Sorry about the delay, but I kind of lost track of where this was going.
When two Tribes go to war...(Part 15)
Nietzschean ships poured out of slipstream as the Commonwealth ships struggled to respond, trying to cover the Colonial fleet from the Cylons and the new threat.
The Zion's Victory moved to cover the Kingfisher, in direct opposition to Dylan's orders, while Ryan moved the Achilles to separate the Nietzschean and Cylons.
"This has all the ingredients of a very bad day." Dylan muttered under his breath, "Andromeda, report."
"The Nietzschean fleet is trying to manoeuvre so that we're between them and the Cylons while they get closer to the Colonials." The A.I. reported, "If I was a gambler, I'd place my money on them trying to grab a hyperdrive."
"Would make sense; it would give them a technological and tactical advantage: slipstream to within jump-range, then attack without any warning."
"The system would have little or no warning. Dylan, we can't let a pride as aggressive as the Drago-Kazov get hold of a Colonial FTL drive."
"This day just keeps getting better an better…"
Rommie pried out of the access hatch and across the corridor to the open hatch beyond. She could see crewmembers going about their duty, filling CIC with sound.
The urge to simply walk in and forcibly remove Cain from command was strong, but Rommie knew it wouldn't be that easy: as durable as her body was, even she had her limits when it came to taking damage.
In the end she decided to follow the simplest plan she could: follow Cain until she found out where Admiral Rhade was being held.
"Have you any idea how dangerous it is to be here?" Halo protested, "They find us, they won't even pretend to ask questions!"
"Then we won't let them find us." Rommie closed the hatch until she could only just see out, "Time is one thing we have on our side…"
"Time to intercept?" Adama asked as he looked at the main consol.
"30-microns." Darla reported, "We are in range for real-time communications."
"Very well, open a channel to the Pegasus."
"Sir, we're receiving an incoming communication from the Galatica." A young lieutenant looked up from her post, "It's Commander Adama for you."
"Very well, put him through." Cain subconsciously straightened her uniform, "Helo William, it's been a while."
"It has indeed." The reply came over the intercom, "I'm sorry to inform you, but you've attacked an ally of ours; we've found the Thirtieth Colony."
"You have found a misguided remnant of humanity who are enslaved to A.I.'s. Do you really think I'll allow you to deliver what little remain of our culture to the enemy?"
"Sheba, I have personally spoken to a man who was born on Earth. The Systems Commonwealth may not be perfect, but they are willing to offer us a home, and they have the technology to defend us from the Cylons…"
"By entrusting our safety to their own A.I.'s? Forgive me if I fail to see the sense in trading one race of machines for another. Add to that, the Cylons have already infiltrated the Commonwealth: we have a Cylon prisoner who claims to be an Admiral in their fleet."
"The man you are referring to is Admiral Telemachus Rhade, a Nietzschean. He is from a part of humanity that has used technology to improve their bodies. I personally find the idea repulsive, but I will not condemn them for it…"
"You have always been an idealist, William. It is a character flaw that will get you killed one day. I have my own contact with in the Commonwealth, and they have told me the truth, even going as far as to provide us with the technology we need to destroy the Commonwealth warship sent to find the Admiral. I destroyed them, I can destroy the others."
"The ship you destroyed was badly damaged from fighting the Cylons, and was suffering from systems failures and critical damage even then. Despite this, it was able to destroy TWO Cylon Basestars in combat. If a Commonwealth Destroyer in bad condition can do that, think what two Destroyers, two Heavy Cruisers, an Attack Cruiser and full fighter support can do. They can save us."
"We will save ourselves William. Goodbye." Cain cut the link. She waited a moment before turning to the crew, "Set Condition One throughout the ship, have the Alexander and Mjolnir do the same. AND SOMEONE PLEASE FIND THAT FRACKING A.I.!"
"Doesn't sound like she wanted to listen." Beka tilted her head t the side, "Maybe I should take my people and give her a demonstration of just what the Commonwealth can do."
"That would only antagonise her even more." Adama shook his head, "We need to talk her down."
"Message coming in from the Andromeda." Lieutenant Gaeta reported, "A fleet belong to the Drago-Kazov has entered the system, and appear to be attempting to capture one of our hyperdrives."
"Uber bastards!" Beka hissed in common, before switching back to Latin for the sake of the Colonials, "Dylan and the others can deal with them: they have almost an entire Battle Group to play with…"
"Have the Drago-Kazov replied to our ultimatum to leave the system?" Dylan asked, know just what the answer would be.
"They are refusing to even acknowledge our signal." Andromeda reported, sounding more than a little weary, "I don't think we'll going to be able to talk them out of this."
"Give me fleet-wide; I want everyone to hear me." Dylan wanted for the com-system to chime, confirming his order, "This is Captain Dylan Hunt of the Systems Commonwealth starship Andromeda Ascendant, Commodore of the of the High Guard fleet. The Colonial fleet is under our protection. Any attempt to board a Colonial ship will be seen as an act of war, and we will respond with the full force out our disposal." He cut the link, "Think that will help?"
"Not really." Andromeda shook her head, "The lead Drago-Kazov Destroyer is moving to intercept Colonial One; President Rosalyn is heading over to the Kingfisher in an attempt to talk down the rioters. Her ship has only two Vipers escort."
"Contact the Zion's Victory and tell them to destroy any Cylon or Nietzschean ship that approaches Colonial One."
"Zoë's already leaded her missile tubes."
"Eager, isn't she?"
"That's destroyers for you: always looking for a fight…"
"Leader to Group; keep a tight formation, and brake when I tell you to." Beka felt good to be back in her fighter, master of her own destiny, "Our targets are the engines of the colonial destroyers, bur we only want them disabled."
"With all respect, we should destroy them." Tyr's voice was gruff, "They are a threat and we should eliminate them."
"And that attitude is why I'm in charge of this mission." Beka sighed, "Relax Tyr; something tells me you'll get to kill someone before the days done."
"I'm going to ask this one last time." Trance looked down at Flux, "What are you planning to do next."
"We will do what needs doing." Flux moaned in pain, "It is beyond my control; the avalanche has started, and it is too late for the pebble to vote."
"What have you done?"
"The Cylons are the future; the Commonwealth must be swept aside to make way for the new order."
"You really think I'd let you do something like that?"
"You really think you can stop us?"
"Flux, look into my eyes…"
"Dylan, I'm picking up a massive energy build up from the Cylon ship Trans boarded." Andromeda switched the view of the main screen to show the strange star-shaped ship.
The Basestar seemed to glow from inside, like it was lit by a captured star. Then it started to bulge impossibly, light bursting through open rents in its hull. Then it exploded, the destruction rendered soundless by the vacuumed of space.
"Oh my god…" Dylan blinked, "Point defences! Rig ship for impact!"
The first wave of debris hit the Andromeda head on.
"The probe has picked up some unusual activity in the system; it looks like we're not alone when it comes to our interest in the Colonials."
"Why can I never have a quiet day?"
"Admiral?"
"Nothing. Prepare the fleet to depart; I fear we will be needed sooner rather than later."
"Ok people, go active." Beka activated her targeting sensors, locking onto the ship her computer identified as the Colonial destroyer Mjolnir. "First squadron with me. Second, follow Tyr in on the Alexander. Third is our tactical reserve."
"Roger leader."
"Roger leader."
"Roger leader."
"Roger leader."
"Fight well, Rebecca Valentine."
"You to Tyr Anasazi, out of Victoria by Barbarossa." Beka bit her lip as she pushed her slipfighter to the very edge, "Here goes nothing…"
"Dylan, the Drago-Kazov are making a run for Colonial One!" Andromeda reported as her systems started to come back on-line, "Zoë's firing!"
Space filled with missiles as the Commonwealth warship opened up.
The Zion's Victory, a Siege Perilous class Destroyer, one of the most potent starship killers ever built, fired half of it's 120-milles tubes at the smaller Nietzschean ship, the other half tracking the supporting fights.
A Cylon Basestar opened up, lobbing nuclear-tipped death at anything in range, trying to destroy the remaining Colonial ships.
Space seemed to ripple as the Wrath of Achilles opened up, Ryan filling the void with anti-missile missiles, attempting to intercept the Cylon weapons while his anti-proton cannons locked onto the Basestar and started to fire.
The Andromeda Ascendant and the Twelve Centuries took up defensive positioned on either side of their larger companion, adding their own considerable firepower to the onslaught.
Nietzschean ships exploded like firecrackers as the Black Watch moved to support the Zion's Victory, the two destroyers making a deadly pair as they cut a swath through the enemy fleet.
But by this time the Cylon's had launched all their fighters, and were doing their best to outstrip the Commonwealth when it came to shear volume of fire.
Space filled with fire as fighters from all sides engendered in the biggest dogfight seen since The Fall.
To Be Continued…