Ship's Journal: 4.9.612CAP
The Columbia remains a target, as it still requires extensive repairs. I dare not send out a signal should it be intercepted by the Cylons. As it is now, we have not heard of any other survivors and so expect the worse. I have ordered Colonel Adama to report to the Situation Room with her report and hope it will spell our survival.
Commander James Vinn was silent after Athena reported what had transpired on Gaelatu. He was standing at one of the view ports in the Situation Room looking out into the Void. Several minutes passed before he spoke. "Do you trust this Shras, Colonel?"
"I don't think we have a choice, Sir. We need a space dock and if our run in with the Zsar'In is any indication, Gaelatu is too dangerous."
"You don't agree with her assessment, Captain?"
Jolly rested his hands on the conference table. "The aliens are definitely exploiting our predicament but so is Shras. I can't say without a reasonable doubt that he can be trusted. For all we know, the space station at Cimtar is a trap."
"We are in a bit of a bind. The Columbia is not combat ready as is so we need a space dock. That's reality. If you think Gaelatu is problematic then that leaves the station at Cimtar. To be honest, I have to be cautious." Vinn sat back at the conference table. "I want two Raptors sent out. One to check out this space station and another to see what's happening with the Colonies. They are obviously not to engage the Cylons and simply report what they have seen."
"Yes Commander." Jolly replied. "I'll get on it now if that's okay?"
"Proceed Captain." Vinn watched his CAG leave then turned to Athena. "What do we know about these civilians, Dorel and Rhaion?"
"No more than what they've told us. Stuck on Gaelatu awaiting transport back to the Colonies. They were lucky to have been marooned." The XO responded.
"May the gods protect us."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron Dorel was aboard the battlestar except unlike the Galactica, this one had definitely seen better days. Crewmen were busy making repairs practically everywhere he looked. It had been a Cylon oversight not to have destroyed the Columbia initially, giving it a chance to crawl-yes crawl- away. However, a crippled battlestar was still a threat and he was fully aware the Edict of Extermination meant all of humanity.
For reasons he was unaware of at first, he could not make contact with his kind. At first, he considered some sort of dampening device or a malfunction of his transmitter. Then it occurred to him. The very reason the Columbia was hiding in the Void was that it foiled such efforts. He considered planting explosives but what prevented him from simply carrying out the Edict was the lack of information. The Cylons were only aware of the Galactica and her convoy as the sole survivors. If another vessel still existed, there may be more and what if those aboard knew the location of other Colonial units?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cassiopeia was assigned to share Ensign Rigelian's quarters. It was hardly spacious but an extra bunk could easily be put in place. A small statue of Artemis was situated in a place of respect as well as some family photos.
Chryseis was courteous and demure as she showed where everything was and where Cassie could keep what few possessions she had. Cassie was more impressed with the simple shower unit having to forgo for longer than she'd like to remember and began pulling off her clothes.
Cassie had lived with a dozen women aboard the Rising Star as well as other locations where her talents were utilized. It never occurred to her that her new roommate would find it uncomfortable. "I'm sorry; I was just going to take a shower."
"Yes Ma'am." Chryseis responded trying not to look directly at the partially clad woman.
"You seem a little shy to be chief security officer, Ensign." Cassie said jokingly as she slipped off her underwear and stepped into the shower alcove.
"My upbringing I suppose. I'm from Virgon."
"That explains it." Cassie nodded to the statuette of Artemis. "She is also the goddess of virtue."
"I'll get you some clean clothes Ma'am." Chryseis picked up Cassie's discarded attire from the floor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the flight deck, Jolly had assembled a few pilots. All looked the worse for wear as they dealt with the invasion in their own way. That they survived seemed to bring on guilt to some but all were interested in vengeance.
"We have two assignments that will each require a raptor." Said Jolly as he began the briefing. There was some utterances of disgust that the assignments didn't involved vipers. "We've been given information of a possible repair station near Cimtar that will require observation. If it's a go, the Columbia will be getting herself together at that location so it's very important that it checks out. Secondly, we are going to check out the colonies, see what's been happening and hopefully contact other Colonial units. There is to be no direct action against the Cylons for obvious reasons so keep to the rules of engagement. I will be aboard the raptor going to the station. Lieutenant Giles and Flight Sergeant Ortega will go to the Colonies. Lieutenant Rhodes, you're with me."
Brie Rhodes was a female raptor pilot who had graduated from flight training only a few weeks before the invasion. A little green when it came to flight time, she made up for in knowledge of the craft and a go-getter attitude. Frasco Ortega was one of the noncom raptor pilots who had loads of experience but lacked social skills that often got him in trouble. With fewer pilots, Jolly did not have much of a choice. Renzo Giles was assistant CAG and next to Jolly, was one of the best pilots in the fleet. He had done well in 'top gun' school and had all the right moves for career advancement had it not been for the end of civilization. Giles gained the callsign 'Sparky' when he was forced to land his viper on its belly when the landing gear malfunctioned.
"Sir, with all due respect, you expect us to go to the Colonies without viper escort with multiple hostiles in the area?" Ortega grimaced. "You might as well stick a target on our backsides."
"We have our orders, Ortega." Jolly snapped, not wanting to get into an argument over something that was not going to change. "Chief!" The CAG looked at the flight deck chief. "We'll need two raptors ready to go."
"Sir, what do we do if we run into the Cylons?" Asked Brie, her red hair kept in a regulation style that Jolly had not adequately enforced since the invasion. She was definitely a promising pilot whose next step would have been in the cockpit of a viper.
"We make a jump back home and report our findings to our superiors." Jolly answered matter-of-factly. "We do not, under any circumstances engage them."
"Understood, Sir." Answered Brie.
Ortega's only response was a look of disgust as he left to get prepped. The flight deck specialists were already getting two of the raptors ready, topping up their tanks, checking the comp and life support systems.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Sorrel Antos had been relatively busy in the Life Center with wounded crew. She had already lost six that succumbed to their injuries. She was also feeling the affects of exhaustion, being simply run off her feet by the sheer number of patients.
As the hours passed, so too did the crisis become somewhat manageable with the help of any crewmember with any advanced first aid training. When she was introduced to the Khessari, it was a surprise since the entire crew was composed of humans.
Shras stared at the doctor as well, not sure, why he was brought here and not particularly happy about it. "Why am I here?" He barked though the medical staff nearby looked quite annoyed.
"Standard protocol. To prevent possible contamination between species." She had a hand-held scanner which she swept over him. "It is for your own good too."
"Khessari are a hardy people and will not be defeated by some human germ." He declared and if looks alone were sufficient, then his leonid appearance would frighten even the worse away.
"Just the same, I don't need you taking up valuable bed space." She smiled so that he would accept her meaning as humor. "Well you're a healthy specimen."
"You did not need your scanner for I could have told you this myself." Shras replied bluntly. "Are we through?"
Sorrel nodded.
Shras took it upon himself to leave and with his large frame towering over others in the LC, he was given a clear path.
As he departed, Cassie entered. "I was told you needed people with advanced first aid."
"Yes. You are certified?" Sorrel seem surprised, possibly because she heard the new arrival had been a socialator.
"You'd be surprised what a woman in my line of work has to deal with." Cassie didn't elaborate, dressed in a t-shirt and fatigues that Runa had acquired for her.
"Very well. Report to the head nurse and she'll get you started." Sorrel watched as Cassie began her volunteer work but she was quickly interrupted by an urgent request for a patient in distress.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dorel had hacked into a computer, an easily performed function for a Cylon, and began looking through the restricted files. When he got to the communication directory, he soon came to a wall that no amount of deciphering would achieve results. Though the Columbia was modernized with computer networking, this had radically changed as a result of the recent battle. The comps were no longer linked to prevent another EMP episode from crashing the entire mainframe.
He considered it a minor setback and located the comm relay terminal on the schematics. CCTV and internal sensors were either sporadic and offline in large patches of the battlestar so he was not so worried of being detected. Also with damaged bulkheads, poor lighting or other safety concerns, there were not as many people to catch him anyway. Marines were still about but mainly assisting search and rescue operations rather than sentry duty. He did not blame the humans for their carelessness for none of them were aware of Cylon advancements in android production. The crew still believed the threat was from OUTSIDE the ship, not within her.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vinn and Athena stood on the CIC as reports filtered in from all over the ship. The main screen revealed the crimson glow of the Void and the two Raptors that seemed so insignificant in it.
"Our hopes ride with them." The commander said.
Athena didn't reply, watching as both Raptors achieved their perspective jumps.