II. TIGH'S STORY


Colonel Tigh flopped ferociously into the command chair onboard the disabled colonial warship Kinia. The five bridge-crew members: Sensors operator, Navigator, Engineering, Comms operator and the Weapons control officer- acknowledged his presence but seemed oblivious to his tendency to abuse his command chair. It was a tradition that he'd upheld for the last five yahrens, done religiously as a reminder of what he'd lost and what he had sacrificed for the Galactica. Two yahrens ago he finally shaved his beard. It made him look younger but somehow less intimidating and he wasn't sure if he liked that or not. He was positive that he didn't like the way those wrinkles constantly cropping up on his dark- skinned face either, but well, age did that to you. So did bitterness and he still had plenty of that. He remembered how the kidnappers continually dosed him with am-chromaine in the mistaken belief that once fully hooked, he would do anything they wanted. And of all them, he despised Dr. Cassandria, their leader. She was the one who thought of stealing the prototype ship with the intention of firing on an unprepared Galactica. The woman was clearly insane to think that she could take over the Fleet Command. Later, he would come to understand that delusions of grandeur was just one of the symptoms of heavy drug users.

Another was obsession.

Cassandria had been in love with him, he later found out. He always knew she was interested but he didn't have time for personal romances, or so he made himself believe. The Colonial fleet needed everybody at top efficiency and being Sealed to someone he assumed, would have interfered with his performance. When she became addicted to Pleasure, her love turned into obsession and she purposely went after him. She was the one who introduced the narcotic to the ventilation ducts on the Astradon and the Kinia-which was still being completed-effectively addicting everyone on board ship.

In terms of obsessive compulsions however, the drug was as equally effective on him. He was he one who sabotaged the T-S drives. He was the one who vented all the medical supplies into space. Once activated by his voice command, the bridge controls activated, the engines powered up, auto- piloted the ship out of the asteroid field and kicked in the T-S drive unit and refused to turn itself off until it ran our of fuel, approximately three yahrens and untold light yahrens later. Even drugged, no one dared disable those engines while they were tunnelshifting thru what Adama would now call transwarp space. They wouldn't have been able to anyway because he had made sure that even he couldn't counterman his own orders. The tylium fuel source wouldn't be used up as tunnel shifting utilized an entirely different mechanism of travel. Old-fashioned lightspeed would be available when necessary. By his choice, he had effectively trapped all two hundred kidnappers and crew on an uncontrolled one-way journey to-wherever, on an unfinished ship. If oblivion and eternal travel were the price to save the Galactica, so be it.

With the ability to manufacture more drug crippled, everyone onboard experienced the most horrific withdrawal pains imaginable. Withdrawal from Pleasure-without the aid of counteragents took an average of thirteen days. The drug affected the nerve ganglions causing the nerves themselves to transmit waves on what was described as an itching pain usually centered near the chest and ocular regions. Seventeen people committed suicide; five people burned themselves to death in an effort to rid themselves of the pain. Eight people went blind as they tore at their eyes, the itching being unbearable. There were contusions, soft tissue damage, multiple breaks usually by people slamming themselves into walls and bulkheads. The only good thing gleaned from the whole experience was that once over the ordeal, the craving was completely gone forever unless one came into contact with the drug again. If one did then the cravings would begin until the purging from the body was complete.

Tigh remembered that discovery and the hysterical laughter that erupted from him that fateful day in which he had almost gone mad. Dr. Cassandria and her collaborators had recovered also and were in essence, their old selves again. That they were themselves again was totally meaningless to crew of the Kinia. It was too late by Tigh's standard and they were promptly placed in a make shift detention for the duration of their journey. By mutual recognized authority he became Commander of the Kinia and had even considered spacing his prisoners to save on life precious support. The crew, now separated forever from their loved ones and the relative safety of the Colonial fleet, was certainly in favor of the executions. But he decided against it because one: he didn't want that on his conscious. There were only so many humans left in the universe, assuming that the thirteenth colony didn't exist, and it would feel like he contributed to the genocide of his race.

And two: no one knew what opening a hatch would do in FTL transit. So they remained in confinement.

The ship itself was considered by the crew to be about two levels safer than a Cylon deathtrap. Life support was kept at a minimum to conserve resources. The weapons systems were online but only one of the lasers worked. Parts for the other system hadn't been delivered before the hijacking. Water was recycled over and over and eventually the taste remained no matter how well it was treated in the overstressed purifiers. The light speed drive was functional but the sensors were at best short ranged. Food wasn't a serious problem as the ship had been stocked to maintain a crew of four hundred for two yahrens. It wouldn't last forever. He didn't even want to think about the lack of decent clothing.

In order to keep moral from completely breaking down he instituted a strict regiment structure that kept everyone busy the majority of their work shifts. Even in such close, cramp quarters, fighting was kept to a minimum. It used up too much recycled air so the rumor went. People knew better but it appeared to be an effective deterrent in any case.

Though oddly beautiful, the same reddish-blue swirl, secton in and secton out for almost three yahrens- the effect of tunnelshifting- proved boring.

-And utterly lonely. They'd traveled without seeing a single star or sign of intelligence- with that one exception almost a yahren past.

The universe indicated to the Kinia that they weren't alone when they were scanned by another, very large vessel that appeared on their stern almost without warning. Whatever that huge spheroid shaped ship was -which had no apparent inertia drive units visible- had taken an interest in them and their plight. They were scanned and the crew was elated as Kinia tried every form of communication possible short of firing on it. The alien crew never responded to their cries of help. Evidentially, the beings didn't care and within moments the strangely designed ship accelerated away from them as though the Kinia wasn't moving. The bitterness that it left behind was apparent for centons.



Commander's log: Date one thousand fifty-two days post transit: Commander Tigh recording: For the last two days the T-S drive systems have indicted that we are near the end of the journey. We have not been able to ascertain exactly where or when we are. The temporal distortions inherent in our drives have brought us to some far future and unknown alien space. Will we find friends here or only more misery and despair? No one knows. We only know that we will never see Galactica or our people again. But our people have pulled together despite the difficulties that continually plague us. Two of the crewmembers have children despite my objections and now I find that I may have been wrong in dedicating myself solely to my career and crew. I have had to re-adjust my thinking. The people here have become family and I find it harder each day to maintain that professional distance. I remember when Adama began associating with Siress Tinia, I believed in my heart that this was one of his worse mistakes he ever made. Now, in my old age, I realize what a fool I've been. Perhaps it was my family training. I'd always felt that it was important to Seal with someone of my class status. Maybe from that beginning, I might have over compensated in my assumptions. I believe that onboard this ship I have found my soul mate. Never would I have believed this and with a junior engineer no less! She's so much younger than I am but my heart soars when we're together. It's been for her and the crew that I have stayed in the race.



The signal the entire crew had waited for suddenly made its presence known. With a start, they were once again in normal space. The stars again! How beautiful! Tigh took a second to take in the sights, then, command mode took over. "Where is the closest star system?"

"Seven light-yahrens distant," came the answer from Genohena, the helmswoman. She was a perky blond with dark green eyes that always seemed to sparkle. "With light speed, twelve days seventeen centars."

'Not bad'. Opening the comms to engineering he was instantly rewarded with his beloveds voice. "Dianne here. I assume you want light-speed if so take it easy. I don't want you blowing us up trying to get us there."
He smiled to himself. She always spoke like that, gruff, with a voice that was at times lower than his. She was short, in her early thirties and about his same chocolaton complexion, with absolutely no sense of style when it came to clothing-if they had only. The woman was the opposite of everything he'd imagine a mate to be. "We'll get there in one piece."

The navigator activated the light-speed jump engines and the ship arced towards its intended destination. The ships engines responded jerkily, due to the face that they hadn't been broken in but no one cared. For the first time they controlled the direction they wished to travel in and the crew reveled in that fact.



The first system with fifteen planets had proven to be devoid of life. However the asteroid fields contained valuable minerals and water in the form of ice. That in itself was a Godsend. They would spend four days prospecting before moving on. The next star system was five light years distant and they made it halfway there before they were attacked.

The assault was swift, brutal and completely unprovoked. The Kinia rocked sideways with the impacts from the high-energy weapons. The tunnel shift drives were completely destroyed and the FLT engines had been damaged. Escape would be impossible. The only things left were the sub-light engines and this had been only the first attack. There were two ships, both which flew pass them with blinding speed slowly arching, preparing for another attack run.

"Evasive, and positive shields now!" Tigh yelled. The order had been unnecessary as both helmswoman and weapons officer leaped into action. "Return fire." The single laser battery fired its white-hot pulses scoring a hit-

-On some type of force field protecting the enemy ship, which was rapidly returning for round two. Both ships passed by, slowly raking the Kinia with disruptor fire. The laser battery was destroyed and their precious life support system was damaged. As smoke began to fill the bridge the damage computron spit out the ships condition. There was no need to say anything to the bridge crew-they understood exactly what the situation was.

'We didn't have a chance!' his mind roared. "Everyone prepare to abandon ship! This is no drill! Prepare to abandon ship!" One more hit and the fuel would turn the ship into an inferno. There was no choice. "Dianne! Get your crew out! Abandon ship!"

"It's too late!" Gena screamed. She had remained at her station even while it burned. "They're on top of us! Twelve microns!"

It was over. There was nothing he or they could do. There were fires everywhere and it was spreading rapidly. Within moments the explosions would begin and his little ship would tear itself apart. He desperately pushed the half-blind bridge crew in front of him towards the escape pods.

They never made it.




"Did we get them all?" The Captain was anxious. The two ships had been tracking the distress call for the last two days and evidently they'd gotten to this beleaguered ship just in time. This was her first real firefight and the initial fear and excitement had now given way to a fierce determination. Her ship had transported the crew of that doomed ship all the while firing on the two pirate ships. Her sister ship, the ASC Endurance kept up its own firing destroying the shield of the second ship. Both pirate vessels moved off as the two Alliance Star Corps ships took up station keeping near the now wrecked Colonial cruiser. 'Those pirates were getting worse and soon we're going to have to deal with the lot of them' she thought viciously. 'We shouldn't have had to start out this way'.



The chief medical officer was shocked when she saw her patients. She called the bridge immediately. "Captain, they're human!"

"Are you sure?" This was incredible. The scans had indicated as such but the reality came still came as somewhat of a shock.

"There's no doubt," came the answer. "Their language is totally different from anything on our database and we're having trouble communicating. They've appeared to be out here for a long, time and their blood chemistry is way off the charts. We're treating them for both short and long term illness and injuries. It seems they've never seen transporter technology before. They're a little disoriented, but very excited to see us, as well."

"I'm on my way down."

When she got there, she was greeted by a tall black man, she estimated to be in his early sixties. His arm was broken and he suffered from smoke inhalation but his eyes were clear. And the man wanted answers. He started talking and the more he did the better the universal translator did its job. He asked who were they how were they saved and the condition of his people-or so the Alliance translator deciphered.

She came and sat down next to him. "Everything 's okay. We received your distress call some time ago," she said in what she hoped was a soothing voice. It was clear he was confuse by her language. "I know you don't understand me, but I hope you will understand what I'm trying to convey. I am Captain Amelia Earhart of the Alliance Starship Explorer."

The Commander, a woman in her early forties with reddish hair, cut short definitely had that human look about her. He asked a question. It came out as gibberish through the universal translator.

"This ship and the Endeavor," she added, subconsciously pointing towards a bulkhead where she estimated that her sister would be located, "are part of a small but growing number of worlds banding together to deal with Kazon pirates and other opportunists which prey on our systems. But mostly, our Voyager-class starships are engaged in the business of exploring the universe around us."

"This ship," she continued, "is a smaller, less sophisticated version of our home planets Federation starships, one of which visited us some five years ago.'

"{Gibberish. gibberish again}… Federation?"

"No Alliance, patterned after the Federation. From the planet Earthin the alpha quadrant." She noticed that the man perk up considerably at the word 'Earth.'


"Yes, my planet is called Briori-Earth Prime. Are you from Earth?" she asked. Did Captain Janeway send you here?"



'Earth? Was this person truly from Earth'?

Tigh slumped down. Was this the Thirteenth colony? His head swirled with the possibilities. Maybe this was an Earth ship or maybe not: he didn't know yet. With time he would come to understand but right now, his people were safe... he could feel that. This ship was amazing and he suspected he and his crews immediate future would be full of surprises. From what little he'd seen, the Cylons wouldn't have an easy time of it here with this ship's technology.

And they were human, family. He thanked God for his fortune. What ever would come, would come. He hoped with all of his heart that the Galactica would find a safe haven also.


"Well, that ended well," the entity said sarcastically. "Personally, I don't think you cut it close enough." He was on top of the ruined Colonial ship kicking at the ruined bulkhead indifferently. "I still say that you sent out that distress call far too early."

"Shut up, Trelane." Q said.

"Amanda," Trelane stammered. "I know you were brought up human, "he said in mild but polite distaste. "But why this obsession with them?"

"You'd never understand." she answered.

"Then tell me, Amanda Rogers of Q," Trelane said.

"Come, little kid."

She disappeared and an instant later, Trelane followed.