borderline violent.
"Athena", said Starbuck as he grabbed her by the hand. "I've always loved you."
"I know", said Athena before giving Starbuck a gentle kiss on the lips.
"One thing, Commander---why are the rest of us here?" asked Buck.
"As witnesses to the grace of god" answered the Adama. "It will be up to you and Wilma and Starbuck to pass on what you have seen and learned."
"Apollo---Athena---take my hand in yours and close your eyes", said Adama.
The last thing that Starbuck remembered was dozens of white robed figures emerging from the very walls of the light-ship. Then, there was a blinding flash. When he lowered his hands from his face, he was back inside the cockpit of his Draconian Marauder. To his right, he could see Sheba's viper, to his left was a Starfighter containing Buck and Wilma.
"Apollo", whimpered Sheba. "I'll always love you!"
"He knows that, Sheba", said a somber Starbuck.
"Well, whatever they're going to do, I hope they do it fast", groaned Buck. "It doesn't look like our forces will be able to hold out much longer."
On one flank, the Galactica was taking a beating from several Basestars and their fighters. On the other end of the battle, the Draconian Royal Fleet had been cut in two. And, at the edge of the solar system, a lone Basestar had begun to assault the unprotected rag-tag civilian fleet. It certainly looked hopeless for the humans. That is until 13 Ships of Light suddenly appeared.
The tribes of man had finally been re-united. Each light ship represented a tribe of Kobol. The prophecy was being fulfilled. The sons and daughters of the Lords of Kobol, Adama's family, had returned to their place of origin and freed the Atlantis. The Atlantis, which was of the warrior caste among the Seraphs, now took up the lead position in this holy war of good versus evil. Adama telepathically instructed his brethren on the other Light Ships to surround all of the combatants. Almost instantaneously, the Ships of Light surrounded the epic battle raging in the system of Earth.
"I suggest we all head for our home bases ASAP!!!" exclaimed Buck. "I think something big is about to go down!"
"I think you are right, Buck", replied Starbuck.
On the Super-Basestar, Count Iblis' rage could hardly be contained.
"Noooooooo!!!! It cannot be!!!!" he growled. "Damn you, Adama!!! Damn you all to hell!!!"
On Earth, Huer received yet another puzzling report after a day full of them.
"Dr. Huer, a gigantic whirlpool has formed off of the coast of New Florida", reported Theo from Twiki's chest plate.
"Now what?" muttered the exhausted Huer.
Count Iblis shoved Vulpa aside, commandeering the controls of the Cylon Command ship. He set coordinates that would plunge the Basestar into a sea on Earth.
"Your eminence, if I may-".
Iblis turned and unleashed his fury on the gold plated Vulpa. Energy ribbons leapt from his fingers, destroying the Cylon Commander.
As Wilma piloted herself and Buck towards the safety of New Chicago, the gigantic Basestar roared by them, through Earth's atmosphere and into it's Atlantic Ocean.
"Someone wanted out of here pretty bad", quipped Wilma in her best Buck Rogers voice.
"The Bermuda Triangle", whispered Buck. "So, it is a gateway to hell."
Starbuck followed Sheba onto the Alpha Landing deck of the Galactica, putting his new fighter down effortlessly. As he disembarked, a familiar female form approached his ship.
"Cassie!!!" he shouted as he leapt from the wing of the Marauder.
Not far away, Sheba and Boxey clung to one another. No words needed to be said. The most important man in both of their lives was gone. Boomer and Dietra approached only after they had given the mother and son ample time to compose themselves.
"Sheba---Troy," said Boomer carefully. "I'm so sorry, but I think we should make for the nearest shelter. This could be a rough ride."
"Let's go", agreed a tearful Sheba.
When Starbuck and Cassie finally came up for air, they hurried after their friends who were waiting for them on the lift.
Moments later, they found themselves on the Galactica bridge. Starbuck had talked the group out of hiding in some corner of a shelter. He wanted to see firsthand what the wrath of God looked like. Tigh, preoccupied with the events unfolding in the starfield before him, barely noticed the groups' arrival.
"Princess Ardalla!" shouted Kane. "The Colonials are ordering a full retreat."
"It' about time. They've finally come to their senses", said Ardalla.
"Helm", said Kane as he ignored his Princess. "Full reverse. Deck officer---order all Marauders to maintain the perimeter. Don't let anything get through! We only need to keep them from escaping!"
"Escaping? I thought we were the ones escaping", said the befuddled Princess.
The once invincible Cylon force now found itself surrounded and vulnerable. Vulpa and Iblis were gone leaving Spectre in command. Lucifer had assigned himself the task of finishing off the civilian fleet. He had assumed the bridge of the Basestar, which was currently pummeling the Colonial Fleet.
"By your command, Spectre", reported a Cylon Centurion. "13 large starcrafts have surrounded our forces per visual reports. The ships do not appear on any of our scopes."
"Raise all shields and prepare an escape vector", said the nervous Spectre. "We will fall back temporarily and re-group to assess this new foe."
"By your command."
Before Spectres order could be carried out, his Basestar was an inferno. Microns later, there was no sign of it's existence. It had been completely obliterated. Thousands of blue-white spheres of light hurtled from the Seraph ships. They were everywhere. They enveloped the Cylon fleet like a blanket. A sphere would engulf a hapless Cylon Raider, pause momentarily, and then move on leaving nothing but microscopic space debris. Several Spheres would pounce on one Basestar at a time, like an angry pack of predators devouring their prey.
The Galactica bridge crew watched in stunned silence. Slowly but surely, their Cylon enemy was being destroyed by the beautiful, yet frightening energy spheres.
"By the Lords of Kobol", gasped Tigh.
"That's exactly right---Commander Tigh", said Starbuck.
Moments later it was over. The most epic battle in the history of space warfare was over---and the humans had won! A thunderous cheer permeated the Galactica Bridge. Hysterical tears of joy abounded on nearly every crew-person's face. The Cylons' had been repelled---possibly forever.
"Commander Tigh", shouted Boomer over all the jubilation. "It's our fleet, sir! They're in trouble!"
Tigh took one last glance at the view port. He looked just in time to see the Ships of Light slowly disappear.
"They're gone", cried Cassiopeia, as she held tight to Starbuck.
"Goodbye father", Troy whispered to himself.
Tigh shook himself away from the hypnotic scene of the Lightships and back into the task at hand.
"Crewmen!!! Back to your stations!" he shouted. "Flank speed to our fleet!"
Within moments, the Galactica stood toe to toe with Lucifer's lone surviving Cylon Baseship.
"Launch all fighters! All batteries commence fire!" snarled Tigh.
Tigh turned to Starbuck, Sheba and the other command officers--- bringing them in close for a special counsel.
"My friends, I don't know that we have enough left to finish this last Baseship", he said softly. "The Galactica is badly damaged and our fighters will still be outnumbered."
"We're gonna make it, Colonel---Commander", said Starbuck confidently. "The Seraphs didn't just save us to let us die ten centons later."
"I think you're right, Starbuck", said a suddenly awestruck Sheba as she stared at the Galactica view port.
Starbuck, Boomer and the others turned to see the impossible. How could it be? Tigh refused to believe it until he had the Comm-Officer magnify the ship on viewer. When the viewer closed in on the ship, there could be no mistake. It was a battlestar. It was the Pegasus! The viewer actually zeroed in on the battlestar's nameplate, drawing shocked gasps from the Galactica crew.
"Father!!!" cried an elated Sheba.
The view screen suddenly went blank before revealing Commander Cain's grinning face.
"Hello, baby" he said directly at Sheba. "You didn't think you had gotten rid of me? Did you?"
"Father!!! It is you!!!" exclaimed Sheba as Troy tried to steady his stepmother.
"You better believe it, baby. Now, what do you say Colonel Tigh? Should we send this Cylon baddie back to hades?" sneered Cain.
"With pleasure, Commander", said a smiling Tigh. "Fire all missiles!!!"
"Fire all Missiles!!!" Cain howled.
With those two launch orders, Lucifer's Basestar took direct hits on both its' aft and stern. The resulting explosion took dozens of Cylon Raiders with it----to hades!
Another round of cheers erupted on both Battlestar Bridges as well as the thousands of civilians that had witnessed the battle from their barges and freighters. Then, came the best news of all and Cain couldn't wait to tell his Galactica comrades in person.
"That does it, my friends", he smirked. "The war is over!!! I told you we'd do it!"
"Father? What are you talking about?" asked Sheba stepping towards the view port. "What about the rest of the Cylon territories, their home planet---what about the Colonies?"
"The Cylons have been routed in every corner of the known universe! The are effectively extinct---even on their home world of Cylon!" Cain cackled in glee.
"How?" asked Tigh.
"Well, I had a little help from some friends", answered Cain.
"The Seraphs" offered Boomer.
"No", said Cain, clearly shocking his Galactica friends. "These friends."
Suddenly, the diamond shaped Stargate erupted to life once more, spilling out thousands of warships.
"My god!" gasped Boomer. "Those look a little like Eastern Alliance destroyers!"
"Very perceptive, Boomer", replied Cain. "They are 3rd generation from the ones you once encountered. I made some special modifications myself!"
"How did you do this?" said Sheba simply.
"Well---you don't think I've been sitting on my astros all these yahrens do you? I've been busy---building a fleet on Terra. I convinced the East and Western governments that it was in their best interests to help me defeat the Cylon Empire before Terra came under Cylon attack. A pre-emptive strike my friends!!! We would have been here sooner but we were a little busy", said a very proud Cain.
"Busy?" said Starbuck.
"Yes, Starbuck" said Cain as he noticed Cassie for the first time. "I was busy taking back the Colonies!"
"WHAT?!!!" came the cry from several crewmen.
"That's right, my friends. The Colonies are back under our control. The Cylons have been vanquished forever. So, what do you say we get under way?" Cain said.
Once again, a cheer rose up on the Galactica Bridge. The nightmare was over---the Cylons were dead!
Several sectons later, a joyous celebration was taking place in downtown New Chicago. With the help of the Colonials, the damaged cities of Earth were well on their way to being fully reconstructed and rebuilt. Thousands of Colonial civilians had exercised their right to stay on Earth and become members of its' citizenry. Mostly volunteers and career military officers had agreed to join Galactica and Pegasus on a new trek back home to fully realize the rebuilding of the Colonies.
The tribes of man were united. And, with the combination of the Earth's stargate transit system and the warp drive of Galactica, Earth would never again lose contact with her sister worlds.
Dr. Huer approached the podium, which faced the thousands of people in attendance in Chicago Square. Newlyweds Buck and Wilma sat in the front row alongside Twiki, Crighton, Doctor Goodfellow and Admiral Asimov. Devlin stood off to the side with his wife and child.
In the second row, Cain and Sheba chatted with Troy as Starbuck and Cassiopeia fawned over one another. Boomer and Dietra sat behind the happily reunited couple and Commander Tigh stood directly behind Huer as he made his speech. Time and time again, cheers rose up from the huge throng of elated Earthlings and Colonials alike. Even Ardalla and Killer Kane were in attendance. It was a joyous, unprecedented event!
"-----the human race is finally one again!" finished Huer to another round of applause. "This was meant to be my friends. The sole reason the Searcher was on its assigned mission was to seek out long lost brothers of man. The scientific community, headed by Doctor Goodfellow, convinced the Earth Defense Directorate to fund this mission based on ancient 20th century scrolls. Scrolls that were incomplete mind you due to the atomic holocaust on Earth. In fact, the prophet's full name has been the subject matter of many heated debates. Nevertheless, I will now read the ancient scroll for our brothers and sisters of the Twelve Colonies. My friends, this is how we came to find you", said Huer with a quick look over his shoulder at Tigh.
"There are those who believe that life here began out there. Far across the universe with tribes of humans who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians or the Toltec's or the Mayans. That they may have been the architects of the great pyramids or the lost civilizations of Lemuria or Atlantis. Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man who even now fight to survive-----Somewhere Beyond the Heavens!"
Cheers once again shower the stage where Huer and Tigh stand.
Huer quickly added, "The prophet is known by one name only---Larson."
EPILOGUE:
AND SO HAVING ENDED THE CYLON TYRANNY, THE LAST BATTLESTAR'S , GALACTICA AND PEGASUS, LEAD A POWERFULL NEW FLEET ON A NOBLE QUEST---- TWELVE SHINING PLANETS --KNOWN AS THE COLONIES.
THE END
NEXT: NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR
