A scuffle nearby alerted Athena, Jolly and Shras. What they found was a blonde human female being held by four Zsar'In, a reptilian species known specifically in the galaxy as pirates and thugs.
"What's going on here?" Athena demanded.
The lead Zsar'In, his yellow slitted eyes narrowed in on the big felinoid. "With the human coloniess desstroyed Shras, we have an opportunity to make ssome money. With the two you have and thiss one, we could ssell to the sslave market on Spartacus or even to the Cylonss."
"Release the woman, Stayrr." Shras pulled out his alien blaster. Athena and Jolly followed his lead by aiming their own guns as well.
The Zsar'In holding the woman put a plasma blade to her throat. The weapon was a hilt that released a plasma stream six inches long, that was contained in a limited magnetic field. It was said that it could cut through anything, even diamond, with little effort.
"Why do you do this?" Hissed Stayrr. "With all the trouble they have caused us, I woundn't have taken you as a humanphile."
"Unhand her Stayrr, I won't be asking again."
Stayrr bared his sharp teeth, each capable of slicing to the bone. Shras fired his blaster. The plasma blade disintegrated and so did Stayrr's hand.
As Stayrr screamed, Jolly pulled the blonde woman free. Another Zsar'In aimed, hissing an expletive. His target was the CAG. Athena whispered her own expletive. "Frak." She pulled the trigger and the bullet impacted the Zsar'In in the chest. His exoskeleton bore the brunt of the projectile and pushed him back; his shot exploded high of Jolly.
Stayrr raised his severed, cauterized limb. "You will pay for this." He retreated with his subordinates.
"What the hell was that?" Athena asked the big Khressari.
"I told you to leave. No human Colonies and Colonial Fleet to protect you. Humans have become a commodity or a bargaining chip with the Cylons. Stayrr will return with more of his kind."
The XO holstered her pistol and walked over to the blonde. "Who are you and how did you get out here?" The woman was dressed in a red miniskirt, Ovion silk blouse and a waist length leather coat. She also wore cosmetics and jewelry.
"Cassiopeia Rhaion, but my friends call me Cassie. I got stranded here by the Rising Star after a disagreement and have been attempting to purchase passage back home…Well that's changed hasn't it."
"I'm Colonel Athena Adama and he's Captain Kevin Seth."
Cassie smiled. "Seems both our parents had a sense of humor when it came to naming us huh?"
"Should be a privilege to be so named after the gods." Interjected Jolly.
"Trust me Captain, it's no picnic. I don't want to impose but if I could get a ride with you guys that would be great…"
Athena nodded. "Sure." She didn't know what to make of the other woman. Possibly a socialator and doing a damn fine job of it if Jolly's ogling was any indication. "We best get moving."
"You won't be able to take any of the primary corridors to the landing deck. There are likely more unsavory types that you will run into. I suggest an alternate route." He tapped a wall monitor that gave the nonclassified deck schematics.
"What did that Zsar'In mean by the trouble we've been causing you?" Jolly eyed Shras suspiciously. "It seems to me you'd be just as eager to sell us. You a smuggler, a pirate perhaps?" The CAG never holstered his gun.
Shras smiled which revealed his fangs. 'We don't go into space to see the pretty nebula. Profit, I'm more than willing to admit it. Most on this station I imagine are in some sort of business, legal or otherwise. Most will kill for a few checks or other convertible currency. I want to help you repair your ship - for a price because I'm a greedy bastard but also I'm a realist. The Cylons will come for the rest of us sooner or later; I'd rather not be subjugated by a bunch of robots. I'll get the necessary tylium from Carillon and meet you at Cimtar."
Athena grudgingly accepted him though Jolly was still very much uncertain as they all headed for the flight deck.
Stayrr with his fellow Zsar'In did not like loosing Cassie and were intent on recouping their losses. The removal of the Colonials was not yet looked upon as the beginning of the end of civilization of organic beings. Such a heavy debate had not entered their collective consciousness. All they saw was the elimination of the humans need to enforce justice, even on others. No patrol ships meant contraband could cross-space much easier.
They saw a human male walking alone. He looked to be totally unarmed, which was incredibly stupid as far as Stayrr was concerned. Easy pickings.
Stayyr stepped in front of the man while his thugs circled behind. "Look what we found here. A human." He hissed.
"I don't want any trouble."
The Zsar'In cackled in their caustic version of laughter.
"Step aside and I'll let you live."
The cackling ended. Stayrr's eyes were but slits as he growled his displeasure. "We are more than a match for a weakling." He activated another of his plasma blades, willing to avenge the loss of his hand on anyone at this moment.
Aaron Dorel did not have the time for such chest thumping antics. His hand darted out so quickly that before any of the Zsar'In realized their advantage had reversed; Stayrr's throat was in a vice that was closing.
Stayrr tried to stab Dorel but the blade was knocked aside. Before his companions acted, Stayyr was released, his neck broken.
Sweuk was the strongest and he put Dorel in a bear hug from behind. Normally with this much pressure exerted, death would happen swiftly. The Cylon shoved Sweuk's arms apart with ease. The big Zsar'In attempted the same kill move as Dorel had done on Stayrr, hands wrapped around the neck.
Dorel grabbed a hold of each of Sweuk's forearms and squeezed until the radius and ulna snapped in two. Sweuk howled from the pain and it was enough for the other Zsar'In to run off.
The Cylon stared at the wounded Sweuk who was holding out his broken arms in utter dismay. Humans were weak, he thought. How could…
"I told you to step aside now look what you made me do." Said Dorel.
Sweuk was not done yet and with gapping jaws was going to rip the arrogant human apart with the razor sharp, double rowed teeth. Dorel stopped this attack as easily as the others. He ripped off Sweuk's mandible and tossed it to the floor. The reptilian's eyes were as wide as they could go while blood from his wound dripped down to cover his torso. His narrow tongue was moving about in an effort to talk but his words were incomprehensible.
Dorel brushed off the blood speckles from his clothes before walking away. Other aliens who happened to witness the one-sided fight gave him a wide berth. "Extermination may proceed." He said into his built-in transmitter.
Dorel arrived on the landing deck in time to see Shras' spacecraft powering up. The raptor was easy to pick out of the dozens of ships. Athena was looking in his general direction so he began waving his hands and shouting. "Colonials! Wait for me, please wait for me!"
Athena motioned for the others to continue boarding and remained standing outside the craft. She watched as he weaved around flight crews and parked ships. When he finally reached her, he smiled. "I'm glad to see humans for a change. The name's Aaron Dorel." He put out his hand so Athena shook it. "Colonel Athena Adama. Are there any more humans here?"
"I don't think so. The aliens around here are getting a bit hostile. I had a run in with some Zsar'In…" He looked over his shoulder, feigning worry that they might still be chasing him.
She also looked across the deck. None of the aliens present appeared to be intent on harm now but that could change. "Climb aboard Mr. Dorel." His smile would appear to his 'fellow' humans as gratitude of finally being saved. He appreciated the irony, a wolf in the fold. He, of the very Enemy that the humans were trying to flee from. The Edict of Extermination could not be stopped for it was God's Plan and therefore was destined to succeed.
Margon the dockmaster sat in his office. Several computer monitors gave him the status of ships in his docks for repairs and others for supplies and/or R&R. It would have been a profitable year if it wasn't for the Cylon attack on the human colonies. Now a sense of apprehension would flow across the galaxy and with it, loss of revenue.
As far as he knew, there were no more humans on the station and so, he thought, his safety was secure. The Cylons were hunting humans after all so as long as he kept that species off, everything would work out.
His comm chirped. "Dockmaster, Lyis wants his yacht put ahead of the line. He is willing to offer 500,000 should you agree."
Margon smiled. "Put his yacht for the first available spot in the docks and bring the money to me." He was about to add this to his profit margin, nearly enough to purchase that moon he had his eye on when looking out the window, a large ship suddenly came out of jump just off the starboard side of the station. He had never seen one before but had heard enough from others to know that he was looking at a Cylon basestar.
The comm chirped again. "Dockmaster, a Cylon-."
He cut him off. "I know you idiot. Hail them and say we don't have any humans aboard. Stress it!" It felt like an eternity as he looked outside waiting for a response from the control room. The response came instead from hundreds of missiles being launched…All heading in his direction.