Battlestar Galactica

Nightmare?

Chapter Nine

Lieutenant Kolbe and the rest of the men and women of the Galactica's Green and Orange Squadrons knew that they faced an uphill battle. They also knew that this would most likely be their last day of existence as well, but they continued on toward what was certain death.

They were Colonial Warriors, and as such they could do no less. It was their solemn duty to protect the fleet and they were bound and determined to do so …… or die in the effort!

And so, Kolbe, Levi, and the rest of the survivors of the two squadrons sailed on in pursuit of their inhuman foe. They had no plan. They would simply catch up to the Cylon fleet and attack, taking as many of them out as they could before they themselves were overwhelmed and turned into atoms.

There was very little chatter on the Viper frequency, just the occasional course correction from Lieutenant Lupo, the group navigator. It seemed that everyone was resigned to the fact that they were about to die and were engrossed in their own thoughts. This bit of distraction was not of any concern to Kolbe thou; he knew that when the time came to engage the Cylons, every pilot's sole focus would be on the task at hand.

"Green four to Green lead, I'm picking up something on the fleet channel." Lieutenant Lupo reported. "Sounds like the Galactica is issuing new orders for the fleet."

"Can you tell what the new orders are?" Kolbe asked.

"It's coded, but I think I can get most of it. It sounds like the Galactica is surrounded by over a dozen Baseships and is going to try and make a run for it. The Commander has ordered all ships to rendezvous with them at position Lamda three in three centars. If no contact is made by then, they are to proceed on their own on a course of their own choosing."

"A dozen Baseships!" Kolbe whispered. There was no way the Galactica could survive an engagement with that many Baseships. Not without a lot of help.

"Green lead to Orange lead, did you hear what Lupo said?"

"Yea, I heard." Lieutenant Levi said, "What do want to do?"

"I think we need to find the Galactica and do whatever we can to insure that she gets away. Any objections?"

"Not from me." Levi said solemnly. "Where do you suppose she is?"

"I'm not sure, but I think I know how to find out." Kolbe responded. "Green lead to Green four, did you by chance get a bearing on that message from the Galactica?"

"You know I did Green Leader, its standard procedure." Lupo said rather confused. "Why do you ask?"

"Give me a vector to a point along a straight line course between where that signal originated and position Lamda three. Take into account that the Galactica will be traveling at top speed and that we will be running on full turbos."

"You're not asking for much, are you?" Lupo said sarcastically as he worked out the equations on his small computer. After only a few centons, Lupo came back with an answer.

"Alright, here it is, turn on course Alpha zero five one. We should intercept the Galactica within thirty centons. That is of course if all the variables you gave me are accurate."

"Best I can do Lupo. Great job thou!" Kolbe said as he switched over to the Viper frequency.

"Green leader to all Vipers, we're about to change course." He told them. "On my mark, we will turn to course Alpha zero five one. We will go to max turbos and with a bit of luck, we will intercept the Galactica. We will then take whatever measures we can to insure that the Galactica is able to get free of the Cylon trap."

Kolbe took a deep breath before he continued.

"I'm sure you all realize that there's little hope that any of us will survive. Odds are that the Galactica will be destroyed before we even get within scanner range of her. That doesn't matter thou. We have all sworn an oath to protect and defend the Galactica, the fleet, and the human race, and by all that is holy, we shall! I don't know how much longer we have left to us, but I want you all to know that it has been a pleasure and an honor to serve with you. There has never been a finer group of Warriors."

Kolbe was silent for several moments, then he gave the order to turn onto the new course and a date with destiny.

Thirty centons later, Kolbe and the survivors of the two squadrons came upon the Galactica. She was engaged in a fierce battle with a group of ships the likes of which Kolbe had never seen before.

"Alright people, there she is." Kolbe said. "Looks like we arrived just in time. Orange Squadron, intercept and destroy those incoming fighters. Green Squadron, lets get after those big ships, whatever they are. Try and keep them away from the Galactica."

"Right, Orange Squadron, you heard the man. Let's get to work!" Levi said.

With that, the forty Vipers of the Orange Squadron moved to engage the Cylon fighters that seemed to be escorting the strange new ships.

"Green Squadron hit em hard, hit em fast and keep hitting em until their gone." Kolbe ordered his meager eleven ships into battle. A battle that would decide the fate of the human race.