by Chaoseternus Seventeen
Excelsior
Galactica was quicker off the mark, their transmission arriving so quickly after their arrival, already composed that I just had to grin. It was too fast, it could only be a prepared message which meant they had an idea we were here before they arrived. Considering only two ships had been in contact with us and gotten away since we had left Colonial space, and that we had kept our destination secret from Cain knowing he had no been briefed, that meant she was almost certainly in contact with Mailman. My theory looked to be panning out, which was a very good thing.
But, first we had to prove to each other that we were human and that no sympathisers were amongst each others crews. Or at least, no known sympathisers.
"Commander Adama of the Battlestar Galactica to Colonial Battlestar Excelsior', State your intentions and your loyalties, failure to comply will be considered a hostile act"
Well, that's what you call making your point clear. Now, could you kindly stop painting our hull with enough sensor energy to make the Passive suite go OBE?
Not that I said that out loud of course, though I was tempted.
"Commander Hercules, Colonial Battlestar Excelsior," I emphasised the Colonial', regardless of everything that had happened we were still a Colonial warship and we had our mission, our loyalty needed to be unquestioned if we and Galactica were going to form up, "Our intention is to carry out our mission, prevent any Cylon vessels or sympathisers from passing this point"
"Passing this point?"
Understandably, there was more then a little curiosity in that question, but it wasn't one I was prepared to answer, yet.
"Adama, you know the drill. Right now neither of us has much reason to trust the other yet if we are both loyal, then we have a greater chance of driving back the night, of remaking our great civilisation if we do it together"
"Agreed"
"You prepare an inspection party, thirty people, three Raptors, no nukes, no weapons, we will do the same. In one hour, they launch and inspect the other ship and crew for obvious signs of Cylon activity. If my party goes out of contact at any point, I will consider it proof the Galactica is no longer under Colonial control. I assume you will do the same"
"One hour"
The channel went dead, obviously Adama wasn't in a talking mood but considering we had fired upon a warship I rather suspected was part of his Command, I wasn't surprised. He really didn't have much reason to trust me, I, knowing of Galactica's status as one of the few un-networked vessels in the fleet, probably trusted him a hell of a lot more then he did me.
"Sheba, form a team, you're in charge over there okay?"
"Damn, I hope this goes well.2
Another Battlestar would help greatly in defending Earth and our secret within her star system. Heh, though if Mailman had been left behind to defend civilians, then I felt pity for them. It wasn't going to be pretty when they found out everything they knew was a lie. Me and mine had at least had time to get used to that. Either that, or just hadn't believed in the first place.
xxx
Two days, frak, two whole days at being at the beck and call of a frakking Colonel, just to prove ourselves to Adama. Frak, I was a Commander, I shouldn't have to answer to a Colonel, but hey, it had to be done. I had to pity Adama though, Sheba may be my wife, and effectively my XO since Pierce put a bullet through his head, but she was only a Lieutenant, and Adama must really hate the hoops she would be putting him through right now.
But, I wasn't too worried. Not once had she and her team been late for a check-in, not once had any of a few carefully selected code-phrases been used. The team hadn't been compromised, and hadn't reported any cylon activity
Well, actually they had but coupled with a non-threat' code phrase, a tell you later', and both a hint of excitement and one of fear. They had found something interesting, but not something they wished to say over the radio. It had my curiosity pegged, I had to admit. Still, it was over. Tigh was satisfied; Sheba was satisfied and apart from a Liaison being left behind the teams were returning to their respective Battlestars, ready to jump to co-ordinates of Adama's choosing.
I pretended not to have a pretty good idea of what we would find at those co-ordinates, let Adama have his moment.
Or maybe not.
Persistent and stubborn bastard isn't he?
Before we can go anywhere near his precious fleet, he wants Earth and her unstable political situation confirmed, up close and personal like.
Which begs the question, how does he know about Earth? As far as I was aware, apart from those on the project, only thirty-five people knew Earth existed err. That's excluding the natives of course.
Oh, and yeah, how in the fraks name does he know about the situation on Earth? Frak, he's even making references I'm having to look up!
And what the hell is so important about these special consultants' he wants me to meet?
Damn it, he had better have some good answers or this alliance might be off to a non-start. He may have seniority but I still have my mission and my authorisation to destroy any vessel, Cylon or Colonial, that may prove a threat to our little secret and our plan for vengeance.
It's time some questions got answered.