7 Points
By Chaoseternus
Sol System
Inside the confines of the Sol system a taskforce gathered, granted the grand title of Taskforce 3, the captured Ha'tak Valour's Hour, the Dauntless Class Heavy Destroyers Invincible and Illustrious, the MTB Cerberus, both the Tau'ri controlled Tel'tac Cargo Ships, Esso and Sir Galahad and the swarming Lancer IS fighters of Eagle and Mosquito (633) Squadrons RSS all made this Taskforce, the second largest gathered by the Tau'ri, a gathering not to be reckoned with.
And they had just one simple briefing, standard Rescue & Recovery, any intelligence gathering, any targets of opportunity were to be considered secondary.
It was a task none of the ships Captains or the Squadron Leaders had any problem with, at all.
They had only one problem, no Prometheus Class Cruisers. These warships, the first Tau'ri designed warship, built before the RSS was officially born were the brainchild of the SGC, but they were a troubled design. Over the years, these craft had clocked more 'patches' than any other class design, they had become a premier design as more and more improvements and fixes were incorporated into the design.
But a critical flaw had been discovered within the hyperdrives safety systems, resulting in an inoperable drive requiring a drydock fix. When Independence suffered a drive failure, becoming the third major hull to be crippled by this flaw, the drives had been declared unsafe and the ships recalled to base.
This fleet for all its power and grandeur lacked the heavy hitting capability, the stronger shields, and more tellingly, the larger medical facilities of the Prometheus Class Vessels.
That left only the two Dauntless's with medical facilities and they were very small. And they were heading into battle, with a refugee fleet in the Zone Of Engagement.
Both situations on there own means a large medical presence is required but mix the two?
An edge of worry had already settled over the fleet, affecting every officer, NCO and rating aboard the fleet. IF they just faced the Cylons then casualties should be minimal, but all it took was a curve ball…
BSG-75 Galactica
Adama woke up that morning feeling strangely elated, as if something had changed, as if a lot of weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He tried to dismiss the feeling, he knew of no reason for it, but it clung to him, like his heart knew something his mind didn't.
That feeling was displaced by late evening by one of urgency and fear as Cylon fighter after fighter after fighter jumped into space within targeting range of the whole fleet followed by three massive basestars.
Adama knew with certainty that not every of his ships would escape this day, and he hated it, he hated the Cylons for taking the colonies, but above all, he hated the Cylons for making him impotent to save all those who looked to him and his ship for protection.
"There's far too many Cylons out there, we cant hold them all off" Tigh quietly commented to Adama, as the mighty ships bridge shook and rumbled, "It'll be another five minutes before the civilians ships are ready to jump"
"I know, Colonel" Adama said, as he swiftly reeled off orders, "I know"
" What the frak?" Dualla shouted, jumping back from her console as a bright ball of glowing energy formed above it, quickly skittering across the room and into every corner before stopping in front of Adama.
"The Tau'ri are on their way here, you most hold position"
Adama started as the ball spoke, then his mouth set in a grim line, "What type of Cylon are you?"
"I am not cylon, I am an ally of the Tau'ri, the humans of Earth, the first world"
"Don't be ridiculous, humans come from Kobol not from earth" Tigh interjected, grimacing as the guards shrugged their shoulders, helpless to do anything against the intruder.
"I've seen the original scrolls, I know that, the question is how do you know about the true origins of humanity?" Adama ignored the startled the gasps that filled the room, ignored the shaking as the Galactica came under renewed fire.
"It is well known, the fleet will be here in four minutes, I must go"
Adama blinked as the ball vanished, silently agreeing with Tighs muttered "Well, that was interesting"
Adama glanced around the bridge, quickly snapping, "Tend to your stations!"
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