39 Days since the Cylon attack

Gas Giant Ophion
Helios Gamma
Immediately after the battle

In the swirling clouds of the Gas Giant Ophion huddled a remnant of humanity. Ophion anchorage was a vast station hanging in the upper atmosphere only dwarfed by shipyards like Scorpia Shipyard. In war time Ophion would host tens of thousands of crew and be able to have dozens ships docked. The ammonium hydrosulfide ice crystals gave Ophion it's orange-tinged color. As the light ships of BSG-38 entered the anchorage fifty-two ships were sheltering in the anchorage either docked or in orbit. On those ships was a mixture of confusion, fear and hope. The Nostromo was making its way towards a ship, the Diana, a veteran of the Cylon war. For the last three decades the Minotaur class heavy cruiser had been a storage hulk docked at the anchorage.

The hulk wasn't counted as one of the fifty-two survivors but Taylor knew the Diana would be loaded down with useful supplies and since she couldn't move on her own the Nostromo would tow her.

XXX

Bridge of Nostromo

"Line us up for docking." Captain Dallas called from his command chair.

At the navigator's station Lambert entered the instructions into the computer, "Dropping two degrees."

"Confirmed and lined up." The Nostromo's XO Kane replied.

Dallas wanted this mission over ASAP so they could get out of there, "OK let's get this done, take us in carefully watch the anchorage docking arms."

"Reverse thrust, starting to close… one hundred fifty meters… one twenty… one hundred… eighty… reducing rate of closure… fifty… forty…"

Dallas ordered, "Reverse thrusters and prepare the grapples…" The tug grapple arms were huge and their movement could be heard throughout the ship.

Lambert reported "Reverse thrusters, zero relative motion." The thrusters then went silent.

"OK Kane bring us home."

Working the large mechanical claws Kane attached the Nostromo to their target the Diana and pulled the Nostromo onto the Diana. Both ships rumbled as the grapple worked. "And we are locked."

"Ripley what's our new cargos status?"

A readout of the Diana appeared on Ripley's screen. "One reactor is online, from the readings it can't be proving more than a hotel load." Ripley tapped some keys, "There is pressure and temperature its chilly but no need for an environment suit." More tapping of keys, "Her central computer appears to be offline no response to the challenge codes the navy provided."

Dallas shook his head it would have been too easy of Diana could complete the dock and prep for transport remote. "Okay. We do it the hard way. Lambert, deploy the umbilicus. Kane, Parker and Brett you are with me lets get her prepped for transport and get the hell out of here."

From his station Brett calls out, "Right…"

XXX

Other side of the anchorage the mission of Svinfylk and Ulfheon wasn't going as smoothly.

From the CIC of Ulfheon Colonel Hera Graystone was looking in disbelief to the communications handset. "Major I am not in the habit of repeating myself. I am your superior officer and you will follow my instructions so I want that bucket of yours on the move in less than an hour. Do you read me mister?"

"Ulfheon actual, ma'am I am not trying to be difficult but if you are who you claim to be then you will understand our reluctance. It's bad enough that the toasters suckered us but what is worse is they have skin jobs that look just like us."

Graystone looked at her officers and several of them had open expressions of shock at the statement. "Repeat last Sulaco actual?"

"Colonel the Cylons look like humans now. They still can't take the heavy EM field here but it takes a few hours to kill them."

Someone on Ulfheon couldn't hold back their shock, "Frak me…"

Thinking quickly Graystone forced calm and reason into her voice, "Major let's apply some logic here if I was a toaster as you fear I would have already opened fire. Your assault ship has light weapons and only the Hermione is a threat and we have her two to one."

Graystone didn't mention that the Hermione had so far refused all communications. There was static on the circuit for a few seconds, clearly the young Lieutenant was thinking. "Aye, aye Colonel, the Sulaco will be ready to move in thirty."

Relieved that issue was out of the way time to get some more information, "What is the status of the Hermione?"

A tone appeared in the voice of the Sulaco's commander, it wasn't pleasant. "Is 'Admiral Kahn' being difficult Ulfheon?"

"Who is Admiral Kahn? I have the commander of the Hermione as Colonel Allison."

Before Major Bishop Henriksen could respond another voice joined the circuit, "This is Admiral Kahn the commander of the Ophion Safe Zone. Who is giving orders to my people?!"

XXX

Diana-Nostromo

At the airlock leading into the Diana the Nostromo's crew stands ready. Brett is at the panel, "She has a slight pressure differential…"

"High or low?"

"2.1 PSI low."

"Equalize the pressure, everyone pop your ears…" Dallas keys his com, "Ripely note for the report that Diana's internal pressure is down 2.1, they will want to do a survey for a leak."

"Roger boarding party."

The warning lights flash as Brett lowers the pressure and then opens the airlock to the Diana. The corridor beyond is dark and dingy with just about every other light out or flickering. Containers clog the corridor and the walls showing bangs and scraps that haven't been repaired or painted over.

"Kane take Parker and head for engineering and I will take Brett to CIC." Dallas at once headed off with Brett in tow.

"Right…"

Kane and Parker headed towards the engineering section of the hulk.

XXX

It took five minutes for Kane and Parker to reach the central access of the ship. The hallways were packed with crates and stored items. It took another 10 minutes to reach main engineering thanks to all of the hatchways they had to open.

"What a rust bucket…" Kane looked the engineer room over. Most panels and states were offline or just empty space as the system had been removed over the years to repair other colonial ships. Only systems absolutely essential to the power systems of the veteran of the first Cylon War had been left alone.

Parker smiled, "You just don't appreciate these older designs no automation to get screwed up by some bug in the computers." Looking around, Parker held up a diagram, "Speaking of computers the engineering station should be along that far wall."

Kane was about to make a comment when something caught the edge of his vision. "Look over there… did you see that?"

Parker had his attention focused on the far wall, "What are you talking about man?"

There was a CLANK from side.

"Certainly, you heard that."

Parker turned a light towards the direction of the noise, "Yes I did…. HEY! Whose there!?"

At the shout there was the clear sound of feet on the deck grates.

Kane shouted and the two of them tore off in pursuit. It took only a minute to corner the source of the noise. A worse for wear young woman, perhaps in her twenties it was hard to tell with the grime on her face. She clearly had been hiding on the ship for some time.

Kane as the officer spoke, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"Please… Please don't take me back…"

Kane and Parker shared a look, the later asked slowly, "Look lady we aren't here for you we are here to the tow the ship."

The woman was on the edge of sobbing, "Please don't take me back to the Hermione its hell…"

Kane really concerned tried to calm the woman down, "Look we aren't going to hurt you or force you to do anything."

A new voice called out from behind Parker and Kane. With the voice was the clear sound of a firearm being readied, "No you aren't…"

XXX

The CIC was even more gutted than main engineering. Wires dangled from stations and even the seats had been scavenged. With the central display gone there was great deal of space in the compartment now dominated by cargo pallets. Working at the damage control station that some person long ago crossed connected to other systems Brett let out a cry of excitement, "Got it… we are in. I think someone disabled the remote access but the codes we have are good. I am starting the prep for towing."

Dallas really wanted to get out to the relative safety of deep space. "Great work Brett." Turning on his communicator he first informed Ripley on the Nostromo and then tried to reach Kane and Parker. One third try he got a response.

"Captain there are some people here but the important thing is you need to warn the fleet the commander of the Hermione is some type of nut. He is running a dictatorship here, keeping everyone in line with force and he has been taking 'drafts' from the civilian ships. Lots of women and its ugly what he has them doing."

"Frak…"

XXX

It took a few minutes to figure out who this Admiral Kahn was. Someone had the idea of checking the retired list, "Kahn, Herman, MD, Colonial Fleet Medical Corps CY 59 to CY 95, Rear Admiral (retd)." Without access to the destroyed Picon Fleet HQ there was nothing else in the records. Colonel Graystone was on the clock; Admiral Taylor was expecting her to get these ships on the move not get sucked into a pissing contest with some retired doctor.

"Admiral Kahn as I have tried to explain Admiral Taylor is trying to rescue survivors and so we need to…"

"COLONEL Graystone my people and I need to do nothing. We are safe here from the Cylons and we have our own plans."

While trying to come up with a reply to that statement the comm officer came over, "Colonel the civil crew of the Nostromo has an urgent message, I think its about Admiral Kahn."

Not making any progress and not carrying if it was rude to a flag officer Graystone cut over, "Hermione Actual wait one…". Graystone selected the other circuit, "Report Nostromo…"

"Colonel beware we found some civilians and at least one fleet crew member, a raptor pilot, that claims they fled from the Hermione. They claim Admiral Kahn is a nut. The man has boarding parties on most ships and he has been 'taking drafts' for the future of the human race. These are mostly women who have been raped to be used as breading stock to rebuild civilization."

There was dead silence in the CIC of Ulfheon. "Captain Dallas put the Raptor pilot on…"

Over next two minutes Lieutenant Bragg explained what he seen on Hermione over last two weeks. He had been forced to transport people aboard, almost always women. The women disappeared and rumors started to swirl so he checked them out and found half a dozen women locked up. They claimed repeated rape by several of Hermione's crew. Men that Kahn had selected for their genetic fitness to rebuild the human race.

After hearing that story Graystone decided she was done talking to the good Admiral Kahn. The Svinfylk and Ulfheon were ordered to condition one. A raptor was dispatched to get instructions and help from Admiral Taylor. Then she picked up the radio again, "To the criminals in control of the Hermione. We have received word that your crew have conducted numerous crimes in violation of the articles of war. I order you to stand down at once. You don't have much chance outnumbered two to one and even less once Mars gets in here."

Graystone repeated the demand several more times over the next 3 minutes and then an explosion rocked the side of Hermione. At least 50 meters of hull opened up amidships.

"Oh, my Gods…"

XXX

Baseship in Orbit of Caprica
Helios Alpha

"What were our losses?" The number Four asked.

The Number One standing across from him couldn't resist rolling his eyes, "We are machines and thanks to downloading we don't die so our losses are nothing."

The Number Eight shook her head, "That was the third Basestar, hundreds of Raiders and thousands of Centurions that Mars and her battle group have destroyed so forgive me if some of us disagree at how you characterize the situation."

Annoyed at the push back the Number One crossed his arms, "Fine how would you characterize the situation?"

Before the Number Eight could answer the Number Two spoke up, "How about not good Battlestar Mars is moving at will…"

"If I may with all do respect, I think you are overstating the seriousness of the situation. Mars and her group have attacked twice but every battle they take some damage, crews are killed, use up supplies…" Before the Number Five could finish he was cut off by the Four.

"They have broken into two anchorages and looted them I doubt that they're going to be short of supplies…"

Getting annoyed at the debate The Number One spoke up, "We know what they want, I move for a new vote. Attack the remaining anchorages."

Overt horror appeared on several of Cylon's at the table, "Anyone that dies in there is gone forever! Resurrection doesn't work in that much EM and radiation!"

XXX