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The Magnetic Void
Disclaimers: The concept of thirteen colonies originating from Kobol belongs to Universal Studios.
During the first few weeks the twelve colonies were able to remain in contact with the Zodia tribe. However once the Zodia tribe was four months away from the others all communication had ceased. There were many speculations that the Zodia tribe was ignoring the transmission from the twelve colonies.
After four years while traveling to the Nerryeus system the fleet came upon a black void in space. Their senses were useless while trying to scan the void. Admiral Torric from one of the Caprica's ships was being awakened. Eight minutes later he was stepping onto the bridge.
"Col. Karbol, report," said Adm. Torric.
"Sir, we had come to a halt in front a void," said Col. Karbol. "We have sent a probe into the void an hour ago; however we had lost contact with that pilot. I do not dare to send in another pilot."
"How far does this void go?" asked Adm. Torric.
"That is a good question sir, because we can't scan to the other side or around it," said Col. Karbol. "We have no clue to the size of this thing in width, depth or height."
"Sir, wasn't we told by scientists that there were planets in this direction?" asked Lt. Brimm.
"Dr. Eartha and Dr. Ali made the discovery a few years ago," said Lt. Raine.
"Sir, I'm not sure on which ship Dr. Eartha is on, but Dr. Ali is on this ship," said Col. Karbol.
Adm. Torric turned to face one of the bridge security officers.
"Lt. Leigh, go and tell Dr. Ali that her presence is requested on the bridge," said Adm. Torric.
"Yes, Sir," said Lt. Leigh. He then left the bridge.
Ten minutes later, Athena, Ali's eighteen-year old daughter was waking up her mother.
"Athena, what is it?" asked Ali.
"Mother, a good looking security officer is here and he is saying you are needed on the bridge," said Athena as Ali had a stunned expression on her face as if she was very surprise at what Athena had said. "He won't say for what reason though."
"Well let the good looking security officer know I'll be there as soon as I get dress," said Ali as her husband Malak was waking up.
"Where are you going?" asked Malak.
"For some reason I'm needed on the bridge," said Ali as she was getting out of bed. "I will be back shortly."
As Ali was walking out of her bedroom Athena and Lt. Leigh were making conversation with each other. The conversation ended when Lt. Leigh saw Ali.
"Dr. Ali, I'm sorry to wake you, but Adm. Torric requests your presents," said Lt. Leigh
"Lead the way," said Ali.
Lt. Leigh and Ali then walked out.
"Dr. Ali, would you have any objections if I ask Athena to a triad game?" asked Lt. Leigh as they were walking in the direction of an elevator.
"Lt. Leigh, Athena is old enough to go out with whoever she pleases so why would I object to you asking her to a sports game?" asked Ali.
"You are a very influential person among the leaders of the thirteen tribes," said Lt. Leigh. "Well I guess it is twelve tribes now. So I don't wish to do anything that would get me in trouble with my superiors."
"I see you know of me, but you do not know me," said Ali. "If you knew me you would know that I'm not a type of person that would threaten a man's career because that man asked my daughter to a sporting event or even to dinner. If you do ask Athena to the triad game her favorite teem is the blue teem."
"Thank you, Dr. Ali," said Lt. Leigh as they were stepping onto an elevator.
"For future reference Athena's favorite flower is a stripe-culp," said Ali.
"Thanks for the hint, Dr. Ali," said Lt. Leigh.
"You're welcome," said Ali as she was grinning.
A few minutes later they were walking on the bridge.
"Dr. Ali, welcome to the bridge," said Adm. Torric.
"Thank you, Admiral," said Ali. "So what can I do for you?"
"The fleet is at the moment is sitting motionless in front of a black void," said Adm. Torric. "We need your expertise to tell us what we are dealing with."
Ali walked over to the navigation station and looked over the helmsman's shoulders to view their location.
"Adm. Torric, we are at the exact distance from Kobol that our probes were when they would stop transmitting to us," said Ali.
"Do you know what would be causing this void?" asked Adm. Torric.
Ali tapped the helmsman on his shoulder.
"Can you bring up a star chart?" asked Ali.
"Yes, Doctor," said the helmsman.
A second later Ali was looking at the star chart.
"Adm. Torric, if I would have to take a guess, I would have to say that this black void is a magnetic void. I believe what is causing the magnetic is our close proximity of Kobol's sun, the sun in Nerryeus system and the sun in the Erus system," said Ali. "At this location all three stars are relatively close to our present position."
"Can we go around it?" asked Adm. Torric.
"If I'm right about what is causing this void it will add another twenty years to our voyage," said Ali.
"So for us to get to the Nerryeus system we have no choice, but to pass through this void," said Adm. Torric.
"Admiral, I see only three options," said Ali. "We can go through it like two of our probes did or we can add another twenty years to our travels. Our last choice is to turn around and go with our thirteenth tribe to Earth. "
"Doctor, in your opinion which of the three should we do?" asked Adm. Torric.
"I would definitely eliminate turning around and following our thirteenth tribe to Earth as an option," said Ali. "From the two options that are left I would recommend closing the gap between our ships to where we can see each other through the windows and travel through the void."
"You don't believe that the void will pose a threat to us?" asked Adm. Torric.
"As I said before, two of our probes had made it through so in my opinion the void poses no threat to us," said Ali. "However, I do suspect that the void will interfere with our navigational fix and our communications with the other ships. That is the reason I recommended to bring our ships closer together."
"Thank you, Doctor," said Adm. Torric. "Lt. Tryse, get me President Kazner on the screen."
"Yes, Sir," said Lt. Tryse.
A minute later President Kaznor was appearing on the screen.
"Pres. Kazner, Dr. Ali and I feel that the void poses no threat to us so with your permission I would like to proceed into the void."
"Hold on Admiral," said Pres. Kazner. Pres. Kazner then pressed a button. The screen then divided into twelve images onto one screen. The images on the screen were of the council of twelve. "Adm. Torric, we, the members of the council of twelve, have been discussing the void. Now Admiral, I would like for you to tell this council what you had told me."
"Council members, Dr. Ali is with me on the bridge," said Adm. Torric. "She believes that the magnetic void is caused by the close proximity of the three stars in this region of space. The void is also too wide to go around. Dr. Ali also believes that the only two problems that the void will cause for us are our navigational fix and our ship-to-ship communications. So I feel our best option is to bring the ships in the fleet to where we can see one another out of a window and continue into the void."
"Council members, if it will help to decide as if we should go through the void, this void is what kept our probes from transmitting to us," said Dr. Ali. "Since we did receive transmissions from two of our probes we know that this void ends at some point. I feel if we continue on at our present course with no deviation of that course while in the void we should have no problems at reaching the Nerryeus system."
"All that will support to go through the void say aye," said Pres. Kazner.
"Aye," said everyone from the council of twelve.
"Adm. Torric, you have a go and may the lords of Kobol guide us though safely," said Pres. Kazner. The communication was then terminated.
"Lt. Tryse, contact all of the ships in the fleet and tell them to tighten their formation," said Adm. Torric. "They are to maintain a visual of the ships around them at all times."
"Yes, Sir," said Lt. Tryse. He then started to contact the other ships.
"Well Admiral, if you don't need anything else I'm going back to bed," said Ali.
"Doctor, before you leave do you know where Dr. Eartha is at?" asked Adm. Torric.
"Dr. Eartha is on one of the Gemini-ships along with her relatives," said Ali. "Well, have a good day." Ali then walked out.
Fifteen minutes later the probe pilot that was reported lost was boarding one of the ships.
Four hours later, Ali's sleep was interrupted by her son's daggit. After she woke up she noticed that Malak was not in bed with her. She then got up and got ready for work.
As Ali was walking out of her bedroom, Shadow was whining and scratching at the door to get out.
"Good morning," said Keegan, Ali's fifteen-year-old son.
"Good morning, Keegan," said Ali. "Does Shadow need to be taken to the pet yard?"
"It's not that," said Keegan. "The tabernacle has remained full for the last three hours. Shadow is whining because of all the people walking back and forth."
"Can you get him away from the door please?" asked Ali.
"Shadow! Come here!" said Keegan. The daggit went to Keegan.
"Did your father leave already to open the classrooms?" asked Ali.
"He cancelled all classes for today," said Keegan.
"If he cancelled all the classes then where is he?" asked Ali.
"He is at the tabernacle with everyone else," said Keegan.
"Did someone die that I don't know about?" asked Ali.
"Everyone is praying to the lords of Kobol that they will deliver us from the black endless sea we had entered," said Keegan. "Mother, people are over reacting to the facts aren't they?"
"Extremely," said Ali. "So Keegan, who got everyone praying for their lives?"
"The Sovereign Mother," said Keegan.
"I thought as much," said Ali. "A high ranking religious person like her normally prays to the lords of Kobol when they spot a comet. I will go and have a talk with her before she has the entire fleet in a panic. When Athena wakes up tell her I can use her help in the lab today."
"She is with Father," said Keegan.
"Of course, the only person that is not praying is the person that has the explanation of what is happening," said Ali. She then walked out.
After a short walk down the corridor Ali was entering the tabernacle. Everyone was squatting in the floor and holding candles as they were praying. There was hardly any room for anyone to move. The Sovereign Mother saw Ali as she entered. She watched Ali as Ali walked up to her.
"I was wondering what would get you in here," said Sovereign Mother.
"I'm here to talk to you," said Ali.
"What about?" asked Sovereign Mother.
"Can we go somewhere so we can talk in private?" asked Ali. The Sovereign Mother then turned to face the people.
"My children, everyone is to continue praying. I will be back shortly," said Sovereign Mother. She then turned to face Ali again. "Come with me."
The Sovereign Mother led Ali into the back room. After entering the door was shut behind him.
"Sovereign Mother, I know you don't mean no harm, but what you got started aboard this ship can cause a panic within the fleet," said Ali.
"The only thing I've done was to offer prayer to our crisis," said Sovereign Mother.
"But that is just it, there is no crisis," said Ali.
"Doctor, have you looked out the window lately?" asked Sovereign Mother.
"Sovereign Mother, I know it is totally black outside," said Ali. "We have entered a magnetic void. I was the one that convinced the council of twelve that the void poses no threat to us. As long as we don't deviate from our course while within the void we will exit the void and on course."
"You do not think that praying for us to remain on course is worth praying over?" asked Sovereign Mother.
"I do not feel it is necessary to pray to overcome a crisis when there is no crisis," said Ali. "If we remain in this void for more than three years then I'll start praying."
"Doctor, people from this ship come in here because they are no longer seeing the stars," said Sovereign Mother. "When they come in here they are all ready in a state of panic. To calm them down I offer them prayer and guidance. I tell them they are to have faith in the lords of Kobol."
"Did you ever stop to think to tell them to have faith of the people that are navigating the ship?" asked Ali.
"You are wanting me to tell the people that come in here to pray to have faith in the same people that lied and betrayed them?" asked Sovereign Mother.
"They did that to save their lives from a dying sun," said Ali.
"What do you mean from a dying sun?" asked Sovereign Mother.
"And I wasn't thinking when I allowed that to slip," said Ali.
"Doctor, what really happen on Kobol?" asked Sovereign Mother. "And before you answer that I will remind you that you are in the house of the lords of the Kobol."
"Sovereign Mother, the threat of Kobol's atmosphere deteriorating was true, however the cause was from a dying sun," said Ali. "There were only a small number of people from the scientific community that knew the truth. Not even the council of thirteen knew the truth."
"Doctor, why was the council of thirteen deceived?" asked Sovereign Mother.
"The scientific community felt if the council of thirteen knew about the sun, the tribes Sagittarius, Virgo and Pisces wouldn't allowed themselves to leave thinking that it was the will of the lords of Kobol," said Ali.
"You're correct. They wouldn't have left," said Sovereign Mother.
"So you understand as to why this must be kept quiet?" asked Ali.
"I will not keep this from our holy scriptures," said Sovereign Mother.
"I don't know what will happen if you don't," said Ali.
"Nothing will happen," said Sovereign Mother.
"How can you be so sure?" asked Ali.
"The tribes Sagittarius, Virgo and Pisces will know that if it was the will of the lords of Kobol for them to die, the scientific community's deception would not have prevented it," said Sovereign Mother.
"I'm not as certain as you are," said Ali.
"I'm right about this, Doctor," said Sovereign Mother. "I'm also right about the people in the next room. They are not going to have faith in your scientific words or our fleet's navigational crew. They will have faith in the lords of Kobol, however."
"Ok, I'm convince at what you are doing is the right thing," said Ali. "Perhaps you can use your influence on people and let them know that what we had done was done to save lives."
"I will do what I can, but I'm afraid with that even the lords of Kobol would find that to be a challenge," said Sovereign Mother.
"Thank you," said Ali. She then left.
During the passing months the fleet remained within the void. More and more people would go to the ship's tabernacle to pray.
Lt. Leigh and Athena began spending a lot of their time together.
After being in the void for almost two years Ali had even walked into the tabernacle. The Sovereign Mother just smiled as she watched Ali light the candle.
Ali noticed the Sovereign Mother smiling at her. Ali just allowed a grin. Everyone's attention was then drawn to the corridors as a man was yelling out.
"A bright star has appeared," a man yelled as he was running through the corridors. "A bright star has appeared."
Within thirty hours the entire fleet cleared the void.
After traveling for another two years the twelve tribes discovered that the solar system they are traveling to had more than two ocean planets that can support life.
To be continued with Zodia: The Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol