Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any of its characters, they all belong to Disney. I do not own Battlestar Galactica, The Re-imagining or any of its characters, they all belong to Ronald Moore and Universal Pictures.

A Different Daybreak

Chapter 1

"Wherever we are," Adama said and looked around the bridge, "is where we're gonna stay."

"Where have you taken us?" Laura asked, staring at the younger woman.

Kara first looked at the computer readouts and then at the other people around the bridge.

"Sir, I'm picking up radio signals!" the communications tech announced a moment later.

Admiral Adama turned toward the man and was soon looking over the man's shoulder.

"Put it over the speakers!" he ordered and a moment later music filled the bridge. Adama first looked at Saul who shrugged and then Kara. "Where have you taken us?"

At first Adama stared openmouthed as did the others on the bridge as they watched the video which the Cylons had decoded. It had been broadcast along with music they'd listened to hours earlier. The singer looked like an animal he'd seen on Caprica during a trip he'd taken in college to one of the wilder parts of the planet. It had the same long neck, soft brown eyes, and mobile ears, but that's where the similarities had ended. It... well she, since the animal was obviously female with pronounced breasts, a melodic voice, and way she moved, had a certain beauty which he could and did appreciate and seemingly the voice of an angel. He thought that it just might be interesting to meet her and felt his face grow warm.

"Sir," Saul said. "The fleet is arriving."

Adama look up, having watched the video three times now. Saul grinned.

"I'm certainly glad we didn't jump in too close to the planet."

"The Galactica would've out shown their moon and we'd probably scared the devil out of them."

"Probably so," Adama said and smiled. "Let's have the fleet assemble around the fifth planet."

"Yes sir," he said and then smiled. "The engineers' initial examinations were correct. They report that the Galactica's back was definitely broken in that last jump and she'll never be able to again without rebuilding her. Have you decided how we're going to contact them since we're stuck here?"

"Not yet," Adama said and sighed. "Are there still radio signals coming from the third planet?"

"Yes and they're all being directed to the fourth," he said, double checking the latest reports. "It's a wonder they can even hear it with all radio traffic and other noise from that world. Since both are habitable it's probably an exploratory mission."

"At least they're an advanced civilization," he said and looked back at one of the monitors. "Tell the fleet to keep radio traffic to a minimum."

"Wouldn't want them to know that aliens have arrived on their doorstep," Saul said and smiled. "Also, there's a fairly good size station in orbit of the fourth planet with another under construction."

"I'd say they're about three to four hundred year behind us," Baltar interjected and both men looked at him and frowned. "At least they aren't primitives with just bows and spears. I've been watching more of the videos the Cylons have been decoding and it looks to me as if all the animals are intelligent. It also seems that both the predator and prey animals are living together with minimal or no conflict whatsoever."

"How could they all have become intelligent?"

"If you've told me about this place a year ago I've said it was absolutely impossible, but there it is," the scientist said, pointing to row of the monitors now showing different videos now in real time. "As to how they'd all became intelligent I say it certainly wasn't natural evolution. Someone must've modified their DNA to let them walk upright and to become sentient and sapient."

"Who?" both Adama and Saul said simultaneously.

"Certainly someone who's a great deal more technically advanced than we are currently and it was mostly lightly done a very very long time ago."

"How'd you come to those conclusions?" Adama asked.

"A while back I saw a mouse speaking. A mouse! And it was only this big!" he said and then held his finger about three inches apart. "Do you know large a mouse's brain is?" Both men shook their heads and Baltar held his fingers so they almost touched. "The human brain weighs only about 1.5 kilograms and mouse's only half a gram. The human brain has approximately one hundred billion neurons with one hundred trillion of connections between them. A mouse's brain has approximately eight-five million neurons that make roughly one hundred billion connections. Either they made their one hundred billion connections do the same thing as our one hundred trillion do or somehow they modified the mouse's brain cells so they have a similar number of connections as we do."

"So how far are they ahead of us?" Adama asked.

"Sir, they're the Gods!" he said, leaning toward the Admiral. That gave Adama pause and he stared at younger man. "As to when this happened this wasn't done either a few years ago, decades, or centuries ago! It took a very long time for them to work their way from being primitives to build this highly sophisticated technological civilization. How long did it take us to do the same thing? Current estimates say it took us from one hundred to one hundred and forty thousand years."

"We're going to need to make contact with them sometime soon," Saul said and raised an eyebrow.

"First, we're gonna have to learn their language and that'll take some time," he said and then took a moment to consider, "but with the Cylon's help things should go a lot faster. Then we'll have to take some care when we do contact them. We certainly don't want to seem as if we're invaders from outer space like in some silly old scifi movie." He stared at Saul. "We're going to have to live with them." Everyone stared at the scientist. "I meant figuratively."

A few people chuckled and Baltar rolled his eyes.

"OK," Adama said and looked back at Saul. "While Baltar gets started with the Cylons maybe we should have a closer look at that third planet."

Lee Adama wondered for what seemed like the hundredth time why he was here. He was the Vice-President of the 12 Colonies of Kobol for Gods' sake, but then again he was getting a little bored just sitting behind a desk and doing most of Roslin's and his job too. So when his father told him about this mission he volunteered without thinking of all the ramifications. He stood, walked to the front of the raptor, and stepped onto the flight deck.

"Mr. Vice-President," Kara said and smiled, "anything we can do for you?"

Lee rolled his eyes and she laughed.

"Are we on schedule?"

"Yes, we've just about to match the planet's orbital speed," she said and smiled. "We wouldn't want to jump there and have the planet go whizzing past us." For a moment he idly wondered if she'd always been this annoying and then after some thought concluded that she had. He sighed and she noticed and laughed. "Oh come on Mr. Vice-President we have you there in no time." She patted his arm and gave him a little push. "Go on back and get strapped in and we'll make the jump in," she glanced at the readouts for a moment, "a minute and thirty-seven seconds."

He sighed again and walked back to his seat and told everyone to strap in. Unconsciously he'd started counting down the seconds. When he reached two he heard the engines reach a higher pitch and felt the jump. A moment later he felt them come out and then the raptor begin to shake.

"Misjump!" Kara bellowed. "Everyone strap in tight! It's going to be a rough one!"

She wasn't exaggerating the least bit. All the way down he expected the raptor to shake itself apart, but toward the end it began to smooth out just before they hit. He woke to the sound of voices and they weren't speaking Colonial Standard. Then he sat up and gasped in pain as he felt where the straps had dug into his chest and thought he might have cracked rib or two also.

"Kara!"

"Apollo!" she yelled. "The ship's a mess and pilot's dead."

"How about you?"

"Oh, I'm still here, but I think I broke my leg," she said and bit her lip. "How's everyone back there?"

He looked round the cabin and the other four seemed to be stirring.

"Everyone seems to be fine, I guess," he said, "but I heard voices a moment ago from outside."

"Judy!"

Besides wanting to be a police officer Judy had always secretly dreamed of being an astronaut. Now she'd gotten to do both, being on the security detail for the first mission to the third planet. Since they'd been married the previous year Nick had volunteered also and as he said 'he had to protect his bunny.' She could protect herself just fine thank you very much, but then again she could also appreciate her Fox's sentiment.

They'd watched as the ship came down and ran toward where they thought it had been headed. Judy had dropped to all fours and Nick enjoyed the sight of her fluffy white tail bobbing up and down as he followed closely. It seemed to straighten out and then gain some lift just before it plowed a long furrow in the ground. Luckily for them they were only half a mile from the spot where the craft had come to rest. She arrived first and had just taken a step toward the tear in the ship's hull when Nick caught up and took hold of her arm, stopping her. The Rabbit turn back and frowned at her Fox.

"Officer Wilde just what do you think you're going?" he asked after he caught his breath.

"There could be injured people in there!"

"This isn't one of our landers."

"There still may be someone injured and it our duty to help!"

They stared at each other for a time and then her Fox signed. She smiled and turned back to the ship.

"Judy!"

Lee first saw a pair of long gray ears coming through rent in the side of the raptor and unconsciously put his hand on his pistol. Then a Rabbit with gray and white fur stepped though and he couldn't help smiling. She was cute! First she looked around the cabin and then her purple eyes finally settled on his blue ones. Then she smiled.

"Apollo, what the Hades is going on back there!?" Kara yelled and the Rabbit jumped literally.

A few seconds later she was joined by a larger red and white furred Fox who had a hand the pistol at his hip.

"We have some visitors," Lee said in a calm voice and looked at other people in the cabin.

Then he sat up, wincing in pain.

The Rabbit was by his side a moment later with concern on her face. Then she touched his face and it tickled. He chuckled which brought with it a bit more pain. Then he touched his chest.

"Lee."

"Judy!"

"Ben?!" she said.

Both the Rabbit and Fox turned as the Cheetah bent low and stepped though the hole. Lee craned his head back and eventually looked into his golden eyes. Then he heard and saw the others in the cabin moving around, reaching for weapons.

"Nobody do anything," he said, looking at the other men, "and that's an order!"

"But sir!" a marine said.

"Do nothing," he said and looked back at Judy. Then he touched his chest again. "Lee." Very slowly put his hand on hers. "Judy."

She smiled and touched the Fox.

"Nick."

"Nick," he said and extended a hand.

Hesitantly he took it.

"Lee," the Fox said.

They shook and Lee looked back at the Cheetah.

"Ben," he said and extended his hand again.

The Cheetah came forward, dropped to his knees, and took it. Then Lee felt the tips of Ben's claws press into his flesh without piercing it.

"Lee," he said and shook.

Then he smiled and to Lee's eyes had he had quite an impressive set of teeth. Lee begin unbuckle his restraints and again winced in pain. Both the Fox and Rabbit helped him rise and he gradually stood shakily. Ben put an arm around his shoulders and began to help him toward the exit.

"Everyone," he said in a command voice, "you will do nothing, but accept their help. Is that clear?"

A chorus of 'yes sirs' returned. Over the next fifteen minutes the three Animals helped the five other humans out and laid them under a nearby tree away from the ship. Kara was last to be out carried in Ben's arms with her head on his shoulder and a large smile on her face.

Judy stepped through the hole and looked around the cabin. The occupants from what she could see were furless except on small amount atop their heads. They seemed to be glancing at her and then to the one with the blond fur. She guessed that he must be the one in charge and looked into his soft blue eyes and smiled. Someone yelled from the front of the ship and she jumped. Quickly she felt Nick's presence by her side. Then the blond one spoke in a calm voice which broke the tension and began to sit up.

She could see that he was in pain and went to him. She touched his face and he chuckled. Then she could see the pain on his face again. He touched his chest.

"Lee."

"Judy."

That came from outside and she immediately recognized the speaker.

"Ben?!"

She and her Fox turned toward the hole to see their friend, stepping through hole almost double and then stand erect. Now she was glad that she'd talked him into giving up the donut habit and joining them in their morning exercise and runs. Within six months all the excess weight was gone and he was tall slim and to her eye quite a handsome Cheetah. Then interrupting her musings she heard the others moving around and the blond one speak in a commanding voice. The noise abruptly seceded and she looked back at him. He put his hand on his chest.

"Lee," he said and carefully touched hers. "Judy."

Then she smiled and touched her Fox.

"Nick."

"Nick," he said and held out a hand.

She gave him a look and he took the proffered hand.

"Lee," her Fox said and shook.

Then Lee looked toward the Cheetah and extended his hand again. Ben stepped close and dropped to his knees not wanting to tower over him. Ben accepted his hand.

"Lee," he said and shook.

Ben smiled and Lee began to unbuckle his restraints. Judy could tell he was in pain and both she and Nick helped him stand. Then Ben put an arm around him and started toward the exit. Lee spoke again and all the others answered.

Then they helped the them out and put them under a nearby tree. They watched Ben entered for a final time to get the person who'd shouted and she thought was possibly the pilot. He returned with the person in his arms and her head on his shoulder. Until then she hadn't realized that person was female. Ben was still a bit shy and didn't have much experience with females, but now he looked quite happy. She giggled.

Lee watched as more Animals arrived over the next half an hour. After a couple of their medics with the help of their single marine corpsman checked out everyone else the three of them gather around Kara. Their corpsman had previously stabilized her leg and giving her a shot for the pain. Now that the sedative had taken affect it was time to set the break. For a time the corpsman thought they'd need to improvise a splint until one of the Animal medics brought out an inflatable one.

The corpsman cutoff Kara pants leg above the break and then with the Cheetah holding her set it. The medic gently slipped the splint around the break and then inflated it until it became ridged. Of course Kara felt no pain and was 'a bit out of it' from the strong sedative. Currently she was busy with playing with Ben and treating him like her pet. Lee would've thought the Cheetah would've been offended, but he seemed to be enjoying himself. The younger Adama could hear his purr from where he sat.

He dozed for a time and then smelled smoke which immediately brought him awake. He looked around and saw that animal had built a barbeque pit. Apparently they had just gotten the fire started and were currently unpacking the food. He'd wondered what the predators ate since all the prey animals were seemingly intelligent. Obviously they must've brought some other type of food with them and he wondered if they could've possibly found some unintelligent prey animals here on this planet. He wondered what their prey Animals must of thought of that and then after a while dozed off again.

He was awakened by a light shake and opened his eyes to see the face of a Rabbit filling his vision.

"Judy."

"Lee," she said and held out a plate.

He sat up painfully and took it.

"Thank you," he said and smiled.

Of course she responded and he guessed it meant 'you're welcome.' When the smells hit him his mouth began to water. Eating soy protein for a year or so will do that to you, he thought and smiled. There were two types meat on the plate and some kabobs with different types of vegetables. One of the meats was white and smelled like chicken. The other was red. He cut a small piece, popped in his mouth, and chewed. Then Nick came up holding two more plates and handed her the one with all vegetables and greens to her. He sat close to the Rabbit and began to eat.

"Judy, this is wonderful!" he said without thinking. "What kind of meat is it?" He pointed to it with his fork and the Rabbit cocked her head. "Stupid."

He humped his forehead and Judy laughed. Then he laughed too, but Nick look at him for a moment and got out to what looked to Lee like a smart phone. He tapped it a few times and then handed to him. Lee saw a herd of what looked to him like deer. Then shots rang out and two of the animals dropped and the video ended. He examined it for a moment and then returned it.

"Thank you, Nick," he said and the Fox responded using the same phrase that Judy had previously.

He took time eating, savoring each bite and noticed that both Judy and Fox watch him from time to time. After they'd finished the Animals had a discussion and Nick left. He soon returned with one of the Animal medics with the corpsman trailing them. Then Judy tapped on her teeth with one of her nails and Nick did the same.

"Sir, I think that she wants to look at your teeth."

"Why?

"Maybe to see if we're predator or prey."

"I wonder why that would be important to them since they do live together," Lee said and other man only shrugged.

Lee opened his mouth and the medic removed a tongue depressor from her pack. He'd never been this close to Leopard and flinched when he felt her pads touch his lower jaw. She looked into his eyes and smiled. As she turned his head to get better light Lee felt her warm breath on his face and started to feel a bit uncomfortable. She finished quickly and stared into his eyes again for a time. Then she surprised him by moving close, rubbing her cheek against his. He heard Judy giggle and saw Nick smile. Next she preformed the examination on the corpsman, but without now seemly intimate gesture.

She stood, looked at him, and winked. Then she started toward the other humans.

"With your permission," the corpsman said and hurried to catch up.

Judy looked back at him and giggled again. Nick leaned over and licked her cheek. She said something and then swatted him. He laughed and Judy's ears turned a bit pinker. Lee couldn't help himself and laughed too. Judy's ears had turned a cherry red and they both laughed harder.

Judy was certainly glad that the rest of the survey team had come since she was a bit out of her depth. She liked Lee and wanted talk to him, but the only thing she could think of was to start pointing to things and have him name them. Then write his sounds in her alphabet. Maybe it would be easier for her to learn his language. It was like being in one of those bad old scifi movies, she thought and giggled.

When the medics showed up they and one of the others checked on all the newcomers. Lastly they'd gone to check on the single female who'd apparently taken quite an interest in Ben. The Cheetah held her while her leg was set and stayed afterwards. Later she watched as the female stroked his fur and scratched behind his ears.

"Certainly looks like Ben's having a good time," Nick said, following his bunny's gaze, and then grinned.

"She's just playing with him!"

"And he's enjoying it."

"He must know..."

"That an alien female has taken an interesting in him and who knows where it might lead."

Judy's ears turned pink.

"He wouldn't."

"Fluff, he is male," her Fox said and Judy's ears turned just a bit pinker, "and she is apparently all female. Think if you weren't married to a handsome Fox such as myself and met a handsome male alien such as Lee for instance who took an interest in you. He might touch your fur here and there." Nick proceeded to do just what he described. "And then pull you into his arms and maybe even kissed you."

"Stop that!" she said and swatted him. "Other Animals are looking!"

"Fluff, they do know we're married."

She glanced over at Lee's sleeping form and a few stray thoughts went through her mind. Then her ears had turned a cherry red and Nick chuckled. Then she stood and stomped off.

"Where you goin'?"

"Food!" she said, not turning, and headed for the kitchen tent.

She wasn't particularly hungry, but she though Lee might be. She looked at the food and then it struck her – was he predator or prey? Would he be offended if she made a mistake? She looked again and saw that Nick had followed her. Then she made her decision and took a plate and picked grilled vegetables, chicken, and that red meat the predators had shot and then butchered.

"Judy."

She ignored him and walked straight to Lee. He was still asleep and she gently shook his arm.

"Judy."

"Lee," she said and held out the plate.

He sat up and took it. Then he said something.

"You're welcome," she said, assuming that he'd thanked her.

She watched him inspect the food and then cut a piece of red meat and pop it into his mouth. He seemed to chew with all signs of pleasure. Later Nick strolled up, handed her a plate, and sat beside her. They began to eat and glanced at Lee occasionally. Later he pointed to the red meat and spoke several times, having forgotten they didn't speak his language. She leaned forward and cocked her head. Then he thumped his forehead and she laughed. Nick stared at him for a time, took out his smart phone, tapped it a few times, and handed to Lee.

He watched the video, inspected the smart phone, and returned it. Then he used the same phrase when she'd handed him the plate.

"You're welcome," Nick said and went back to his food.

Lee seemed to have enjoyed every bit of his food and looked very satisfied when he'd finished.

"Nick..."

"Sorry Fluff."

"Me too," she said and sighed. "I know you were just having a bit of fun with me and I overreacted."

"I love you."

"Me too."

Her Fox laughed.

"You're such a romantic," he said and she giggled.

"I was wondering if they're predator or prey," she said and looked into his eyes. "I had to guess when I got his food."

"Being a predator myself," he began, touching his chest, "and watching him go after the red meat I'd say he's a predator." Judy made a face. "Then I'll go get the medics and let them judge." He left and a few minutes later returned with a Leopardess and their medic. "Now we can let the experts decide."

"Remember, I'm not a doctor," the black Leopardess said and raised an eyebrow, "but I think I can figure it out."

Judy and Nick open their mouths tapped their teeth to give him the idea. Then Lee spoke to his medic and then opened his mouth. The Leopardess took out a tongue depressor and took a minute to inspect his teeth, turning his heard. When she finished she stared at Lee for time and then surprised him by rubbing her face against his. Judy giggled and her Fox smiled. Next she examined the other medic. When she'd finished she stood, winked at Lee, and walked toward to other newcomers.

The medic spoke to Lee and soon caught up with the Leopardess. Judy looked back at Lee and giggled again. Then Nick leaded over and licked her cheek.

"Not in front of everyone," she said and swatted him again.

Nick laughed and she felt her ears grow warm. Then Lee laughed and she felt like they were on fire. The males laughed even harder.

Later after he'd had seconds he stood and slowly wandered over to Kara with Judy and her Fox tagging along behind.

"So it looks like you made a friend," he said and Kara laughed.

"He's such a handsome fella," she said and this time Lee laughed. "I think I'm gonna to keep him."

"I just wonder how Ben would feel about that."

She took his face in her hands and scratched behind both ears. He purred and Kara smiled.

"Ben would you like to go back to the fleet with me?" she asked and the Cheetah cocked his head and regarded her. "How would you like learn to fly a viper or maybe a raptor?"

He got that mental image in his head and chuckled. Judy said something to the Cheetah and he responded and rolled his eyes. Kara looked at the Rabbit and then turned and kissed Ben's cheek. Ben's ears turned red.

"Remember you're a married woman," Lee said and then winced.

Kara raised an eyebrow, but then smiled.

"Trust me, Anders will understand," she said and scratched behind Ben's ear again.

His purr increased in volume and then was blotted out by another much louder sound.

"Raptors," Kara said, shading her eyes and looking into the sky.

Ben was having the time of his life, having this female show an interest in him. When he first met her on the flight deck she seemed frightened of him. He tried to help her understand all he want do was help. Then he remembered how the others reacted when he stepped aboard and how he'd helped Lee. So he sat and held out his hand. Tentatively she put her hands on his.

"Ben," he said and put her hands on his chest.

"Kara," she said and ran her fingers through his fur.

Then he pantomimed carrying her several times and he leaned again him. Noticing that she was favoring her leg he careful lifted and carried her to where the others waited. He carefully set her down and started to rise when she stopped him. Then she patted the ground beside her and he remained. One of her people came over to check on her and gave her a shot. After that she was a bit more relaxed and continued to stoke his fur.

Later the medics returned and set her leg while she leaned against him. After lunch Lee came over to check on her with Judy and Nick. They spoke a time and it seemed to be about him. Then she spoke directly to him and whatever she said at least sounded interesting. Then Lee laughed.

"She's just playing with you," Judy said.

"And I don't really care," he said and rolled his eyes.

Kara stared at Judy for a moment and then kissed him on the cheek. He felt his ear grow warm.

They spoke a bit more and she scratch behind his ear and unconsciously he began to purr. Then he saw Judy's ears go up and then he heard the sound himself. It grew in intensity until it drowned out everything else. Kara spoke a single word, shaded her eyes, and looked up.

The three raptors landed a short distance away and soon enough Lee saw his father leading a detachment of marines, Cylon Centurions, and several others their way. He thought it best to meet the Admiral before they got to the crash site.

"Father!" he said and raised a hand.

Then he stopped and waited. The elder Adama came to a halt and instead of looking at him looked down at the Rabbit who'd come up beside him. Before anyone could stop her she stepped between them.

"Judy," she said and touched her chest.

The Admiral looked down at her and his lips turned up slightly.

"William," he said and she put out a hand.

He squatted down to her level and took it. Then she surprised everyone by hugging the Admiral. The old man looked at his son and Fox that now stood beside him and chuckled. Then he returned the hug. Eventually she released him and took him by the hand and led him to the group now gathering around Lee.

"We had a little problem," Lee said and smiled.

"I thought as much," he said and hugged his son. "So I see you made contact."

"Yes sir."

Caprica Six with Baltar stepped up beside the Admiral and smiled.

"Greetings from the Cylon and human peoples," she said in the Animal's language.