Three – Taking Stock

The Massena emerged from the jump into the Aeolus Asteroid belt which was clear of Cylon presence. Captain Matthew Boyle glanced around "full scan."

"We're alone Captain, no Cylon signals in the area."

"Colonial?"

"None, both known mining complexes have been destroyed all we're reading is wreckage." Victoria Kryvych said

"You'd have thought they would have missed some of it" Boyle said disappointed "it's fine, disappointing but fine, we need to plan our next move."

Two hours later Boyle was sat in the ship's crew mess along with several of the senior representatives in the crew. "We're succeeding" he said quietly "we are making a difference, we saved seventy-two people from Kronos, but as time goes on we're to struggle with food and space. The Massena can only carry so many people" he said plainly turning to his chief engineer.

"We took a couple of strafing hits from the Cylon fighters" Morena Harold said "but the armour kept it out unfortunately if the Cylons break through with one of their capital missiles it's going to make a mess." She said "we also don't have enough space to grow food or the seeds needed if we could."

"My people may be able to help with that" a dark skinned bald man said speaking up he was the senior surviving scientist from Kronos and had a deep but pleasant sounding voice. "We've been made quite comfortable so far Captain, I appreciate your efforts and the efforts of Major Sinclair and his men" he said glancing at the marine commander they'd lost several men fighting the Centurions. "However, we think that we could be of more use by cutting three of the quarters into one turning it into a research lab with hydroponics facilities."

"Agreed" Boyle said after a moment glancing at Morena Harold who nodded "work with the engineers, we'll convert what we can without compromising ship integrity."

"We're also going to run into fuel troubles" Harold said adding another part "with Massena, the Vipers, Raptors and AscentPods all being used we're going to be going through fuel quickly. Even with Galactica topping off our tanks before she left we've got a finite supply.

"Understood, we're going to work on replenishing the fuel and ammunition." Boyle added turning to Lt Isabelle Rhodes "sorry for your loss Lt Rhodes"

"Thank you, sir" she replied by the redness of her eyes he could tell she'd been crying recently "Cooper was a good stick he'll be missed. His loss does add to our CAP coverage Captain, even with the Hunter and Raptors as backup more Cylons will get through in open combat."

"Which is why it's time for us to try and combat all these problems at once." Boyle said "there's little in the way of a chance of finding more survivors here." He said looking around the table "instead we're going to jump in the morning to Helios Alpha."

"Fleet Headquarters?" Sinclair demanded in orbit around Picon was the Colonial Fleet's main headquarters complex a place that had been hit with several dozen nuclear weapons during the opening assaults. "Captain, with respect that place got hit hard by the Cylons, there isn't going to be survivors there."

"No" Boyle admitted "likely not but we'll find fuel, ammunition and possibly further small craft" he said.

"Picking the bones…" Rhodes said he knew he'd find the worse reactions from them two. "Perhaps we should jump into the deep reach of the system, we'll avoid the main battle sites."

"Good idea, maybe near Zeus, slip into the moon complex that should provide us some cover." Boyle suggested.

"Same trick you played at Hestia, probably not the best plan Captain the Cylons aren't stupid." Dr Simon Tellar suggested "perhaps instead Persephone" he suggested naming the dwarf planet in the Helios Alpha system.

"Persephone is off the beaten track" Morena Harold noted

"Exactly somewhere the Cylons wouldn't be looking initially. Perhaps send a Raptor in then Massena could follow." Tellar suggested around the room there were several nods from other people.

Several hours later the Raptor had been deployed from Massena and ordered to jump to the Helios Alpha station the ship soon returned from Persephone with a message for the Boyle. "Saladin to Massena important message." The female Raptor pilot said seeing their mothership.

"Go Saladin" Boyle returned from the bridge

"Sir, we've found survivors near Persephone three ships, they're under attack by Cylon forces. One of them is an Adamant-class Frigate." She said naming an ancient Colonial ship dating back to the first Cylon War.

"Prepare to jump" Boyle commanded immediately a chance to save another fleet ship was too much to let go. "Saladin, complete jump yourself and take up a SAR role when in theatre."

"Affirmative" Saladin replied

The Massena and the Raptor jumped into the space near Persephone near the battle site and launched its Vipers and the Hunter immediately. "Massena to Colonial unit's we're heading to assist you." He said seeing the small Adamant-class Frigate and a group of Vipers defending two civilian ships one was a civilian heavy transport which looked like it was in its passenger configuration with blue-and-white livery and the other was a strange black coloured vessel which appeared to be a long rectangle in shape with a square engine section at the back and a small control section on the top of the hull. Around them were nearly a dozen Cylon raiders all trying to take down the defending Vipers even as the Massena approached two Vipers were shot down by Cylon units.

"Keep it close and tidy people" Isabelle "Cassiopeia" Rhodes said to her fighters "Hunter you follow us with the first pass and then move into close proximity of the transports, you're their escort. Everyone else we keep as many of those pilots alive and keep the Cylons busy." She ordered the six craft shot through the gap rapidly moving through the Cylon formation cutting down nearly half of the Cylons. Behind the pass the Hunter moved into close proximity with the transports assuming an escort role while the fighters continued to dance through the area.

"Cylon Basestar!" Victoria Kryvych shouted out as the Massena moved into the conflict area "their firing missiles."

"Use flak munitions" Boyle ordered as the ship slipped into formation with the other three ships "coordinate fire with the Adamant."

"They are distributing jump coordinates" Jon Kamen reported

"Incoming!" Kryvych reported as a Cylon missile got through the defensive fire striking the port side of the ship's upper hull blowing away armour plating. "Hull breach" she said turning to Boyle "we lost two compartments doors holding but we lost people."

"Accept the coordinates"

"Adamant identifies as the Agosta"

"That's a frakking museum!" Boyle said looking at his own screen "what is it with those things?" He wondered thinking of the Galactica and its own status before the Cylon attacks.

"Yes, sir, somewhere they've found a crew and munitions, they've got too many Vipers for their bays and are requesting permission to land ships in our bay."

"Granted" Boyle said as the ship was rocked by another hit or close miss "Boyle to Sinclair"

"Go ahead" Sinclair said from below the ship's desks.

"We're going to have more Vipers joining us. I'd like some of your marines to be present to see what we've got and make sure there's no issues between our pilots and the newcomers." He explained the marines were not police units but from one military unit to another they should be able to keep order at least.

"Affirmative Captain, we'll get the job done" he as Massena took another missile strike to its hull "if there's a ship left for us!"

"We're working on it."

"Coordinates check out" Kryvych called out "Civilian ships jumping away." She said as the two civilian craft jumped clear.

"Recall the Hunter, have the Raptors jump to with the civilian ships. Recall all Vipers, communicate with Agosta as soon as she's ready to jump we go too" he ordered as the Massena took another missile impact on its hull. Were the Massena a civilian craft she'd have split in two the ship's military transport lineage was showing through as it weathered the impacts but she wasn't built for this. The Agosta had taken hits as well and that ship's age was showing as well from Boyle's monitor he could see the ship was sagging slightly to port as its thrusters struggled to keep it going. Quite a motley fleet they were forming.

"Vipers aboard, Agosta ready to go."

"Get us the hell out of here, Jump!" Boyle ordered the FTL spun up and within a couple of moments the ship jumped clear of the area arriving in another area of space. "Report where are we?" Boyle asked his ship was fairly becoming a military craft with him barking orders, he didn't think he liked it much.

"We're in dead space. Agosta, our Raptors and both transports are present." Kryvych said looking at her readings "We're close to a rogue asteroid" she said continuing as the DRADIS cleared up. Rogue asteroids were dangerous purely because they occupied a piece of space where there should be nothing "there's another ship approaching it's a Manticore Customs Cutter." She said glancing over at Boyle "they came out of that asteroid." She said as the small craft arced around them and took up position alongside them before accelerating forwards guiding them back towards the asteroid.

"What is this place?"