The Hunt for Battlestar Pegasus
1
Chapter One
Commander Thor stood proudly on the bridge of his ship. He sighed deeply as the crew hurriedly prepared to shove off. Glimpsing briefly to the rear of the ships control center, he spied his first officer, Colonel Perseus, barking final departure orders to a yeoman. Perseus caught his commander's gaze, and cracked a wicked smile. Today was the day the two old friends would make history.
"It's time, Commander", said Perseus as he stepped onto the command deck, which sat high above the rest of the Bridge.
Thor did not reply immediately. Instead, he turned from his old friend to gaze once more at the star field beyond. Through the main viewport, part of the superstructure of the spacedock could be seen seemingly about to burst apart from the strain of holding back Thor's giant warship. The light glow of the outer atmosphere of the planet Gamoray was barely detectable at the base of the battlestar's viewer.
"Yes", Thor finally replied in a whisper. "It's time. Time indeed."
"Clear all moorings!" ordered Perseus towards the man at the Nav station. "Stir Solium Storage tank 1 and prepare to depart!"
"Aye aye, Colonel!" replied the Navigator with a mischievous grin.
Moments later, the monolithic ship surged forward and away from its' space moorings. At no more than an idle, the ship quickly left the space -dock behind and effortlessly navigated the shipyards of Gamoray before settling on a heading for open space. As the rear view scan displayed Gamoray slipping further and further away, Thor and Perseus shared a heartfelt handshake, Thor adding a hearty pat on his first officers' back. Today, they would meet their ultimate destiny.
Captain Adama tried to keep himself awake as best he could. Certainly, the choppy flight of the Colonial Transport would see to that even if the caffeine in his drink did not. As fire erupted outside his viewport, he realized the ship was on final approach as it fought through the atmosphere of Caprica. Caprica, his home planet since birth and a place he had not visited in Sectares. It would be a very pleasant visit regardless of the length of his stay or the reason for his urgent mission. At least he would get to see his beloved Illya and baby boy, Apollo. Adama had not seen the latter since his birth, and then it had been only for a matter of centares.
The Hunt for Battlestar Pegasus
2
The Transport's doors opened and Adama's senses were greeted with the harsh sounds and lights of the bustling Caprica City spaceport. To avoid being trampled by the anxious passengers behind him, he quickly hopped down and to the side of the mobbed concourse. Within microns, two Security Council officials approached the quite obviously exhausted Colonial Captain.
"Captain Adama", said one of the officers. "Welcome home, sir. Would you please follow us?"
Adama nodded yes and followed the burly men to a hover-bus that floated nearby. The bus's long cylindrical frame opened on one side to allow the men to enter. Inside, the bus was very spacious, with luxurious amenities throughout.
Before long, Adama would find himself inside the office of Admiral Jacoby. Jacoby's office seemed to be at the very heart of the enormous Pyramid of the Colonial Intelligence Agency or CIA for short. The admiral was an old friend of Adama's family and would typically dispense with the protocols of Colonial military doctrine whenever he had dealings with him.
"Adama!!! You son of a bitch! How are ya', son?" said the Admiral as he poured Adama a hot drink.
"Fine, fine", said Adama as he loosened his collar and made himself comfortable in the Admiral's lounge area.
"And your father? How is that old war-daggit?" Jacoby asked as he made himself comfortable on his couch, which faced the chair Adama had chosen.
Both men placed their drinks on the table before them and stirred the hot cider lazily. "He's very good, sir. I've been instructed to relay a challenge for a rematch of Triad, in fact?" said Adama with a tired grin.
"I swear, Adama, I won the game fair and square!" chuckled the Admiral.
Adama studied Jacoby from head to toe. He had never realized what a large man he was before. The admiral must have stood a good 6 foot 5 easily and he was definitely on the heavier side. His dark, black skin hid the scars of long, hard yahrens of battle well.
The admirals' eyes focused on the new metal pins on Adama's green and brown battle-jacket. Adama noticed this and cleared his throat rather bashfully.
"There well deserved, Adama", said the Admiral in a more serious tone. "Don't you ever listen to that felgercarb about nepotism because it is just that---FELGERCARB!"
"Thank you, sir" replied an embarrassed Adama.
"So, what's so important that you had to hop three Transports and a frigate to get here all the way from---"
"Borrallus", finished Adama. "Well, sir, it's this", said Adama as he reached into his briefcase that he had pinned to his side.
Adama pulled out a small data-disc and placed it in the player on the Admiral's table. Immediately, a large 3-D holograph of a battlestar appeared before the two men. Slowly, the holo spun the battlestar around as if it were on a turntable. All kinds of pertinent factoids and charts were displayed just below the holo-ship.
"Big frakker!" exclaimed the Admiral.
"She's several meters larger than the Rycon and probably faster than the Galactica", offered Adama.
"What are they calling her?" asked the Admiral as he continued to squint at the holo.
"This is the Battlestar Pegasus, Admiral", answered Adama dramatically.
"Pegasus?"
"It's Scorpian for poetic inspiration", Adama said before sipping his cup for the first time.
"What are these antenna arrays on either side, facing the inbound landing bays?" asked a very curious Jacoby.
"You don't miss much, do you", quipped Adama. "Those, sir, are the problem and the reason I am here at the behest of the agent assigned to this case. We don't know what they are."
"Would this CIA agent happen to be a very stunning brunette with a pension for pulling powerful strings?"
"Yes, Admiral. It is Illya", laughed Adama.
"Well, I must say that this is all very interesting considering that this battlestar set sail this morning from the shipyards of Gamoray", sighed Jacoby.
"This morning", whispered Adama to himself. "Admiral, I would like to request permission to show this holo to someone."
"Anyone I know?"
"A Lieutenant by the name of Tigh. I knew him at the academy. The last that I knew, he was still working in the shipyards there while he finishes his rehabilitation", answered Adama.
"What happened to him?"
"He got himself caught on the wrong side of a Cylon Pinwheel attack."
"Clearance?" asked the Admiral.
"Top Secret or better. He's worked in Special-Ops ever since he graduated", answered Adama before finishing his drink.
"Well, what are you waiting for, Captain? You better double time it over to the academy!" exclaimed the Admiral. "Get this business taken care of so you can go visit that little family of yours. That's an order!"
"Yes, sir!"
TO BE CONTINUED
1
Chapter One
Commander Thor stood proudly on the bridge of his ship. He sighed deeply as the crew hurriedly prepared to shove off. Glimpsing briefly to the rear of the ships control center, he spied his first officer, Colonel Perseus, barking final departure orders to a yeoman. Perseus caught his commander's gaze, and cracked a wicked smile. Today was the day the two old friends would make history.
"It's time, Commander", said Perseus as he stepped onto the command deck, which sat high above the rest of the Bridge.
Thor did not reply immediately. Instead, he turned from his old friend to gaze once more at the star field beyond. Through the main viewport, part of the superstructure of the spacedock could be seen seemingly about to burst apart from the strain of holding back Thor's giant warship. The light glow of the outer atmosphere of the planet Gamoray was barely detectable at the base of the battlestar's viewer.
"Yes", Thor finally replied in a whisper. "It's time. Time indeed."
"Clear all moorings!" ordered Perseus towards the man at the Nav station. "Stir Solium Storage tank 1 and prepare to depart!"
"Aye aye, Colonel!" replied the Navigator with a mischievous grin.
Moments later, the monolithic ship surged forward and away from its' space moorings. At no more than an idle, the ship quickly left the space -dock behind and effortlessly navigated the shipyards of Gamoray before settling on a heading for open space. As the rear view scan displayed Gamoray slipping further and further away, Thor and Perseus shared a heartfelt handshake, Thor adding a hearty pat on his first officers' back. Today, they would meet their ultimate destiny.
Captain Adama tried to keep himself awake as best he could. Certainly, the choppy flight of the Colonial Transport would see to that even if the caffeine in his drink did not. As fire erupted outside his viewport, he realized the ship was on final approach as it fought through the atmosphere of Caprica. Caprica, his home planet since birth and a place he had not visited in Sectares. It would be a very pleasant visit regardless of the length of his stay or the reason for his urgent mission. At least he would get to see his beloved Illya and baby boy, Apollo. Adama had not seen the latter since his birth, and then it had been only for a matter of centares.
The Hunt for Battlestar Pegasus
2
The Transport's doors opened and Adama's senses were greeted with the harsh sounds and lights of the bustling Caprica City spaceport. To avoid being trampled by the anxious passengers behind him, he quickly hopped down and to the side of the mobbed concourse. Within microns, two Security Council officials approached the quite obviously exhausted Colonial Captain.
"Captain Adama", said one of the officers. "Welcome home, sir. Would you please follow us?"
Adama nodded yes and followed the burly men to a hover-bus that floated nearby. The bus's long cylindrical frame opened on one side to allow the men to enter. Inside, the bus was very spacious, with luxurious amenities throughout.
Before long, Adama would find himself inside the office of Admiral Jacoby. Jacoby's office seemed to be at the very heart of the enormous Pyramid of the Colonial Intelligence Agency or CIA for short. The admiral was an old friend of Adama's family and would typically dispense with the protocols of Colonial military doctrine whenever he had dealings with him.
"Adama!!! You son of a bitch! How are ya', son?" said the Admiral as he poured Adama a hot drink.
"Fine, fine", said Adama as he loosened his collar and made himself comfortable in the Admiral's lounge area.
"And your father? How is that old war-daggit?" Jacoby asked as he made himself comfortable on his couch, which faced the chair Adama had chosen.
Both men placed their drinks on the table before them and stirred the hot cider lazily. "He's very good, sir. I've been instructed to relay a challenge for a rematch of Triad, in fact?" said Adama with a tired grin.
"I swear, Adama, I won the game fair and square!" chuckled the Admiral.
Adama studied Jacoby from head to toe. He had never realized what a large man he was before. The admiral must have stood a good 6 foot 5 easily and he was definitely on the heavier side. His dark, black skin hid the scars of long, hard yahrens of battle well.
The admirals' eyes focused on the new metal pins on Adama's green and brown battle-jacket. Adama noticed this and cleared his throat rather bashfully.
"There well deserved, Adama", said the Admiral in a more serious tone. "Don't you ever listen to that felgercarb about nepotism because it is just that---FELGERCARB!"
"Thank you, sir" replied an embarrassed Adama.
"So, what's so important that you had to hop three Transports and a frigate to get here all the way from---"
"Borrallus", finished Adama. "Well, sir, it's this", said Adama as he reached into his briefcase that he had pinned to his side.
Adama pulled out a small data-disc and placed it in the player on the Admiral's table. Immediately, a large 3-D holograph of a battlestar appeared before the two men. Slowly, the holo spun the battlestar around as if it were on a turntable. All kinds of pertinent factoids and charts were displayed just below the holo-ship.
"Big frakker!" exclaimed the Admiral.
"She's several meters larger than the Rycon and probably faster than the Galactica", offered Adama.
"What are they calling her?" asked the Admiral as he continued to squint at the holo.
"This is the Battlestar Pegasus, Admiral", answered Adama dramatically.
"Pegasus?"
"It's Scorpian for poetic inspiration", Adama said before sipping his cup for the first time.
"What are these antenna arrays on either side, facing the inbound landing bays?" asked a very curious Jacoby.
"You don't miss much, do you", quipped Adama. "Those, sir, are the problem and the reason I am here at the behest of the agent assigned to this case. We don't know what they are."
"Would this CIA agent happen to be a very stunning brunette with a pension for pulling powerful strings?"
"Yes, Admiral. It is Illya", laughed Adama.
"Well, I must say that this is all very interesting considering that this battlestar set sail this morning from the shipyards of Gamoray", sighed Jacoby.
"This morning", whispered Adama to himself. "Admiral, I would like to request permission to show this holo to someone."
"Anyone I know?"
"A Lieutenant by the name of Tigh. I knew him at the academy. The last that I knew, he was still working in the shipyards there while he finishes his rehabilitation", answered Adama.
"What happened to him?"
"He got himself caught on the wrong side of a Cylon Pinwheel attack."
"Clearance?" asked the Admiral.
"Top Secret or better. He's worked in Special-Ops ever since he graduated", answered Adama before finishing his drink.
"Well, what are you waiting for, Captain? You better double time it over to the academy!" exclaimed the Admiral. "Get this business taken care of so you can go visit that little family of yours. That's an order!"
"Yes, sir!"
TO BE CONTINUED