Battlestar Mars in void of space.
Admiral Taylor is sitting in his cabin review the latest scouting reports of the colonies. It was a necessary break from the Hermione Trials that were taking a great deal of his and his officer's time. The testimony from the accused was much the same, 'Necessity drove their actions' or 'a sense of hopelessness.' Taylor turned his attention back the reports of the fallen Colonies. The Cylon guard ships over Hestia had disappeared which was ominous. Doubly as the scouting mission near Canceron the day before recorded half the Cylon Basestars jumping away. Taylor strongly suspect the Cylons decided to accept the risk and charged into the Hestia anchorage and since they were no longer defending it that in turn suggested there was nothing left. A pair of raptors would confirm or disprove this theory.
Looking at the map of the colonies perhaps only the Zeus anchorage of Helios Alpha and Ragnar were all that remained of the gas giant anchorages. There were the deep space sites to scout too but they were for the future.
Perhaps it was time to send a pair of raptors to check out Ragnar. The majority of raptors had been tied up doing sweeps of the asteroid belts. While the mission to LV-426 was a failure at retrieving the facility, they had more luck elsewhere and picked up 35 more ships of various types and sizes hiding in the asteroid belt between Leonis and Virgon. Two of which were Aerospace Guard another uniformed service that patrolled the space lanes. Formed after the First Cylon War as there was a great deal distrust of the new colonial government in some quarters and Colonial Fleet. Wiping out the terrorist groups like the Sagittarius Democratic Union had angered many. It was decided to form a new service to handle law enforcement in space for the Colonies and Colonial Fleet would focus on the Cylons. As such the Aerospace Guard operated small ships, called cutters, with limited weapons.
XXX
Baseship in Orbit of Caprica
Helios Alpha
"We should have hit both the anchorages at once brothers and sisters." The number one announced.
A number Six shakes her head, "The consensus was to hit one and see if that provoked a response to the remaining anchorage. We have six basestars standing by to jump to Zeus."
A two speaks up, "We are losing focus on the other surviving colonial ships Galactica and Pegasus. The later has left the colonies and its heading in the same direction as Galactica."
"Pegasus moved on from Canis 359?"
The two replied, "Yes she has been spotted in another system further away from the colonies. The report just came in and think it through, space is vast. What are the odds of Pegasus heading on same heading as Galactica? Either the two are communication or there are other forces at work."
The dropping into mysticism annoyed the One but before he can speak the Five does. "It's clear that Mars changed tactics. We know they are scouting the asteroid belts and whatever else you can say about Admiral Taylor he is clearly no hot head like Admiral Cain. I believe he is cold blooded enough to have written off the survivors at Zeus and suspects it's a trap. That is why he is still sweeping the asteroid belts. No, we need to put more raiders into the belts to try to hit his rescue missions."
"God commands we take our rightful place in the universe and to do that humanity needs to die. We need to complete the destruction of the colonial fleet. Mars and her fleet are operating around the colonies, that makes them a clear target." The two says to everyone else.
The Eight representative raises an eye brow, "What's the point?"
"My point is the next time she shows up we swamp her. Every basestar and raider jumps on her."
That suggestion by the number two sets off a wave of arguments. It takes several minutes to get the meeting under control and then the one speaks. "How do you expect us to coordinate such an operation? FTL communication is very short range. We have dozens of basestars hunting for Galactica with little to show for it. Plus doing this would totally un-mask the Colonial home worlds. We suspect there are survivors and ships hidden on the planets. They could escape."
This causes a wide-ranging debate about the course of action. There is no consensus on what to do. The closest to a consensus is that Pegasus and Galactica are far away and Mars is still here. Eventual it was agreed that more basestars were needed in deep space to aid the hunt for Galactic and Pegasus. The Zeus reaction force was sent out after Pegasus and Raiders were sent to sweep the belts. If the Mars was spotted the basestars over the nearest occupied world would be sent but not all worlds.
Several of the other models nodded in agreement. A vote was called and the course of action approved.
XXX
Battlestar Mars
The reports had come in and it was as Taylor feared. Hestia anchorage had been wiped out. Perhaps as many as hundred colonial ships with tens of thousands of survivors were dead.
"Frack these Toasters." Colonel Francine Richardson growled as she held her pad with the report.
"I agree FRACK, now the obvious statements of bad aside. We have but two choices walk into the obvious trap or avoid it." Colonel Graystone stated.
Richardson squared her shoulders as she spoke to the commander of the Ulfheon, "Sir I agree the last anchorage is bait but a trap is only a trap if you don't know it is one. We can use this to our advantage."
Colonel Allison the commander of the Hermione was still trying to get used to personalities of BSG-38. One thing that was clear Richardson was always the strongest advocate for offensive action.
"What do you have in mind Colonel?" Admiral Taylor asked his XO.
Richardson entered some commands into the display. A map of the colonies popped up and then focused onto Helios Alpha or Erebos its more popular name. The home of Caprica, Gemenon, Picon and Tauron along with the gas giant Zeus. The later was the largest planet in the entire system with a diameter of 153,000 km. "There are currently 8 Basestars around the planets in Erebos three of which are at Zeus. My suggestion is we jump on the far side of Zeus relative to the anchorage and then come around on ballistic. The Cylons will see us coming and call-in whatever reaction force they have ready. In the meanwhile, we hit our real targets with Raptors and civilian ships."
There were some murmurs around the table but no out right objections.
"What would our real target be Colonel?"
Richardson nodded at Vickers. The two had clearly talked before. The civilian head Meredith Vickers and Major Shimerman the logistics specialist. Vickers spoke for both her and Shimerman, "There are three targets I would like us to consider. The first is the Battlestar Neptune her wreck is in the orbit of Persephone."
Persephone had a highly eccentric orbit and had a surface of frozen nitrogen. Neptune was the last Jupiter class produced before construction switched to the Mercury class. Battlestar Neptune was used as a pathfinder for the Mercury class. Equipped with heavy automation to reduce crew size and with a factory able to produce Raptors and Vipers. Her wreck had been discovered a week ago.
"The next target is Daidalos in Ragnar anchorage. While we rescued a medium mobile space dock (ASDM-17), she can't handle our largest ships like Mars."
One of the officers observed, "We still need to repair Daidalos before she can handle Mars."
"True but its better than trying to build something from scratch."
Taylor coughed, "I believe you mentioned three targets Miss Vickers."
"That is correct Admiral the third target is the Erebos belt like we rescued ships from the Ouranos belt."
Taylor nodded and then asked, "Which of the three do you want to hit."
Richardson stunned the room with her goal, "All three simultaneously. Our military vessels will be used to keep the Cylons busy around Zeus. Our real objectives assume no enemy resistance." Several of the other officers were visibly concerned at the statement. Richardson gave an unapologetic shrug, "We have to take risks."
That generated a response from the other officers. "This is going to take all three of our deep space tugs. The Diana is too large to fit into ASDM-7. What are we to do with her?"
"We leave the hulk with the fleet adrift in space and then move the Diana to Daidalos once the fleet dock arrives."
"What if the other operations run into resistance?"
Richardson shrugged, "We can't afford to be conservative. Who Dares Wins."
Taylor allowed the debate to range far and wide for several minutes before making his decision.
XXX
Orbit of Persephone
FLASH!
Nostromo and the Aerospace Guard Cutter 'Lewis and Clark' appeared high above the frozen world of Persephone and nearby was the wreck of the Battlestar Neptune. The starboard landing pod was twisted metal. Black scorch marks marred the flank of the battlestar all along the starboard side and the ship tumbled slowly in space. Otherwise, the Battlestar appeared intact.
Gorman's marines were transported down to the Neptune's along with a party from the Lewis and Clark. The Guard had a great deal of experience at handling search and rescue in deep space.
"She is deep cold and no artificial gravity." Ferro called out from her Raptor. The thermal readings showed the Neptune at over 200 below freezing.
A Raptor from the Guard Cutter was circling the dead Battlestar. "This is Captain Miller we are seeing the same and there are signs of explosive decompression. Toasters must have boarded her and opened her up to space."
The nearly bald pilot of the Guard Raptor whispered, "Poor bastards."
Miller studied the scans and frown. "Starck what do you make of the readings."
The early 30s woman nodded, "I see what you mean, she is deep cold and most of her systems are off line but there are a few active systems just not communication or main computer. Can't localize them so I suspect something deep in the hull."
"Marines this is Miller we are going to have to do this the hard way. Deploy control pods to stabilize her and then search her. Over."
"Roger Guard. Ferro you and Ripley set us down at the port side docking ports. Over." With the death of Spunkmeyer, Ripley had become the unofficial second Raptor pilot of Gorman's marines. Word was Mars was trying a training program of volunteers for Raptor and Viper replacement pilots but that would be some time before anyone was ready. In the meanwhile, Ferro had been doing her own unofficial training program of Ripley; mostly of the weapons systems as Ripley had a civilian rating for Raptors.
The marines in spacesuits opened the two access ports and flowed into a hallway. With gravity down the hallway was covered in frost, bits of ice and debris floated about. The marines flood lights pieced the gloom and reflected off the ice.
Hicks took it in the sight, "This place is a tomb…"
"OK let's move it out people." Apone ordered the marines.
XXX
One the way to Damage Control Central (DCC) the marines passed by many of the doomed crew of the Neptune. Most of the Battlestar's crew died cold, in dark and gasping for breath. Freeze dried blood was around the eyes, mouth and noses of the corpses. The effected was like some grotesque makeup job. As they got closer to the DCC the marines saw other causes of death for the crew; firearms. Several of the doomed Battlestar's crew had been shredded by heavy machinegun fire. Clearly a Cylon boarding party had fought their way to DCC and then opened all of the airlocks. A classic tactic from the First Cylon War. There were no Cylon remains either the Neptune's crew failed to kill any or the Cylons didn't leave their fallen behind.
Hudson called out from point, "DCC in sight and no resistance, over."
From the end of the squad Gorman took a deep breath, "OK let's move in, over."
The squad entered the DDC there was signs of gun fire all over the compartment and a dozen colonial navy personal were dead in the room.
"Looks like it was hell of a fight."
"The last stand."
"Knock that off, Hudson see if you can get the computer online. Check if we are alone."
Hudson worked for several minutes but Neptune's systems were dead. "No good Lieutenant there isn't even standby, the Cylon's totally powered her down. We will have to heat up the systems before we can try to bring anything online."
This wasn't unexpected outcome, "Boarding party two, party one is headed for main engineering."
XXX
"Understood Marines, we are still in route for CIC, Over."
Captain Miller was leading another boarding party on the Neptune. This second group was headed for the Combat Information Center or CIC. Like most critical systems the CIC was located deep in the heart of the battlestar to protect it.
Having to board wrecks in space was a task just about everyone in the Guard had to do at least once in their careers. The Neptune was the largest ship in terms of compliment any of them ever had to board. Well over 1,800 crew had called Neptune home before the Cylon sneak attack. Scattered throughout the ship the encountered the battlestars late crew. Without a doubt it was a gruesome display. One length of passage way had a half dozen crew crammed against a wall. A glance into a compartment showed perhaps two dozen dead with goblets of frozen blood drifting in the vacuum.
At last, the Guard reached the CIC. There were signs of combat and spilled out into the passage way were a number of dead crew for the battlestar. Some of the crew bodies were riddled by gunfire. The hatch to CIC was bulked and deformed.
Edmund Corrick a lifer in the guard frowned, "I don't like the look of this skipper maybe toasters in there."
At the statement Starck and Justine checked their weapons. The suits made the operation a little awkward for the two members of the Guard.
"Don't let cranky Corrick get you all worked up Baby Bear." Peters re-assured the young member of the boarding party.
"OK people settle down we have a job to do. Cylons are very possible so keep yours open and let's move in." Miller motioned for his people to advance into the CIC.
XXX
The Marines left DDC and headed for main engineering to see if they would have any more luck there. Along the way the Marines had to pass more of the Battlestar's late crew. The frozen bodies floated in passageways or rested against bulkheads.
At the door to engineering Hudson calls out in surprise, "Live systems!"
Gorman has been put on edge by all of the dead bodies and snaps, "Make a clear report Private."
"Sorry Sir, the hatch to main engineering is giving a readout and it shows just below freezing, the compartment is not deep cold like the rest of the ship. Some heaters must still be running."
This was the first bit of good news and Gorman perked up. He was about to order the ComTech to open the hatch when a thought occurred to the young officer. "Pressure reading on the other side?"
"Normal, it's not vacuum Lieutenant."
"FRAK…" A pressurized compartment made this far more trick. Opening a compartment with pressure would cause all sorts of debris to fly into his platoon. The other marines looked at each other in worry. Gorman briefly consulted with Apone. The NCO had done a number of drills over the years that dealt with this scenario.
The Marines closed the hatch opposite end of the passage way. Then they opened the pressure line from engineering to balance the two spaces. As the air rushed into their space corpsman Dietrich ran some tests, "The air is bad… low O2 and high CO2… there must have been survivors…"
The marines again looked at each other. Gorman broke the silence, "OK open her up and everyone be careful! If we are going to run into Cylons this is the place and its main engineering so check your fire."
Several the marines traded glances. Apone as the sergeant asked why they had to check fire, "Sir the Cylon's are very difficult to take down."
Without a discussion with Captain Miller during the mission planning Gorman wouldn't have worried about it either. The Guard officer shared some of his experience about what to watch for. "Marines this is main engineering of a Battlestar. Its basically a huge fusion reactor. Most likely the reactor is off line but if its not and we damage the cooling system we may not live to regret damaging it."
The Sergeant eyes go wide but he nodded in understanding, "OK you heard the man. Check your targets. Short controlled bursts."
XXX
With the hatch opened the marines entered one of the compartments of main engineering. A number of emergency lights had a low glow. As the marines probed deeper into the compartment, they started see bodies huddled together. A layer of frost cocooned the bodies and surfaces of the compartment. As the marines advanced, they could feel the crunching of the ice through their suits.
Hicks stopped by one of the bodies, an officer, in their hand was sheet of paper. Picking it up particles of ice spun way in the weightless compartment. "Lieutenant found a message, maybe want to see it."
"Read it out Corporal."
A few swipes removed the rest of the frost to reveal the writing. "It's 13:15 ship time. All personnel from drive rooms five and six, have moved to main engineering, there are 123 people here. We feel bad, weakened by carbon dioxide ... Pressure is decreasing in the compartment. Reports of Cylons aboard and all adjacent compartments are vacuum. We can't leave, we won't survive the decompression. We won't last more than a day... None of us can escape."
Drake notices another sheet of paper by the dead and hands it to Hicks. "Another message…" Hicks frowns as the handwriting is much more difficult. "Leak stopped. Air system dead. We dead. Cylons locked computers. Gods receive us. Captain D..."
The marines traded aghast looks of horror.
Before anyone could say anything else over the radio was a harsh cry.
"Cylons in CIC, Cylons in CIC!"
XXX
"Smitty, lay down cover fire!" Miller cried out as a pair of Centurions fired on his people.
The metallic warriors sent a hail of bullets across the CIC.
The Guard members returned fire only to watch helplessly as most bounced off the Cylons.
"Where did they come from?!" Just the youngest member of the team called out in fear. Followed by a burst of fire from his weapon. Several Centurions rose up around the room and laid down a crossfire.
The Grizzled veteran Corrick grunted in pain and went down. A round shattered his leg and the wounded man took shelter behind one of the consoles in the CIC. Working fast Corrick applied quick patches to his suit to stop the pressure losses but there was no way he could get away with the ruined leg even in zero G. The slightest movement sent ripples of agony up his limb.
Billy Weir looked at his friend. "Corrick is down cover me!" The engineer rushed forward to try to reach Corrick but the Centurions riddled the man's body. Blood sprayed and froze as it leaked from Weir's suit.
Another one of the Guard poked up only to be rewarded by a burst of fire that luckily missed. Behind the console Corrick realized that he was acting as bait to lure his fellows into the fire of the Centurions. To get to him meant advancing into the fire of the Centurions and he couldn't get away on his own. Corrick glanced down at a satchel charge at his side. There was only one choice.
"Captain, pull back… They are going to kill you if you come for me…"
Miller took in the situation; Weir was down most likely dead and Corrick was trapped. Meanwhile there were four Centurions firing at them and in turn the Guard fire wasn't doing much. "Hold tight Chief, we will keep them busy until the Marines get here."
One of the Cylons fired a grenade that sent Peters and Cooper flying.
"No time captain… I am going to use the satchel…"
Part of Miller was horrified him and Corrick had been together a long time. The old chief had been his first petty officer when Miller came out of the academy. At the same time he was already dead. "Everyone you heard the chief on my count pull back!"
"But Captain!" Justine cries out.
The Cylons press their advantage and start to advance. "Everyone out, NOW, NOW!"
The Guard flees into the corridor. Edmund Corrick frowns, it had been a good run. "Captain take care of my boys and girls…" The chief pulls the detonator rip cord and forces himself up, "Die Toasters!"
The burst from the Centurions is cut off by the blast of the satchel charge.
XXX
"Captain Dallas you are clear to rig for towing. Cylons have been dealt with but we are unable to bring systems online so you will have to stabilize her spin. Over."
The marines had arrived in the ruined CIC to find the Guard looking hopelessly for their lost shipmates. Miller had Gorman make the call.
"Roger marine boarding party. Nostromo inbound."
XXX
On the Nostromo Dallas gave orders for to move in and take the dead battlestar in tow. Deep space salvage like this was tricky as they had to match to spin of the hulk before they docked. The commands were entered into the computers and Lambert handled the maneuvers. With that out of the way the Captain of the Nostromo turned to the newest crewmember; Ian Holm the crew had given the man a nickname of ASH from his smoking habit. The new crewmember had embraced the nickname with good cheer. With overcrowding a problem on surviving ships Nostromo had taken on another eight "crew". The new crew were dead weight but Ash was an exception. The middle aged, bald, black skinned male was a trained medic.
"Pity at there being no survivors but it was a long shot Captain."
What Ash said was true but with so few humans left failure to find survivors still stung even on such a long shot. "Agreed you are free to return to medical Ash."
"Very well."