Battlestar Galactica, in orbit of unknown planet
Admiral William Adama was at a loss as to what action should be taken. Normally, he would recall all personnel from the planet and jump away. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option with the food crisis. He would have to hope that this Colonel Carter was willing to allow them time to replenish their food supplies and all them to go in peace. The Admiral took a deep breathe and replied, "Colonel Carter, this is Admiral William Adama, military leader of what is left of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. We apologize if we have trespassed on the territory of the United States, however, our situation is desperate. We have exhausted our food supply and need to replenish our supplies. If you will allow us time to accomplish this, we will then be on our way. If you can provide a map of your territory, we will avoid any future trespasses."
It seemed like an eternity before the response came. The fate of their people depended on the goodwill of these people. From the voice, he was reasonably certain that they were dealing with humans. Who they were or where there are from, he did not know. However, the instruments of the Galactica clearly indicated that this was likely a more advanced civilization than the colonials and Adama did not want to engage in combat against such an adversary.
The wireless then came to life, "Admiral Adama, the United States does not have any claim on this world and you and your people are free to gather all the resources you need from it. We have only responded to a call from a research team on the surface that was exploring the ruins by the stargate. They are presently in a cloaked ship. We just wanted to make certain that the situation did not get out of control for them. It sounds to me that you and your people are refugees. If that is the case, we may be able to offer some assistance. I have a full medical staff onboard the Hammond. We may also be able to offer assistance in repairing some of your ships. That assistance would be limited as we are not a shipyard. However, we do have some capabilities to assist in repairs."
Relief swept over Adama. He replied, "Colonel, we are indeed refugees. We come from twelve worlds which had 50 billion people and were the subject of a genocide by former machines called Cylons. The Cylons had fought a war against us over 40 years ago which resulted in their freedom and an armistice. During the past 40 years, they developed a human, biological form and infiltrated our civilization. Two years ago they launched a surprise attack against us. They disabled most of our defenses and nuked our worlds. The people of this fleet are all that remains of the colonies. We also have a number of Cylons who rebelled against the Cylon leader named Cavil. I must warn you, they are still pursuing us to finish the genocide of our people."
President Laura Roslin then approached Admiral Adama as he handed her the headset. "Colonel Carter, this is Laura Roslin, President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. We thank you for your generous offer of assistance and will accept any assistance you can provide. Can we possibly meet on the surface? Perhaps next to these ruins?
"President Roslin, I'd be happy to meet you. How about in one hour?" came the reply.
Laura Roslin replied, "that is acceptable. We will meet you in one hour. Galactica out." Laura smiled at Bill, "I hope this isn't some Cylon trick. We could really use a break." Bill Adama took back the headset and responded "I agree. But if it's a Cylon trick, we'll get through it together. Saul, get a pair of raptors together with pilots and ECOs. I also want Captain and Lieutenant Agathon as well as there daughter. Have D'anna Biers join us as well. Also a team of marines. Just in case this is a trap" ordered Adama.
"Will do Bill" responded Tie.
Unknown world, surface
Major Shaw had gathered everyone from her party. She and Lieutenant Edmondson as well as Baltar and Caprica Six were keeping an eye on all six children, all of whom were from the orphanage, when they saw a shimer and then a cylindrical grey ship slightly larger than a raptor suddenly appeared. The ship had two extended pods, one on each side and it hovered about 20 meters off the ground with no apparent engine. The two pods then retracted and the ship slowly floated down to the ground with a strange humming sound as it landed. The back of the ship opened and four people emerged. A short blond haired woman with a tall dark skinned man at her side took point. They both had impressive looking assault rifles and each had a side arm holstered on their right hip. They wore a digital camouflage BDU that wasn't quite like anything worn in the Colonies.
Kendra knew that they couldn't afford to get into a fire fight with 6 children in their group. "Everyone put your hands up" ordered Shaw. Edmondson gave her a dirty look, but complied as did everyone else.
P3X-475
Major Hailey saw the group of 10 with their hands going up. The poor children looked pitiful and were obviously suffering from malnutrition. There was a short Asian looking woman who looked like the officer in charge of this group. By her side was an average height brunette who also looked military. Two more adults rounded out the group, a tall blond woman and a short brown haired man. "Please, put your hands down. You're not prisoners and we are here for friendly contact. My name is Major Jennifer Hailey and this is Captain Eric Jones, Dr. Frank Bartkowski and Dr. Tracy Campbell" she stated as she pointed to her teammates who had accompanied her out of the jumper with the scientists remaining in the jumper for now.
All four of them had a particle beam pistol as a side arm. This was identical to the one used by the Travelers of the Pegasus Galaxy, the technology for which had been traded for Earth technologies. She and Jones also carried the new AR-10 which is a rifle version of a rail gun with an inertial dampener that allowed for one powerful shot of a trinium, naquada, neutronium composite shell with a naquadria core bullet to be fired. The bullet was tiny, but at 1% the speed of light it made for a powerful punch. The bullet generated an EM field when fired that would penetrate any known personal defense shield. When it penetrated the target, the naquadria core would explode, taking out anything it hit. "Lower your weapons." She whispered to her teamates.
The leader stepped forward and states, "I am Major Kendra Shaw, this is Lieutenant Margaret Edmondson, Dr. Gaius Baltar, Caprica Six, and these children are here to get some fresh air after months onboard our transports."
Hailey stepped towards Shaw and extended her hand, which Shaw immediately took as they shook hands. "We were about due to eat lunch if you and your companions would like to join us." SG-2 had brought several pans of Chicken Marsalla, pasta with Marsalla sauce, salad, garlic bread, and chocolate cake. They also had homemade fruit punch to drink with their meal. Hailey always arranged to bring a full meal whenever they had one of these babysitting scientific missions. It helped to break up the mission and allowed them to bond with their scientific charges. They easily had enough food for 30 people and these children looked like they could use a good meal.
Shaw hesitated for a moment before accepting the invitation. Hailey thought that she could see the entire group salivating at the prospect of eating this meal. She ordered the scientists out of the jumper and introductions were made. Hailey ordered Jones and Bartkowski to set up the food buffet. All the food was set in self heating trays, or self cooling for cold foods, and they quickly were ready for consumption. Everyone was given a plate and took their food and soon were enjoying their meal. Hailey's heart sank as she saw how hungry the Colonials appeared to be.
Unknown world, surface
Kendra Shaw knew that she should have refused the offer. But, all of them were so incredibly hungry, she just couldn't. The food was absolutely delicious. The chicken breast, pasta and leafy greens were familiar foods. The Marsalla sauce and chocolate cake were entirely new and tasted wonderful. As they ate their fill, conversation erupted between the two groups. It was Kelley, a bright young girl of 8 years, who first asked, "Do you come from Earth? The real Earth where the false gods with glowing eyes took our ancestors from and put them on Kobol?" questioned the young brunette. Kids will say anything, however, Shaw did not expect the answer she received.
"Yes" answered the woman identified as Dr. Campbell. She continued, "a race of parasites known as the Goa'uld enslaved billions of humans across the galaxy on thousands of worlds. They were a snakelike parasite that would inhabit a human, claim to be a god, and would often have their eyes glow." Campbell smiled as she stroked Kelley's hair and continued, "we are from the first world, Earth, known by the Goa'uld as the Tau'ri. However, don't worry about them. We defeated the Goa'uld over 10 years ago. Their enslaving false god days are over."
Shaw saw the shocked looks on the faces of her adult companions. They may have just found salvation!
Battlestar Galactica, in orbit of unknown planet
Admiral Adama had just finished getting into his dress uniform when he was called to CIC. President Roslin was already there dressed in her most elegant dress suit. "Admiral, I have Major Shaw on the wireless. She says she has something important to talk to you about." Adama took the headset from Dee and asked her what she had for him. "Admiral, they claim to be from Earth, the real Earth. They say that the false gods were known as the Goa'uld and that they defeated them."
Admiral Adama's head spun. Have they actually found salvation? He didn't know. Laura had been close enough to hear Shaw and of course Dee had heard it too. Both their faces had a very shocked expression. "Well Laura, this meeting should be very interesting." said Bill Adama.
Unknown star system, January 30, 2021
The number one John Cavil smiled with glee. In the past two weeks he and his cylons had destroyed 5 human worlds. All 5 worlds had been inhabited by millions of disgusting, worthless human scum. Today he would add a federation of 9 worlds known as the Aschen Federation. One of his scouts had uncovered this federation about a week ago. Unlike the other worlds, the Aschen actually had space born forces. Cavil therefore had approached them in the open so that they could formulate the best plan to exterminate the Aschen.
He had agreed to a technological exchange. The Cylons were to give the Aschen FTL jump technology and the Aschen would give the Cylons cures to all disease and the ability to extend life by centuries. "Blah!" Cavil thought to himself. He didn't need any of that. He would nuke the Aschen into extinction. He had gathered every Cylon from the homeworld and all other Cylon settlements onto the Cylon colony and 32 remaining baseships. He had even acquired the last baseship of the guardians and had killed its hybrid and all of its old centurians.
The plan was simple. One baseship would jump into orbit of each of the lightly populated farming worlds of the Aschen and launch 300 nukes at the population centers of each world. The remaining 24 baseships and the colony would jump to the Aschen homeworld and launch some 12.000 nukes at its 14 billion inhabitants. Cavil was certain that the nuclear strikes at the colonies would wipe out all human life on those worlds. However, the home world would require an assault of some 500,000 centurians to finish the job. He laughed gleefully. He would enjoy this very much!