Chapter Twenty-Two: The Final Countdown
Standing his post on the bridge of the Galactica, Colonel Tigh was growing increasingly concerned. Commander Adama had been in a closed meeting with the Council of Twelve for over two centars. Not that the council members would try something... What was he thinking? They were politicians! Of course they might try something, if they felt that Adama was about to endanger them and if they felt that they could get away with it. That they would be endangered was a foregone conclusion, so everything hinged on what that pack of elderly daggits thought that they could pull off.
During the fall of the Twelve Colonies, where was the Galactica and the rest of the Colonial battle groups? Instead of guarding their vulnerable worlds, most of their warships and battlestars were out in deep space guarding a bunch of politicians who had blindly believed that the Cylons wanted to sign an armistice treaty. As it turned out, it was a trap that nearly wiped out all of Human civilization. Only Adama's suspicious nature, which matched Tigh's, kept the massacre from being complete. It had left them a remnant refugee fleet, but it was better than extinction.
Politicians! They still might be the death of us all yet! One day, if the human race finally dies out completely, our epitaph will probably read "Here Lies Humanity - Caucused To Death".
A moment later Colonel Tigh's worries dissolved into much relief when Adama walked back onto the bridge. The Galactica's first officer moved down from the bridge's central command area to Adama's side. "May I ask what the Council had to say when you broke your news?"
Adama looked tired, but he managed to give a wry smile. "After I told them that our long search was over and presented them with the evidence that we had found Earth, they were overjoyed. Then when I announced that I was taking the Galactica to attack the Peacekeepers, to defend Earth, I had spend the last centar listening to a dozen terrified and pompous old men telling me in very diplomatic terms that I had lost my mind, or to something to that effect. But, in the end, I gave them no choice in the matter. There's only room for one Commander of the Fleet on this bridge." Changing tracks Adama turned to the business at hand. "Has the Viper and personnel transfer to Moya been completed?"
Tigh nodded. "The last man and fighter were delivered 15 centons ago, together with weapons, support crew, and fuel. Moya has just become a mini carrier."
"No difficulty?" Adama asked.
The corner of Tigh's mouth curved up into a rare smile. "None to speak of sir, but our people had to learn to watch out so that they wouldn't step on any of those little DRD's."
***
Sitting inside their prison cell on planet Tobin, Crichton was starting to like their chances of getting out of here in one piece. Someone had managed to sneak them a Goa'uld weapon, in a bowl of food of all things. What was next, a hacksaw in a birthday cake? He loved the room service around here, but who was helping them? And why? They wanted to get out of here, not get caught in some power play between PK higher ups.
He watched Carter for a moment as she continued to inspect the Goa'uld device. "So, what can that thing do exactly?" he whispered to her.
"A lot," Carter said under her breath. Their faces were just inches apart.
Crichton pointed to the cell door. "As good as a 'get out of jail free card'?"
Carter smiled confidently. "Yep. And we're talking about having hotels on Boardwalk and Park Place on the Monopoly board on top of it."
Crichton was thankful that Carter had caught on quickly to his use of slang and pop culture to keep their conversations cryptic when they had to pass messages between them. They'd settled into using lots of TV and movie references. "Well if the Cartwright's from the Ponderosa, your A-Team, and my gang from Cheers hold to their schedule, we should be ready for a trip to grandma's house any old time now. So I say that we use your get out of jail free card. Then run for the bus stop so they can just come by and pick us up."
The blond Major gave him a doubtful stare. "You're making it sound too easy. Our landlords may not like us violating their hospitality without getting their permission first."
John laughed. "Trust me, nothing is easy out here in the Uncharted Territories. I have more battle scars than Wile E. Coyote."
"I don't know about that. You seem much smarter than Wile E. Coyote," Carter teased him. "I don't picture you being the type to strap an ACME rocket to your back."
Smiling, Crichton chuckled while staring into those big beautiful blue eyes of hers. Oh yeah, he understood very well why O'Neill was so fond of her.
With their faces still only inches apart, in mock intimacy, Crichton was about to ask another question when Carter's suddenly eyes glowed... just before her lips pressed against his in gentle kiss.
***
Elsewhere in the base, two Peacekeepers were listening in on the conservation between the two Humans, and it was slowly driving them both out of their minds..
"Cartwright's? A-Team? Grandmas House? Wile E. Coyote? ACME rocket? What the frell are they talking about?" the first Peacekeeper muttered aloud, as he checked again to make sure that the recorder was running. No one would believe this conversation without evidence.
"What do you expect, they're both Human. And obliviously quite mentally unbalanced, as well as being an inferior species," the second Peacekeeper said as he continued to monitor Crichton's and Carter's moronic sounding conservation. After this shift was over, he was going to get drunk.
***
He was surprised!
He was confused!
He'd been ambushed!
And he was SO very dead if Aeryn ever found out!
All these thoughts raced through Crichton's mind as Carter kissed him.... or was it Jolinar doing this? It was a soft tender kiss with no evident intent of being overtly passionate or intimate. After a brief moment, Carter pulled back to break the kiss.
"May I ask what that was for?" Crichton said softly.
He heard Jolinar's voice whispering, with a hint of amusement, "I wanted to thank you for coming to our aid."
Crichton grinned ruefully. "A Hallmark card would have done the job just as well."
"I wanted to kiss you," Jolinar admitted. "Just in case we don't have another chance."
For a second Crichton stared at her before finally saying, "I'm flattered, really I am. And I do like alien women, even the symbiont variety, but I'm seeing someone else and that's the honest truth."
Jolinar listened and nodded with a smile. "It's your loss."
"I'm just curious, is Sam cool with what you just did?" Crichton asked.
"No, Major Carter is not at all pleased with what I just did, in fact she is giving me an earful at this very moment, and has threatened to start singing something called, 'Achy Breaky Heart' non-stop if I don't cease my actions."
Crichton laughed. "Carter must really be pissed off to make a threat like that. Not even Scorpy deserves Billy Ray Cyrus."
***
The bridge chronometer ticked over to indicate that...it was time.
Adama was standing in the centre of the Galactica's bridge area; and he was about to address the fleet, making the single most important announcement in the it's history with him as it's leader.
"UniCom on, Commander." Colonel Tigh said.
"People of the fleet. This is Commander Adama. Within the last few days, we have made friendly contact with two alien vessels and their brave crews. They have safely returned our missing Warrior Lt. Sheba to us, and helped to defend the fleet from a Peacekeeper attack. Their crews are made up of various species, some of whom you have met. They are and have been, without exception, friendly and helpful. However, we soon learned that, amongst the crew of one of the alien ships was a Human, a man from the planet Earth." He paused allowing what he'd just said to sink in with the citizens of the fleet. "Yes, we have finally located the Tau'ri! From the salvaged Asgard databanks, we have been able to verify this, as well as the existence of a powerful alien artifact called the Stargate. It's an ancient device, actually a network of ancient devices that predates the history of Kobol. It allows people to travel instantaneously between one world and another throughout the known galaxy as long as both possess a working Stargate. It's a device that our brothers and sisters of the Tau'ri have found and mastered the use of. They had to in self-defense, for this part of space is not a safe one for the unwary.
"During our exchange of information with our new friends we learned of a threat that is looming over the Tau'ri, Earth, as well as every other sapient species in the galaxy... including us. There exists an evil brutal creature named, Scorpius, a leader amongst the Peacekeepers. He has captured a Stargate and a member of a Tau'ri exploration team. We have learned where this Tau'ri Warrior is being held, and where Scorpius may be found. We plan to deal with both problems at the same time. We are about to join forces with the Tau'ri to stop Scorpius and to rescue their captured comrade, thus making Earth safe for our children. The Galactica will be departing the fleet shortly, but we will be leaving half of our Viper forces to defend you in our absence. Two Viper squadrons along with 300 warriors and support personnel have been stationed on the Leviathan ship, Moya. She will lead the fleet while we are gone. Follow her. She will continue to take you to safety. Adama out."
***
Down in Moya's maintenance bay and landing area, Boomer and Jolly were with several other warriors and technicians, attending to their Vipers when they stopped to listen as Adama's announcement played out through the Leviathan ship.
After Adama had finished, Boomer grinned and turned to his friend. "I knew that Adama and the rest of the command staff were hiding something, but I never figured it would be Earth!"
Jolly was grinning from ear to ear as well at the news. "It's almost too good to be true." Then he frowned. "It sounds like we're going to have to fight for it though."
Boomer gave a wolfish smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I never thought that we'd stop needing Warriors once we found Earth anyway. If we have anything to say about it, the Thirteenth Colony won't go the way the other Twelve did!"
The surrounding Warriors and techs murmured in agreement, and bent to their tasks with renewed urgency. An urgency tinged with a touch of envy rooted in the fact that they wanted to fight too... but could not.
***
Up in the Command area Rygel, Jool, Chiana, and Daniel Jackson, together with a handful of the Galactica's support personnel and warriors, also listened to Adama's address. The Colonials had finally heard the truth of what was really going on. Daniel Jackson glanced over his left shoulder at them gauging their reaction to Adama's broadcast. He saw surprise, shock, and more importantly hope. However, at the same time their muted words to each other, together with their expressions indicated that they were saddened by the fact that they would not be aboard the Galactica to help in the upcoming battle. But they knew the importance of guarding the fleet. It was all they had left of their civilization and they had to get to Earth with it. Their people were counting on them.
Speaking for himself, Daniel Jackson understood how they felt. To stay behind on Moya while SG-1 went on the Galactica without him.... burned. However, O'Neill was correct, someone from SG-1 had to remain behind and get word to the SGC about the Colonials, just in case the worst-case scenario became a reality. Earth's survival might depend on it. His time with the Colonials and the crew from Moya had shown all of them that there were many more dangers in the galaxy other than the Goa'uld. There were Peacekeepers, Cylons and Scarrens.... oh my. Daniel chuckled softly. The galaxy was a tough place. A place of the predator and prey relationship writ large. It remained to be seen whether or not humanity and its allies would be prey. "If they are, it won't be because we didn't try prevent it," he muttered
It was then that he sensed someone moving to his side. It was Chiana. Wearing a solemn expression that said that she knew what he was feeling, she gently wrapped her arms about him and leaned close to rest her head against his shoulder.
Daniel was genuinely amazed at how quickly the two of them became so close, in such short time, even though they had nothing much in common. In the words of Jack O'Neill, he was a geek, whose main highlight of the day was examining old dusty relics and deciphering alien languages spoken by peoples who were long since extinct. While Chiana was, in his view, free spirited and not the type who likes to follow the rules, and who does as she pleases. To top it off, there was the obvious fact that they weren't even of the same species, with her being Nebari and he himself being Human. Even Chiana's alleged vision gave no hint that they were destined to live happily ever after. But somehow, and for the moment, none of that mattered. He was finding himself caring deeply for the beautiful Nebari sprite, enough to take another chance.... to try to find love once more.
Daniel slipped an arm around her and the two held each other. "I don't suppose that you've had anymore visions?" he asked her. They could use a good sign just about now.
Chiana just shook her head.
Suddenly, Rygel spoke as they watched the panoramic view on Moya's main monitor showing the now departing Galactica and Talyn. "We bless these souls, of warrior's heart and valour. May the spirits of faith and fortune, guide and shield them. And let their weapons strike straight and true, banishing their enemies from the field of battle. Let their path to victory also lead them back home."
Jool smiled at him. "That was nicely said, Rygel."
"Well, considering what they have to go up against, I thought that they could use all the help that they can get. Even an old Hynerian prayer spoken to troops before going into battle," the ex-Dominar replied, thought he didn't mention that the prayer was often used before the start of a hopeless battle.
***
In Pilot's den, it was a more than slightly nervous, and very busy, time for Moya's four-armed symbiont and companion, as well as for the Leviathan herself. By nature, they are both meant to serve, but now they were required by necessity to help lead and if need be to defend the two hundred ship Colonial convoy.
"Galactica to Moya," Colonel Tigh's voice filtered through the comms system. "Do you read?"
"I read you, Colonel," Pilot answered. "Moya is moving into position to take over your lead in front of the fleet."
"Good work Pilot, and thank Moya again for letting us station some of our Vipers within her hangar space."
"Both Moya and I are slightly overwhelmed by having so many people aboard now, but we are most grateful to be of assistance. We both wish you well on your mission, and we hope to see you and Talyn returning safely." Pilot paused. "Moya also asks that you look after her son. She says that he's headstrong, but basically a good boy."
"Thank you Pilot," Tigh replied. "Tell Moya that we'll bring him home. Galactica out."
***
Both Crichton and Carter were sitting on one of the metal cots along the left wall of their cell. Crichton glanced over at her and asked cautiously, "Are you still mad at Jolinar?"
"No," came a harsh and crisp answer from the quite obviously angry blond Major, who stared directly ahead, not bothering to look at him.
"Gee! Glad to see that you don't hold grudges," Crichton said jokingly. "Still mad at me?"
Carter finally looked over at him, glaring daggers at Crichton. "You let her kiss you.... with my lips! I don't care if we are sharing bodies now. She had no right to use me in that fashion, nor did you!"
"Hey, that's not fair. It's scientifically proven that a man can't dodge a kissing woman at point-blank range," Crichton said, declaring his innocence to her. "Come on, you were there too. I couldn't have done a single damn thing about it."
"You could have pulled away," she snapped.
"Carter, I'm a guy. Guys are always slow on the uptake when a woman comes on to them, even the alien variety," Crichton pleaded before saying, "And one more thing, we're in a dungeon on a hostile planet and we're about to be interrogated to death. Can't we just argue about this later?"
"Oh, sure. Use any excuse to get out of this!" Carter spat angrily. "Men!"
"You are..." Crichton stared at her, bemused. "I never thought that I could say this to another person, and mean it, but you are crazier than I am!"
"Oh great!" Carter stood up and growled. "Here comes the name calling!"
"You want name calling?" Crichton slowly stood up to confront her. "Okay! I'm so sorry, GI Jane, but you are both Loonie and Toonie, like Canadian currency!"
"I'm Air Force you silly... astronaut guy you!" she snarled.
Try as he might to resist the impulse, Crichton couldn't help but chuckle. "Your name calling skills need some work."
She threw up her hands. "Well, I'm under some serious stress here!"
"Aren't we all," Crichton admitted to Carter, wishing to call a truce. "Listen, I'm sorry about the kiss between me and Jolinar. I should have said or done something, but I didn't. For that I apologize."
Carter thought about his apology for a second before saying. "Well, was that so hard?"
For a moment a flummoxed Crichton was about to answer that, but quickly decided against it for the sake of peace. Also there was the simple fact that Carter was scaring him a little. Would you want to be locked in a cell with an apparent crazy woman, who has super strength and a powerful alien weapon at her disposal.... and one of whose personalities is sexually attracted to you?
Suddenly they heard the door to their cell slide open and six Peacekeeper Commandoes marched in with weapons drawn. Crichton had had his back to the door while still facing Carter. He was about to turn when Carter suddenly grabbed him mashed her mouth against his. She wrapped her arms about him while sliding her right hand under his black shirt and up behind his back to conceal the Ribbon device.
"Oh," Carter said in feigned surprise as she broke the kiss to look over Crichton's shoulder at the Peacekeeper commandoes with heavy lidded eyes. "Hi guys... uh... could you come back in twenty minutes or so? Things are just getting interesting."
"Could you make it an hour," Crichton managed to choke out in confusion, glancing over his shoulder with Carter. "It'll take me that long to figure out what the hell is going on here."
The Peacekeepers weren't impressed by the request. Four of them moved forward towards the prisoners while the other two stopped just inside the door. Carter waited until she was certain that they were all in range, and then she pulled her hand out from under Crichton's shirt and into view. Carter aimed the powerful Goa'uld weapon on her right hand and fired a concussion force blast at the Peacekeepers. The air literally rippled from the gauntlet style weapon like a tidal wave. When the blast struck the startled Peacekeeper Commandos it hurled them backwards, slamming them all against the cell wall. The commandos all collapsed limply to the floor and none moved from where they landed.
Carter quickly pulled from Crichton's embrace and hurried to the still open cell door. Boldly, she stepped out into the corridor, gauntlet at the ready, looking left and right.
She glanced over her shoulder to Crichton. "Clear!"
Already moving, Crichton took only a moment to gather a few weapons from the dead or unconscious Peacekeepers. He picked up a pulse rifle and tossed it to Carter who easily caught it with her left hand, holding it at the ready.
Crichton then picked up a pulse pistol and a rifle for himself. Stepping out into the corridor, he looked at Carter. "Which way?"
When Carter met his eyes, he heard Jolinar speaking instead. "This way," she said as she gave him a quick appraising look before walking off down the corridor.
Crichton followed her, letting Carter... er... Jolinar lead. Boy, this is going to get confusing! He thought. I just hope that the cavalry are sticking to their schedule, and are well on their way to getting here. If not, this is going to be one very short escape attempt.
***
High in orbit above the planet Tobin, an alert sounded throughout the Peacekeeper Command Carrier. Bridge personnel hurried to their stations in a quick, but orderly fashion.
"Report!" Captain Souchis barked.
His First Officer announced from his post, "Our outermost system patrol has come under attack by multiple enemy fighters, Captain. One of our Marauders has transmitted a scan of the enemy ships. They are the same unknowns that attacked our forces the last time... and Talyn is with them."
***
Blue Squadron, forty-three Vipers in all was traveling in front of Talyn in a loose staggered wall formation, screening the Leviathan gunship from hostile fighters. Several Marauders had tried to engage the Colonials and make an attack run on the gunship, but the Peacekeepers quickly found themselves hopelessly outclassed by the faster and better-armed Vipers. After loosing a dozen of their ships, without even scoring one hit on the approaching enemy, the Peacekeepers were forced to withdrawn back into the inner system.
"All right Blue squadron," Captain Apollo said over the comm. "The Peacekeepers are retreating back towards their Carrier and that's where the real fight is going to be. Remember, our job is to hold their attention, not to take them out all by ourselves. With luck, the Galactica will come knocking on their back door shortly."
"And if not?" Starbuck asked on a private channel. A million things still could go wrong.
Apollo sighed at that horrible thought. "Then we really will be taking them on all by ourselves."
***
"Intruders at forty-thousand metras and still closing," the Tactical Officer on the Command Carrier reported.
Captain Souchis slowly paced about the bridge, watching the main monitor showing the approaching enemy ships. "So, the traitor Crais has mercenaries working for him now," he said with amusement. "Any detailed scans on those alien fighters?"
"They are completely alien in design, Captain," a scanner tech reported. "They're using Goa'uld style power sources and they're armed with pulse laser cannons and ship to ship missiles of some type."
Suddenly, Captain Crais' voice broke through on the supposedly secure and scrambled comm systems of the Command Carrier. "This is Captain Crais, in command of the approaching task force. I demand that you stand down and deactivate your weapons systems. Our battle is not with you. Our fight is against the true traitor in your midst, Scorpius. We do not wish to harm you. However, if you interfere in any way with our stated goal, we will have no choice, but to destroy you."
The Captain Souchis was furious over the comms security breech. Someone would die for that later. For now though he settled for sneering at the enemy combat group being displayed on the tactical screens. "He calls that tiny speck of dren in the center of my screen a task force? I don't care how advanced their weapons are, I will show them what a task force really is! Break orbit, launch all fighters, and destroy them!!"
***
On Talyn, Athena watched in point blank amazement as the huge Peacekeeper warship immediately broke orbit and began to shape a course towards them at flank speed. She turned to Crais, hardly daring to believe it, and said, "That was too easy."
Crais smiled slightly at her. "We stung their pride by driving them back from the outer system. And, being a former captain of a Command Carrier myself, I know that holding such a position requires a certain amount of hubris and fosters a great deal arrogance. I simply used that insight to press the right buttons in order to provoke him into coming out to meet us."
***
On Tobin, the Peacekeeper base was placed on high alert as well.
Working in his lab, Scorpius, annoyed by the blaring alarm, contacted Commander Arin through the base comm. system. "Commander, what is going on?"
"A small fleet of hostile ships are approaching the planet, Scorpius," he hesitated for a moment before adding. "And John Crichton and Major Carter have escaped from their detention cell."
Scorpius growled angrily. "And just how did they manage to escape?"
"According to one of the recovering guards, Major Carter had a Ribbon Device and used it to overpower them."
"Listen to me very carefully Commander, I want them found and recaptured. Use whatever force is necessary, spend as many lives as you need to, but I want them returned intact and able to be questioned. Then find out how the fair Major Carter got her hands on a Goa'uld hand weapon!"
***
On the far side of the system, screened by Tobin's star, the Galactica moved in completely undetected. Adama could feel the overwhelming tension about the bridge. Even the normally unflappable Colonel Tigh seemed on edge.
Just ahead, as the Battlestar continued to accelerate, was the system's red dwarf star. In a few moments, the Galactica would use that sun's gravity well to slingshot itself around the star before shutting down its engines. Using the inertia from the slingshot maneuver, they would move outward towards Tobin at flank speed. And with their power usage cut by three quarters, they'd emitting almost no energy signature worth mentioning, or detecting.... until they'd closed the range to the point where it would be just too late and too bad for their Peacekeeper adversaries.
"We're in position Commander," Omega reported. "Camouflage screens are at full power, all stations are on full standby, and the Silver Spars squadron is ready for launch on warning."
"This is it," Adama thought. With Talyn and Blue squadron already engaging the Command Carrier, there would be no turning back. They were committed.
"Helm, take us in," Adama ordered. "Flank speed full ahead."
The mighty Battlestar surged ahead like a forbidding space dragon. It drove towards the red dwarf star letting its strong gravity well to pull it forward, increasing the warship's already tremendous speed, then using those invisible fingers of gravity to fling it around and out the other side of a hyperbolic curve. Once clear of the star, the Battlestar's engines were powered down, turning the ship into nothing more than a mile and a half long bullet.
A passive navigation check showed that they had succeeded, and were speeding towards the planet Tobin and the battle between Talyn and the Peacekeepers.
Regardless of how this upcoming battle finally played out, win or lose, the Peacekeepers will most certainly get an awful surprise when they discovered what was coming from up behind them. Whatever else happened now, they'd know that they were in a brawl.
***
From his vantage point in the cockpit of his Viper, Starbuck watched the closing Command Carrier launching wave after wave of Prowler and Marauder ships. The first wave, which was already approaching the Colonials and Talyn, numbered nearly one hundred Prowler fighters.
"One, two, three, four, five, six... nope. I don't think I'm going to have time to count all of them," the Colonial joked to lighten the tension over the comm. "But they sure fly in pretty formations though. It's almost a pity to blow holes in them. Almost, but not quite."
"They have the numbers over us, that's for certain, Starbuck," Apollo replied. He watched the first wave of Prowlers closing the distance between them for a measured moment before giving his tactical orders. "Time to trim the odds against us a little. Blue Squadron, make sure that your IFF beacons are working, set solonite missiles to 'fire and forget' mode, and make every shot count..." he paused a moment to let the gap narrow a bit more...a-a-a-nd fire!"
The Colonial's solonite missiles gave the Humans an incredible standoff capability that the Peacekeepers couldn't match either in range or accuracy. The first volley of forty-three missiles lanced out and towards the closing Prowler squadron. The warheads on each missile were set to hunt down the unique ship profile of the Peacekeeper war craft. And at the same time they would studiously ignore any ship not showing the Colonial IFF signal that Talyn and its attendant Vipers were now transmitting.
The Peacekeepers reacted immediately by trying to dodge and jam the incoming projectiles. Some Peacekeepers succeeded, but if one missile lost a target it would just reacquire a new target until it found one or it exhausted its fuel, after which it would explode anyway if the appropriate ship type came within range. The fuses on Colonial ship-to-ship missiles were very sophisticated.
The first salvo of missiles was absolutely devastating to the approaching wave of Peacekeeper fighters. Thirty-two missiles found their marks, with some claiming more than one Prowler or Marauder in their detonation, but Apollo knew there was no time for celebrating.
"Blue squadron, again!" he ordered over the comm. "Set and fire!"
The Colonial Vipers released a second volley of missiles towards the oncoming Prowlers and Marauders. When the missiles had reached the halfway point between the two opposing sides, Apollo gave the order to go. "Blue squadron, hit the turbos and engage!"
Forty-three Vipers powered ahead, almost riding on the coat tails of their missiles. Instantly, the targeted Peacekeepers had an impossible choice to make, either try to engage the attacking Vipers and risk get a solonite warhead up their tail pipe, or try to dodge the missiles and get blind sided by the attacking Vipers. Many of them tried to do both, and ended up doing neither very well... which is, of course, the last thing they ever did.
Not an easy choice to make. Many would jinx out of the way of a missile, and into a stream of pulse laser fire, or vice versa. Those that did ended up dying anyway as their fighters exploded like miniature suns, glowing brightly for a few seconds before fading out of existence.
Within minutes, the first wave of Peacekeeper fighters had been completely dismantled by the Colonials.
***
"Who the frell are these people!" Captain Souchis shouted to no one in particular on the bridge of his Command Carrier as he watched in frustration while the swift alien fighters wiped out a quarter of his force in the first few moments of the engagement.
"They're Humans!"
The Captain Souchis turned to his Tactical Officer in surprise. He wasn't expecting an answer to his angry outburst. "They're what?"
"I scanned those fighters, trying to find a weakness, and while I was scanning I tried to determine the species of the pilots of those crafts. They are Human!" an amazed Tactical Officer informed his superior.
Souchis was properly horrified at the thought. This was not possible. He'd heard about John Crichton in reports. And there were rumours echoing through the Peacekeeper command structure, about the infamous Human and the havoc he had inflicted on Peacekeeper interests throughout the Uncharted Territories. But they can't be Humans. Not with ships like that! Crichton was a member of an inferior race. They were supposed to be no more than simple primitives.
"I don't care who they are, order Beta and Gamma squadrons to engage the Human ships. Tell them to wear them down. Even the best pilot gets unlucky, sooner or later. And they can't refuel or rearm in the middle of a battle. If we make the battle long enough, they're going to lose. Tell Delta squadron to hold in reserve just in case the traitor Crais has any more surprises in store," Captain Souchis ordered. "Helm, bring us about. Arm the forward frag cannons. I want a shot at Talyn and the traitor."
***
The alarms were just blaring loudly and without let up throughout the entire Tobin base. The good news was that Crichton and Carter didn't have to worry about making any noise while they were trying to sneak around the base. The down side was that they couldn't hear anyone sneaking up on them either. It was getting to the point that Crichton would kill for a couple pieces of cotton so he could shove them in his ears to block out the ear-screeching alert. Why did PK alert klaxons always have to sound like fingernails on a chalkboard?
"Are you sure that you know where you are going?" Crichton yelled to... Jolinar? Carter? It was so hard to keep track, since they constantly kept switching back and forth, that it made his head spin. It was giving a whole new meaning to the words 'split personality'. Maybe he could talk them into getting a rotating nametag.
"We're in the sub-level of the base," Carter shouted back over the blaring alarm. "We need to go up one more level to reach the surface, if we're going to escape outside."
Then Crichton spotted movement up ahead just at the far end of the corridor. He grabbed Carter and carefully pushed her against the sidewall of the passageway. Thankfully with this being a former Goa'uld fortress, it had a lot of decorative design structures, like pillars or buttresses, lining the walls. And the former System Lord who'd owned this place was even more given than usual to such artwork. The result gave them a lot of nice and cosy hiding places.
He pushed Carter behind one deep buttress and pressed himself along side her. Waiting in the shadows they saw several dozen black clad and armored Peacekeeper commandoes marching by in a big hurry.
Crichton waited until they were gone before saying, "Those guys had the look of people preoccupied with something else." He smiled. "Something very large and unfriendly. My money is on the Galactica."
He felt Carter up against his back. Her right arm snaked about his waist, and when she whispered in his ear it was Jolinar that he heard. "Let me guess. That would be the Cartwrights?"
"Yeah," Crichton said trying to ignore her advances. "Yeah, Adama. He's Human and a commander of a huge warship and, thankfully, he's on our side. Long story though."
Crichton pulled free of Jolinar's too cozy and overly friendly embrace to peek out from behind their cover, checking to see if the coast was clear. It was... thank God. "Let's go," he rapped out.
Jolinar followed him closely. "I like long stories. Perhaps you could find time to tell me some of them eventually."
It was about then that Jolinar heard Carter's voice muttering in their shared mental 'space'. Knock it off Jolinar, or you won't believe how badly I can sing country and western, off key.
***
Using only its maneuvering thrusters for minor course corrections, the Galactica was still on course for the planet Tobin, and closing the distance rapidly. Already, the planet was just within visual range, like a tiny gray marble in the center of the bridge view port.
"I'm detecting massive weapon discharges on passive sensors," Omega reported. "Blue Squadron and Talyn are heavily engaged."
"Have the Peacekeepers detected us yet?" Adama asked, trying not to think of the pounding that Apollo and the others might be taking at the hands of the Peacekeepers.
"There are no detectable responses to our presence, Commander." Omega said. "So far, surprise appears to be complete."
"So far, so good then," Adama thought. "Apollo and Crais just have to hold out for a few moments longer." Then he went on aloud, "Prepare Silver Spars squadron for launch!"
***
Within the launch bays of the Galactica, Aeryn Sun sat strapped in the cockpit of her Viper, along with the rest of Silver Spars squadron. As a soldier, she was used to waiting before the start of a battle, but there was a big difference surrounding the wait before this one. For one thing, she was worried about the man whom she loved, trapped on a fortress planet and in the hands of his worst enemy. Second, she was about to engage in a fight against her own people. This was not like a mere tiny squad of Peacekeepers, which was what they typically happen across in the Uncharted Territories. This was an entire Command Carrier in a pitched battle, capital ship against capital ship. There were probably many thousands of Sebaceans that stood a chance of dying here today. Today the killing might be wholesale, rather than retail.
Aeryn had to constantly remind herself that she hadn't turned her back on her people the day she was declared, out of hand, to be irreversibly contaminated just because she spoken up in Crichton's defense.
During her time on Moya she'd had a chance to see from the other side just how repressive and heavy-handed the Peacekeepers were with non-Sebaceans. Until then she had honestly believed that the Peacekeepers helped to defend the weak. That was not the case. It might have been once, but no longer. The Peacekeepers exploited and oppressed the weak to their own ends. Now, if given a chance, she would never go back to the way things were before the day when Crichton walked into her life, and turned it completely upside down.
She looked down at her brown Colonial uniform and caressed the leather jacket, reveling in how comfortable it was. She then looked left and right at the other pilots seated in their own Vipers all lined up at the mouth of their launch tubes, ready to go.
These people, these... Humans were her family now, just like Moya and its oddball crew had become her new family over time. It didn't matter any longer if she could never go back to her own people now. This place and Moya were her home, and she would die to protect it and her new family.
"Silver Spars squadron," a Launch Technician announced over their comm system "Standby to launch."
Aeryn closed and locked down her Viper canopy, as did the rest of the squadron. As the canopy sealed shut, Aeryn heard Sheba's voice over the comm system now, addressing her squadron.
"Show time, Silver Spars. Remember, we might be outnumbered by as much as four to one, but that's nothing new for us. Keep loose, and hit them hard and fast. Hit and run tactics are our specialty, and we're going to dish out more of it today. Most of all don't get cocky out there and I want to see everyone back in the hangar bay one piece when the dust finally settles. Fight hard and live forever, Silver Spars."
From the Silver Spars pilots, Aeryn included, came a chorus of, "Yes sir!"
***
On the bridge of the Galactica, Adama watched, as the planet grew larger in their forward view port. They could now see flashes of weapon fire and explosions between their forces and the Peacekeepers. "Time before we reach killer range?"
"Eighty microns..." Omega reported.
***
"Frack!" Starbuck cursed under his breath just before he heaved his Viper into a tight evasive turn. Thank the Gods of Kobold for the anti-inertia field. Otherwise he'd have been a puddle of goo soaking into the seat upholstery. He had three Prowlers hot on his tail, all of them were looking to it shoot off for him. Starbuck couldn't believe the number of ships swarming about in this little area of space. It was getting mighty crowded and dangerous awfully fast. It was a miracle that there wasn't a collision every micron.
The battle had turned into a confusing free for all, which was working to the Colonials advantage, but Blue Squadron was outnumbered three to one. The enemy could lose a fighter and it would be negligible. However if the Blues lost a fighter, not only did they lose a friend, but they suffered a real reduction in combat power They had very nearly exhausted all of their missiles to fend the Peacekeepers off and if they weren't careful, they could exhaust their fuel as well, if they remained on full turbo thrust for much longer. Unfortunately, it was the speed of their Vipers on turbo that was keeping them alive.
"This is Blue Two," Starbuck yelled into comm unit. "I need some help here, I've got Peacekeepers all over me!"
"Hold on Starbuck! We're coming!"
Starbuck smiled as he heard Athena's voice. If she's coming to his rescue then that meant...
The three pursuing Prowlers behind Starbuck suddenly flared out as three powerful explosions ripped their fuselages apart.
Talyn roared past Starbuck's Viper as the Leviathan continued to pound away at any Peacekeeper ship within reach of his mighty turret cannon.
"Lords of Kobol," Starbuck breathed in a heavy sigh of relief as he glanced one last time at Talyn, before turning his full attention getting behind an unwary Marauder. "I do love that little ship!" he muttered.
***
"...Seventy microns..." Omega continued to count down.
***
Crichton and Carter continued to try and get out of the lower levels of the base so that they could reach the surface. They entered a huge hall that probably served as some sort of reception area when the Goa'uld had lived here. A large and long stone table was situated in the center of the hall with a dozen stone pillars running along either side of it. On the other side of the room there was a wide stairway that lead upstairs.
Carefully they entered the room with weapons ready. Crichton glanced left and right nervously. He muttered to himself softly, "You know, this would be the perfect time for something to go wrong."
Carter glanced at him, whispering, "What did you say?"
Peacekeepers suddenly surged down the stairs in front of them and from the doorway behind them with weapons leveled.
Sighing, Crichton looked over at Carter who was eyeing the number of Peacekeeper who had them trapped. "I was saying something about Murphy's Law... and how I want the privilege of shooting the pessimist who invented it."
***
"... Sixty Microns..."
***
Adama's eyes were locked on the gray cloudless planet looming ever larger in the bridge's main view port. "Any change in Peacekeeper scans or status?"
"No, sir," a female bridge tech reported in a cool business-like manner. "No shift in scanning rates or frequency. No attempt to lock on to our ship profile or energy signature. There has been no apparent change in their alert status. Surprise is still complete."
***
"...Fifty Microns..."
***
"Five Marauders off of our port side," Athena announced in a calm and controlled voice. "They're coming in fast."
"Talyn sees them," Crais said. He was seriously impressed with the Colonial warrior's efficient operation of the Leviathan's systems. He was thankful that she was here. Having her aboard was like having an extra pair of eyes in the back of his head during this fight. Her mere presence was also having a calming effect on Talyn in the heat of battle, much like Aeryn had. As Crichton once said, 'some things need a woman's touch'.
Talyn turned his cannon about aiming towards the attacking Marauders and dispatched them in quick session, but more simply stepped into their place to try and assault the Leviathan gunship.
***
"... Forty Microns..."
***
Apollo saw that Talyn was in trouble as several Peacekeeper fighters were closing on the little gunship from all sides to try and overwhelm the gunship's targeting sensors again.
"Blue Squadron," he called out over the comm. "Talyn needs some help. Let's take some pressure off of him."
***
"...Thirty Microns..."
***
"Drop your weapons now!" a Peacekeeper lieutenant commanded to the two Humans. "Or we will open fire!"
"This is bad," Crichton, thought glancing to the row of Peacekeeper commandoes just thirty feet behind them and another group led by a PK lieutenant on the far side of the huge hall perhaps one hundred feet away.
It was then that he heard someone giggling... He looked to Major Carter who was about eight feet to one side of him. She was smiling and had an eerie glassy eyed stare. Oh frell! He was terrified that Samantha Carter was loosing it! Crichton should know. He'd almost lost his sanity after his first run in against Scorpius.
"Oh, I don't think so!" Carter said in a cooing voice. "Kill us, or even wound us seriously, and Scorpius will have you all dead before our bloody mangled corpses have a chance to get cold."
"Nice visual description there Sam," Crichton whispered sarcastically under his breath. "Not!"
The PK lieutenant froze for a second, realizing she that was right. He had been ordered to bring them back unharmed, but the two heavily armed Humans weren't going to give up without a fight. Empty threats won't work here. It was a stalemate...and their quarry knew it.
Crichton kept his two weapons at the ready, with the rifle pointed behind him and the pistol aimed forward, when he heard Carter singing.
"Patty cake, Patty cake, Baker's man..."
Bewildered and a little concerned, he looked over at her again. A smiling Carter met his gaze as she held the pulse rifle in her left hand, aimed straight ahead. However, he noticed that her right hand, with the Ribbon device, was down at her side. The palm of the device was turned and pointed backwards towards the Peacekeepers behind them. Crichton looked back up to meet her eyes again. He had to fight the sudden urge not to smile too. Without a single word exchanged, Crichton knew exactly what she had in mind. She might have been crazy, but she was crazy like a fox.
It was a crazy stunt to be pulling, but then again he had been doing nutty similar stunts himself in order to survive for the last three cycles out here. It might work... and if not, it was better to go down swinging. Or in this case shooting, rather than giving up to Scorpius tender mercies.
Now he looked towards the Peacekeepers ahead of them before Crichton started to sing the nursery rhyme and Carter immediately joined in. The PK lieutenant had the most baffled expression on his face, trying to figure out what they were saying. The poor sap was completely unaware what was about to occur.
"Patty cake, Patty cake, Baker's man. Bake me a cake, as fast as you can!"
In a blink of an eye, all hell broke loose...
***
"...Twenty Microns..."
***
"We have active scanning beams being directed at us from the Command Carrier!" the bridge tech called from her station.
"Are they getting a lock?" Tigh demanded.
"No sir, but he's sweeping this sector. He thinks that he sees something, but he's not sure yet."
"Lets wait them out," Adama ordered calmly. It was during the stressful times like this, even with all his years of experience, that Adama still had a bad habit of holding his breath and forgetting to breathe. "Positive shields!"
Two heavy blast shutters closed over the bridge view port as the Galactica locked herself down for battle.
Breathe...
"All stations standby to energize weapons and defense fields!"
***
"...Ten Microns..."
***
Captain Souchis was becoming increasingly annoyed as the battle progressed. The enemy was proving to be very persistent even in the face of the overwhelming firepower that his Command Carrier was bringing to bear down on them.
Much to his surprise, the little leviathan gunship Talyn was far more powerful and durable than expected. It was easily dispatching Prowlers and Marauders several at a time. All the while it just stayed outside of the reach of his carrier's frag cannons. He had more than enough ships to destroy the gunship and the traitor Crais, but the Human fighters that he'd brought with him were proving to be just as troublesome.
The Human machines were incredibly fast and powerful. So far, his forces had only able to destroy eight of the tri-wing fighters, and damage perhaps four more, but they still fought on. The way these Humans piloted their craft was on the borderline between insanity and inspiration. Their unusual fighting formations that seemed uncoordinated, yet which operated with deadly efficiency, were indeed holding their own despite being heavily outnumbered. And the kill ratio between the Peacekeepers and Humans so far were an embarrassing sixteen to one.
As the battle raged on, whenever his forces appeared to get an upper hand on Talyn, the Humans would hurry and come to its defense, or when a group of Human fighters were in danger of being overwhelmed, Talyn would swoop about saving the Humans.
Still, they couldn't possibly win. Not against the full might of his Command Carrier. What could they hope to accomplish? His forces would eventually wear them all down, by weight of sheer numbers if nothing else.
"Sensor contact Captain!" His Tactical Officer shouted in utter shock.
The Captain turned slightly, not taking his eyes off the main monitor. "Where lieutenant? More fighters?"
"One target... approaching from behind... it's a warship hiding behind some sort of stealth field." The fear in his Tactical Officer voice was evident. "Its huge!!"
***
"… Three… Two… One... We have entered killer range," Omega reported as the timer display on his console wound down to triple zero. The Galactica was now well within the range it needed to use its full armaments, including their powerful solonite anti-capital ship missiles.
"Peacekeeper sensor beams have found us and are locking on!" the female tech yelled. "Command Carrier weapons and firing controls are targeting us!"
Adama suddenly felt like the eye of the swirling storm that he was about to unleash. "All targeting sensors to active scanning! Initiate full spectrum jamming and countermeasures. Engines ahead to full. Launch all fighters. Bring the main guns to bear and commence FIRING!"
Author's Note: Please don't forget to leave some feedback at the drop off box on the way out. Thanks. :-)
