Lost Brothers II
Return to the Colonies
Chapter 2

Authors note
Just to remind everyone, this story is using the cannon of original Battlestar Galatica show from 1979 and takes place about five years after "The Lost City" season seven finale. If you are wondering just how things got to this point look up the first story "Lost Brothers" from my bio. 'Cause I do so hate having to repeat myself, repeat myself, repeat myself… Speaking of.

Disclaimer
I own non of the characters or ideas used in this story. Just the plot and that ain't worth much. Battlestar Galatica is owned by Universal and Stargate SG1 by Mgm and I highly doubt they would ever crossover but I find it fun to think they could!

Jack sat in the officers mess and he hated it. As the commander of the Battlestar he was suppose to be aloof and rarely, if ever, seen as a real person. The only people who would spend any time with him would be those who knew him from the SGC. Unfortunately most of them were busy leaving him on his own.

Taking another mouthful from his tankard he thanked whoever thought of putting a bar onboard a functioning warship. He read his orders again, he was to co-lead a small fleet to the twelve colonies. Once there he was to offer what aid he could and report back the status of the colonies.

Looking again at the force he would be leading he winced. A small resonance force at best. It had enough firepower to defend itself but travailing deep into enemy territory with sketchy intelligence and a mix of perhaps too experienced troops and green cadets with no experience. With a determined look he swigged down what little was left in the tankard and got up, heading for his quarters.

Cain grunted, these orders were just the thing to get him, and his crew, killed. with a subtle bleep his vid-monitor switched on, 'Commander. We have General O'Neill on fleet-comm for you.' His second reported.

'Connect him.' Cain faced the monitor

'Yes sir.'

'Evening Commander, read anything interesting recently.' The greying, younger, man seemed relaxed despite the subject.

'Beside a suicide mission?'

'I wouldn't put it like that but your way is better. I looked over the briefing, there's no figures, no reports, nothing. We could find that there's no one left.' While Jack was still relaxed he was also flicking through the wad of paper he had in his hand.

'Or we could find a few hundred million people who need help.'

'And all we can offer is limited medical aid and meagre supplies. Even if they'll accept them.' The Earth man waved his hands in the air

'We'll have to do what we can. Are you planning to accept joint command?' Cain lent forward.

'I'm better at following orders than giving them, I think the best solution would be if you have overall command but I have the ability to interpret those orders. Or issue my own if they don't conflict.'

'Agreed, when in battle. Course corrections and similar decisions must be taken jointly.'

'That's the best way we can do this. You want to accept the mission first or shall I?'

Cain smiled easily 'Age brings wisdom, you first!' he reached over and tapped the corner of the screen turning it off. Leaning back again he glanced at the blank screen. Once again he realised that the best thing about the upgrade wasn't the big things but the little, subtle points. Faster doors, smoother transport tubes and the ultra thin monitors that responded to the touch all made the running of the Pegasus that much sleeker and the big things made it that much deadlier.

It now had two ring transporters, an interactive-real time-holographic imaging sensor, external and internal energy shields. Even without the weapons upgrades those alone would make it five times as deadly. With, there was probably nothing that could face it alone, but they weren't facing anything alone. They were going deep into the Cylon alliance's borders. Cut off from their base and reinforcements while the enemy could simply swarm them with ships until there was nothing left of the two Battlestars.

A few days later and Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter was organising the supply shipments coming from both Earth and the dock yards and was beginning to find it annoying. As the second in command of the ship she had to arrange everything from finalising crew quarters to what supplies went to what cargo bay and how it got there. While there were god knows how many people actually doing the work she was the one who everyone of them turned to. At this moment in time she was trying to find out why the medical supplies were scattered between two different cargo decks. 'I don't care,' she finally burst out at the hauler. 'Medical supplies are deck four, foods are deck five and viper components should be in the hangers. If they're not, you move them. Understood?'

'But my supervisor told me to put the medical stuff on deck five…'

'And I'm his superior, now what are you going to do?'

'Move the medical stuff to deck four?' The hauler said uncertainly.

'Yes.' Sam replied in a tone that finished the argument. The hauler shuffled off to the rest of his team.

'Having fun?' Came a familiar voice from behind. She turned on her heal before hugging the man who had sneaked up on her.

'Daniel! What are you doing here?' she asked as she broke the hug.

'It has been decided that three of the council of twelve are coming with you. They volunteered me as one of the three.'

'Oh, Jack…the general's going to love that!' she caught her slip just a second too late.

Daniel laughed, 'That's why its my job to tell him. How's Pete these days?'

'He sent me a message, telling me how much he missed me.' She smiled sadly, something she was sure Daniel would pick up.

'Does he know about the mission?'

With a sigh she answered, 'I told him that were going on deep space recognisance. He didn't like it. We talked a while, and argued, eventually we decided to think about each others positions and leave it at that.'

Daniel looked at her for a moment before frowning, 'This must be difficult for you.'

'Not really, to be honest I think we've grown apart and we've got to think what happens next.'

'Sorry Sam, I really am. I'll tell you what I'll go say "hi" to Jack and then come back down here and help you with all of this.'

She cheerfully smiled at him, 'Thanks, I could do with the help.' Daniel left as she threw herself into the work.

Jack sat back in the briefing room on the Pegasus. The Galatica used its version of this room to house the council, here it was used to brief the station chiefs. They had gathered the chiefs from both Battlestars and told them of the upcoming mission. Most of them were exited and ready for action, they were fresh from the academies and had probably only fought in the Cylon attack. The others, too few of them, accepted the missions reluctantly.

At first glance the Cylon attack was an astounding victory for us. Earth's forces were outnumbered and outgunned and they sent the Cylons packing. But that wasn't tactically true. The Cylon alliance was spread throughout two galaxies, dwarfing the Asguard and Replicators combined influence by quite a bit. With that much resources no one knew how many Basestars there really were. There were almost certainly planetary garrisons and large capitol planets that would have to be defended. In the end the Cylons could afford to lose ten Basestars for every upgraded Battlestar damaged. Earth just could not keep up with that level of production.

Hell, the Cylons themselves were mechanical robots. Programmed with all the skills they needed. Humans had to be born, had to grow up and then be trained in limited numbers.

Tactically the attack failed to destroy Earth but the amount of casualties was far too much, almost all of the upgraded F302's and a good portion of the 303 fleet was lost along with a lot of Viper pilots. Those sort of losses were going to be unacceptable if they run into a Cylon fleet and this time they won't have surprise or the home ground advantage on their side.

He included that in the briefing, trying to get the children to understand just what they will be facing. By the end he hoped he had gotten through to them.

At the end the officers and chiefs filed out leaving only Jack and Cain in the dark room. 'I'd hate to play pyramid with you Jack. When you have a point you make it.'

'Saves time and lets them understand exactly what will happen.'

'That leaves us with one last point to agree upon before we part. Who gets the councillors?'

Jack blanched and hoped Cain was joking, he didn't want them. 'You. The Pegasus is older, more distinguished and you are the commander of this fleet.'

'Yes but the Thor is bigger and equipped with better energy shields.'

'Yes well… that only makes it a bigger target.'

'Are you trying to say you don't want the honour of escorting the esteemed councillors to the colonies.'

'No…,' Jack glanced out of the window. 'Sorry thought I saw a flying pig.' He finished with a grin.

' "A flying pig?" ' Cain looked confused.

'Pigs can't fly I know that, I was lying so badly that you would believe that a pig could fly.'

Cain simply snorted with laughter. 'Then I have a solution, I will escort one of them if you take the other two.'

It was a moment before Jack smiled 'Right. I'll have space monkey and you get the others.'

'I thought you would see it that way'

A month later and they were ready to depart. 'Sir all hands report ready for jump. The 302's are secure.' Carter reported from the platform next to the pedestal.

Jack sat down and looked out the window in front of him. 'Helm to full speed, prep the fold generator.'

'Yes sir.' She responded

'Siler, contact the Pegasus. Tell them we're underway.'

After a moment the officer responded 'Done sir.' Looking out into deep space Jack could see the stars moving. Slowly the stars began to elongate as the ship sped to closer to the speed of light.

'Helm set fold coordinates to outside the colonies system, confer with the Pegasus's helm. Last thing we want is to come out in the same place.'

'Yes general.' As they touched light speed Carter gave the order and the ship left normal space.

Authors note
Thanks to Kenmorsq for reviewing!If any one else would want to (you DOwantto..) I'm sorry while this isan AU I can't bring Janet back asI started post he death (even if I could I'mhaveing enough troubles with including every one as I should any more would be a problem)

I have to take a brake for a short while butthe next chapter will come before the new year,but just to keep you intrested the Cylonshave a new problem one that scares the fleet...