Battlestar Columbia
Commander James Vinn listened as Jolly gave his report. "So Shras' cousin no longer controls the Cimtar station."
"It seems he was in debt to the Scorpian Cartel who took over operations recently. Considering they are a bunch of criminals, Commander, I'm not so sure about letting ourselves be so exposed under their care." Responded Jolly. "They are as apt to sell us out as the aliens."
"Except the Cartel are as human as we and thus as much a Cylon target. Things have radically changed since the invasion, Captain and as vile as the Cartel may be, they may be our only hope. You, yourself have told me that the Gaelatu station was far too dangerous. Our options have not improved to be so selective."
"Gaelatu station was destroyed by the Cylons." Added Jolly.
"So it seems that Cimtar will have to be our destination." Vinn looked at his chronometer then grabbed the phone. "Lieutenant Vega, has Raptor 2 reported in?"
The CIC deck officer answered after conferring with a subordinate. "Lieutenant Giles and Flight Sergeant Ortega have not returned as yet, Commander."
"Keep me posted, Lieutenant." Vinn hung up the phone.
"If they haven't returned by now, it is possible that something happened. Permission to organize a scouting mission."
Vinn didn't answer as he stroked his beard.
It was then that Colonel Athena Adama spoke up. "I want them found as much as you, Jolly but we have to concentrate our efforts on repairing the Columbia and with main power down that means the pilots are our only defense."
"Vipers that can be shut down like that." Jolly snapped his fingers. "Isn't much of a defense."
"I have Lieutenant Vega's report. The Cylons were not using EMP as we originally believed but a computer virus that spread through out our integrated system. As the vipers also used advanced electronics, they fell prey too." Vinn stood up and looked out the window at the blood red Void they found themselves in.
"So we have been reduced to the dark ages." The CAG held up one of the hand-held radios that had been used instead of the comm units.
"We have been lulled into a sense of false security by our technology that we forgot our enemy uses against us. The Colonel's uncle was right to limit it and that is why the Galactica survived and is not rubble in the home system like so many other…modern battlestars. I've ordered Chief Kessler to refit our existing vipers with monotronic computers."
"Monotronic computers, like the Mark II over half a century ago. The Mark VII will be impossible to fly without the advanced systems. We might as well be using tugs." Jolly grumbled.
"It is true that the Mark VII won't be as smooth with the monotronics but I'm sure our pilots will adapt. This is not up to debate, Captain. If you want Green Squadron to exist at all, it needs these revisions. I suggest when the time is suitable that your pilots begin training on them." Vinn sighed as he returned to his seat.
"And what about Sparky and Wildcat?" Jolly sighed, not liking this situation at all. "I - we - can't afford to lose two good pilots if Colonial Warriors are all that stands between the Cylons and the Columbia."
"Captain-."
Vinn cut off Athena. "I'm not taking this lightly. There are a number of possible reasons they haven't returned and one of them is being killed in action."
"Or shot down on one of the colonies."
"Captain Seth, we're going to have to check out the Cimtar station and make sure it's secure enough to bring the Columbia into dock." Athena finally said, crossing her arms in a defiant pose.
Jolly put his hand through his hair as he walked over to the window. "The station has a dock that should adequately hold the Columbia. There wasn't a lot of activity."
'They don't want to attract Cylon attention." Added Athena.
"Neither do we." Vinn picked up his own hand-held radio. "Major Ojbo. Do we have enough power to achieve a FTL jump and what's your best time estimate on repairs?"
There was a delay from the chief engineer. "A small jump at best. If I have a decent dock with enough raw materials to work with, four, five sectares would be a start but I'd prefer a yahren."
"You don't have a yahren, Major. We'll be sitting ducks as it is so prioritize what has to be done in dock and work from there." She directed, speaking on the same frequency on her own radio.
"Vega can reinstall the software and hopefully the navcom program will be operational again. That's one problem but the Columbia has suffered fractures and breaches that weaken our hull integrity. Jumping about without those repairs, well you can imagine what'll happen. A few sectares might be possible in a Fleet shipyard with an army of qualified engineers working around the clock. Since we lacked that option and are looking at other venues then I'll be stuck with civilian and/or alien engineers who have little or no experience servicing a battlestar."
"Our options are limited, Major. We will be proceeding to jump coordinates 453.267.721. All I ask is that we have sufficient power to achieve the jump. There is a repair station that is big enough to handle the Columbia but we have to take care of some security issues first." Vinn replied then set his radio down. "Assume for the moment that the criminal element controlling the station is willing to work with us. How do we hide our presence because if the Cylons detect us…Well we won't stand a chance now will we." He added, speaking to those in his office.
"Main reason for considering the Cimtar station was its isolated and was under alien control. During my recon, I never saw any indication of Cylon presence." Reported Jolly.
"You reported that the Gaelatu station was destroyed by the Cylons and that was an alien outpost."
Jolly turned to Athena. "Yes it was but all indications thus far was that the Cylons were targeting humans." He went over to the computer and pressed a few buttons. The display came on and an image of the Cimtar station appeared.
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Lucifer was in the command chamber of his basestar when another Six entered. The destruction of her clone on the surface of Virgon was a matter of war even if these were significantly more advanced than mere centurions. He found Six rather arrogant and wondered why the Imperious Leader would allowed such a character trait to be incorporated in her programming.
"The Columbia is in the Void." Reported Six. She had received a download of the memory files from the previous version; one particular when Giles was a bit to trusting and revealed the battlestar's location.
"Of course. The Void's electromagnetic field would render our sensors ineffective." Remarked Lucifer. "Basestar 7449 is in the quadrant. Have them send their raiders to do a sweep of the Void."
"As you already have said, the Void will disrupt our sensors." Responded Six. "The raiders' navigational system will also be affected."
"Visual contact seems rather primitive but wide dispersal of our raiders will cover more area."
"By your command." Six then left to carry out the order.
Lucifer liked the sound of the response 'by your command', especially coming from the new Humano-Cylon model. his desire to be the next Imperious Leader -to have the third brain- and lead the empire was always on his neural net. He, like the others of the IL-Series, were all possible replacements and thus some had become highly competitive or devious -such as Spectre - The latest information was considered top grade intelligence. Time would tell if this was proven true.
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Raptor 1 jumped to the coordinates of the Cimtar station. Though they crossed several light years, it took mere microns to achieve it. Having FTL drives allowed the Raptors to be more than ECM craft for the CAP but as long-range scouts as well.
Jolly and Brie 'Flash' Rhodes were back aboard but so was Commander Vinn himself. Athena had been rather adamant that he not go because of the dangers involved. In the end, there was little she could do except request that he not go without armed escort. Ensign Runa Rigelian, having been assigned as chief security officer, was given this duty. Runa had not yet been tested in this position, having acquired it after the Cylon attack. Vinn hoped to see whether his faith in her was warranted.
Shras was not going with them for he agreed to purchase the tylium from the Ovions on Carillon on their behalf. Tylium was an important fuel for a battlestar that no longer had a homeport to go to.
Cimtar station was a rather odd construct. Much smaller than the Gaelatu station, it still maintained a large dock for heavy vessels. There was little activity except for two small ships at docking ports and an old freighter undergoing repairs.
Brie whistled involuntarily as she noticed one of the docked ships.
"Lieutenant?" Vinn asked, not understanding her action.
"Sir, that ship on the left is a Cedes 2000 yacht. Pure luxury and a FTL drive to boot. It must cost at least 20 million cubits or more." She explained from the ECO seat.
"Put your eyes back in your head, Flash." Jolly said from the pilot seat. "Do a sweep with Dradis."
Brie had the attention of everyone aboard when she finally replied. "No Cylon contacts."
"Of course, a closer inspection may prove me wrong but this station does not look promising. They lack a manufacturing platform…" Vinn stroked his beard feeling somewhat dejected.
"Cimtar operates through the black market. I would be surprised if they bothered building any parts themselves when they can bribe others to do it for them."
"You seem to understand these criminals, Captain." The Commander smiled. "I suggest we contact them before they decide to fire on us."
They were ordered to proceed to Landing Bay 3. There was no idle conversation, no polite greetings or emotional outbursts between them and the station.
When the Raptor landed, they were greeted by three men in business suits. Two hanging back carried SMGs while a muscular, goatee-wearing fellow, introducing himself simply as Deric.
"May I ask what business the military has on Cimtar Station?" Deric asked.
"We're here to see your supervisor." Vinn answered.
"What about?"
"A business proposition."
Deric stepped aside to talk on his phone in private. The armed men did not lower their weapons until Deric motioned them too.
"Mr. Sagremor will see you but I'm going to have to ask that you relinquish your weapons."
Jolly was reluctant to do so but Vinn nodded so their service pistols were taken from them. Deric used a hand scanner to detect any other object that could be lethal before allowing them entry.
"Stay with the Raptor." Jolly told Brie before moving ahead with the others. She let out a sigh, walked back to her ship, and sat on the step. One of the guards remained with her.
They entered the lift and Deric put in his access code then pressed for the level. It was Sagremor's domain, hence private and restricted.
Sagremor stood up from his desk. His physique rivaled that of Deric with fully developed biceps that strained his suit. The imposing black man was also tall, at least two metrons so that he towered over the Columbia officers in his presence. His shaven head seem to rest directly on his shoulders as if his neck simply melted away. His chronometer, rings, and cufflinks were all solid gold and it was a good estimate that the yacht belonged to this man.
"My name is Aralt Sagremor." He said as he approached them. "A commander and three warriors. Is that all that is left of the mighty Colonial Fleet?" The mobster paused. "The Fleet had what, a hundred or so battlestars and what good did they do? Toasters didn't just win a battle, they won a fraking war!" He headed back toward his desk then spun around suddenly. "Perhaps I should thank you. With Sire Draken and the rest of the Cartel nothing but ashes on Scorpia, that leaves me in charge." He took out a fumarello, clipped the end and lit it up. "These will because rare I suppose. Well I'm going to get a lot of business now that I'm the only repair station for microns. Don't except cubits anymore…" He smirked as he took a puff.
"Don't you care-."
Vinn cut off Jolly's outburst. "The Cylon attack did kill billions and has made humanity an endangered species; all within 24 centares. In case you have forgotten, Mr. Sagremor, the Cylons target every man, woman and child…No exceptions. You and your people here on this station won't see a quantum of profit from this. You, like us, are on borrowed time."
"Cimtar is hardly a priority to them. I think we'll survive this mess, a whole lot better than you lot. For past transgressions against the Cartel, I could shot you or throw you out an air lock and no one would give a frak. Or I could sell you to the Toasters since your incompetence cost us our homes."
"You still don't get it. Didn't you hear what the Commander said; the Cylons are out to kill everyone. Your little group here isn't going to survive the massacre because you fancy it. Gaelatu was destroyed because it had just a few humans so what do you think when their sensors find this place?" Jolly snapped. He couldn't believe this guy was thinking of profiting from this.
"So why did you come? Drafting us into the Fleet or something?" Sagremor chuckled and his men followed suit. "Or just looking for sanctuary…I don't need the aggravation."
"If it's profit you want, then I can pay for the use of your space dock." Vinn hated it but he needed to repair the Columbia and this station was it, regardless of the hoodlums running it.
"So how much can a bunch of military officers scrounge up? Dipping in to your retirement fund? We don't take cubits anymore and I don't take IOUs." Sagremor sat back down. "Why do you need my space dock? As you probably noticed, I got a freighter in dock so you're out of luck."
Vinn sighed inwardly. He was going to take a big risk but had little choice. "Your large dock is what I'm interested in."
"Large dock; big enough for a battlestar…You're that Adama fellow from the Galactica." He pointed a finger at his guests.
"I'm Commander James Vinn of the Columbia. If you hate the Cylons as much as we do and value your continued existence, then I suggest you take our offer."
"You want to repair your battlestar here? The Fleet asking help from the Cartel. Sire Draken must be rolling over in his grave or wherever his body ended up. Why should I? Having your ship here will only draw the Toasters' attention and how do you expect to pay for the parts and labor at any rate? Sell your women, Commander?" Sagremor asked sarcastically.
Runa gritted her teeth but did not do anything to provoke a bloodbath since the goons still had SMGs leveled at them.
"This isn't about the Fleet and the Cartel. This is our collective need, as human beings, to survive and it will benefit both of us if we work together." Vinn was getting exasperated. Hope for his crew was in the hands of a gangster seemed almost laughable if it was not true.
"I'm short on patriotism, Commander. The Colonies are gone and that means we think of ourselves first."
"Then you're condemning yourselves to death. This station cannot hold off a Cylon phalanx little alone a basestar. They may not find you today or next week but they will come…"
Sagremor rubbed his chin. Having a battlestar docked at his station was a double-edged sword. It could make him a Cylon target but having squadrons of vipers to defend the station - and him - when the Cylons eventually came was becoming to agreeable. Alien rival gangs would also stand clear and allow him to properly build up a base of operations. What he needed though was cash. Yet... "I'll still need funds to purchase parts and to pay workers. It's still a market economy out there even if the Colonies don't exist anymore."
"What is this price?"
"20,000 quantums is a good start." Sagremor smiled greedily.
"We don't have that kind of money." Jolly fumed. He took a step forward and one of the guards pressed the muzzle of his SMG against the captain's chest.
"I'm a businessman. I'm sure we can come to some agreement." Sagremor motioned his thug to back off.
"I'm sure." Vinn attempted a smile though it lacked genuine feeling.
"Have your ship brought in, Commander and I'll see to getting the require materiel and manpower needed. Your crew will be allowed leave on the station in small numbers, none armed. Of course you will agree to a general amnesty for past crimes supposedly committed by myself and my colleagues so there won't be any future harassment."
There was little said afterwards and the Columbia's officers headed back to the landing bay. Sagremor turned to Deric before he escorted the others. "May I have a word…?"
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Deric was pulling his gun out of its holster when all hell broke lose. One of the thugs accompanying him beat him to the punch but his target had not been the Colonial warriors but Deric and the other gunman.
"I'm DI Phelan Hunter of the Scorpian PD." The thug introduced himself to the surprise of Vinn and his officers.
"Detective Inspector?" Asked Vinn.
"I was sent undercover to build a case against the Cartel and ended up here when they acquired the station from the Khressari." Hunter explained. "What Sagremor told you back there was all feldercarb. He had no intention of allowing you to dock here."
"The Columbia is too damaged to look for another repair station." Jolly informed the cop.
"Bring your ship here. The only way he could stop you is the Khressari ion cannon. I'll disable it and the communications array so he can't sell you out."
"Then what about Sagremor?" The CAG had picked up Deric's gun.
"He's a fraking murderer but he has connections that can get you the parts you'll need. I think he could be convinced to be more cooperative when he's staring down the barrels of your ship's batteries."
"And if you fail, I'll be bringing the Columbia to her own demise. She won't survive a direct hit by an ion cannon, not in her current condition." Vinn wished the odds were more in his favor.
Runa had picked up the discarded SMG. "I'll stay and help Inspector Hunter, Sir."
The Commander nodded reluctantly.
"Captain, help me with these bodies." Hunter requested as he dragged Deric's corpse into the nearby airlock. Original plan had been to put the warriors' bodies inside so it was a rather ironic twist. Once the dead men were in place, Hunter pressed the open button. A red light came on as the outer door slid open. The bodies were sucked out into space.
Runa watched as Jolly and Vinn proceeded toward the landing bay. A voice inside her begged for her to reconsider and run after them. Being the new security chief meant making difficult decisions and this was definitely one of them. By her own choice, she was being left behind on a station filled with gangsters and other assorted cutthroats. One mistake could cost her and the Columbia their very being.
She nervously handled the SMG in her hands and forced herself to look away as Jolly and Vinn disappeared through a hatch. Her eyes slowly turned toward Hunter. "You didn't have to kill them."
Hunter gave her the once over. Young and inexperienced but full of determination. He too was no commando so in a way they were closer in ways than either of them would have believed. "If you're not up to the job, I suggest catching up to your comrades. The bodies will give us a few centons of leeway." He motioned toward a corridor. "Come or go."
She sighed and followed him as he progressed through the station.
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As Vinn and Jolly moved cautiously back to the landing bay, it occurred to them that Brie too would be in danger if Sagremor's plan was to kill them all.
"Flash, this is Jolly come in." The CAG looked worryingly at his commander. Were they too late? "Flash…"
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Brie had been sitting on the ramp as the armed Cartel thug simply stood nearby . It was rather boring to stay put and mind the Raptor. The thug had already disarmed her for 'her own safety' so she could do little else but wait. Trying to start an idle conversation with Sagremor's henchman was ineffective so instead she gazed around the rather confined space of the landing bay. If the junk was taken out, it might hold a squadron of Vipers but that was being rather generous.
Her radio squawked about the time the guard began speaking into his headset.
"Read you Jolly. Do you need assistance, over?" She hoped so, give her something to do.
"It's a trap!" Came the CAG's voice as the thug prepared to open fire. There was little in the way of alternatives for the young lieutenant who scrambled inside the Raptor. A spray of bullets peppered the hull as she struggled to get into the pilot's seat. She had no plan per se but was thinking on the wire and the ship was all she had.
She brought the Raptor to life, swinging it around so she could see the henchman. He had discarded his empty and useless SMG for something with a lot more clout. He had opened up a crate and was loading a rocket launcher.
"Felgercarb." She whispered as the realization of what was about to happen sunk in. The thug propped the RPG onto his shoulder with the utmost certainty that one direct hit would crack open the Raptor like a tin can.
Her hand, slightly trembling from facing a possible date with the Reaper, flipped the fire control switch that lowered the heavy caliber machine guns for use. She fired, the .50 cal slugs ripped into him as if he was no more an obstacle than paper. His finger twitched and the RPG also fired but the rocket went off course and plowed into the overhead bulkhead.
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Vinn and Jolly were almost at the landing bay when they heard and felt the explosion. The CAG went for his pistol only to remember they had been disarmed. He instead grabbed his radio. "Jolly to Flash, report your status."
There was an ominous 'dead air' over the radio but the crackled of a transmission brought relief to the two men.
"I'm okay."
"Get the Raptor ready for departure." Ordered Jolly.
"What's going on?"
"No time Lieutenant." Vinn cut in.
"Should we be leaving Rigelian here? We're trusting this cop a hell of a lot." Jolly asked as he opened the bay access hatch.
"We need this station, Captain because if we can't repair the Columbia then its over." The Commander answered as they both walked toward the Raptor, their eyes momentarily taking in the blast area.
"Over?"
"Without repairs we're a sitting duck. If we can't fix the ship then we'll have to evacuate and hope to find a habitable world not ravaged by the Cylons. It's not my first choice if I can help it." Vinn felt heavy with the burdens he was carrying.
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Standing at a view port, Runa watched as the Raptor sped away from the station then suddenly jump. She was beginning to feel very much alone at a time when she was still trying to come to grips with the deaths of her family and billions of others.
"We won't have much time now." Hunter was standing at the maintenance ladder. "Sagremor will be wanting to know what's been going on and when he doesn't hear back from Deric…Are you okay?"
"Let's get this over with." She answered, attempting to look confident and followed Hunter up the ladder.
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Cylon Basestar 7449 was in position near the spatial phenomenon simply called the Void. As expected, scans revealed nothing but white noise. The order was given and hundreds of raiders were soon entering the Void.
Aboard Basestar 2490, Lucifer received confirmation that the search had begun and not to soon either.
"The Imperious Leader wants a progress report." Informed one of his first centurion adjutants.
Imperious Leader Barkol had been on the forward capital of Gamoray to witness the destruction of the human civilization.
Lucifer knew Barkol when he was but an IL-Series. How times had changed as Barkol, now three-brained, was also given a new model body uniquely for his position.
"What is the status on our search for the Battlestar Columbia?"
Lucifer chose his words carefully. The Imperious Leader had become fixated on the Galactica and its fleet of civilian ships so any deviation had to be carefully explained. "We are currently searching the Void and should have favorable news soon."
"I expect to hear that the Columbia has finally been destroyed within the centar."
"It shall be done, Your Eminence."
"Do not fail me Lucifer." The Imperious Leader warned as the signal ended.