Part 3
Commander Adama finished reading the dispatch that had just been received from fleet headquarters on Caprica.
"Omega," Adama began. "Recall all patrols. Those on long range patrol are to use the refueling stations before proceeding on their own to rendezvous with the Battlestar Columbia. Once the inner patrols has landed set course for Caprica, light-speed."
"Right away, Commander," Omega replied before forwarding the orders. Fifteen centons later the Galactica leapt to light-speed.
0
Twenty centons later, the Galactica decelerated from light-speed on approach to Caprica. Adama and Tigh watched the bridge monitor closely as they approached the unknown ship orbiting over the Galactica's home port.
"The initial report was right, Commander, it's not a Cylon ship, especially with humans onboard. Their hull lettering is unlike any script I've seen in the Colonies."
"Orbital insertion complete, Commander," Omega reported.
"Launch Blue Squadron," Adama ordered.
0
The Enterprise orbited gently above Caprica while Commander Scott and his engineering team scrambled to repair the damaged vessel.
"New contact on the scanner," Spock reported. "It is approaching at Warp One."
"On screen," Kirk ordered. Spock made an adjustment to his scanner controls. The image on the main view screen switched from showing their orbital path above Caprica to a large ship approaching from the outskirts of the Cyrannus solar system.
"What a monster," Sulu quipped upon seeing the image of the approaching ship.
"Mr. Spock," Kirk prompted.
"Captain," Spock began while looking into his scanner hood, making minor adjustments to his systems as he scanned the approaching ship. "The approaching ship is 1853.2 meters long and masses 5.82 million metric tons. Power is generated by a form of nuclear fusion. I'm detecting a high powered impulse drive system."
"Threat analysis."
"Scanners show multiple megawatt class laser batteries and capital missile launchers. They are entering orbit fifty kilometers behind us." The image on the view-screen changed abruptly as the ship began disgorging multiple smaller craft. "They've just begun launching single crewed small craft," Spock began, stating the obvious. "They are identical to those that intercepted us upon our arrival. The ship is obviously a carrier vessel."
"Incoming communication," Lieutenant Uhura interrupted.
"On screen," Kirk ordered. Uhura adjusted her controls and the image of a mature, distinguished looking, man appeared on the main view screen. She also enabled the universal translator.
"Starship Enterprise," the man began. "I am Commander Adama of the Battlestar Galactica. Your presence above Caprica is without authorization. So, please explain to me who you are and why you are here."
"I am Captain James T. Kirk. We're on a peaceful mission of exploration. We were returning to one of our starbases when were we had a close encounter with a black star of very high gravitational attraction. It took all the power of our engines to avoid our destruction, still we were flung through space, out of control. We ended up in orbit over your world"
"So, your presence here is an accident?" Adama asked.
"That is correct," Kirk replied. "We will be returning home as soon as we can, but your civilization is new to us, so, as explorers, we would like to remain for a little while to learn about you, and you us."
"Our civilization is new to you, but you are human? The only humans we know of are descendants of the Twelve Colonies." A distant memory of a legend began to form in Adama's mind. They couldn't be!
"We are from the United Federation of Planets," Kirk informed him, not quite squashing Adama's presumption. "Like I said, we know nothing of your civilization, the Twelve Colonies you called them?"
"Yes, and it appears that we have much to discuss," Adama said.
"We would be happy to transport over to your ship to meet with you and your staff," Kirk offered.
"Agreed, provided you provide me and my crew equal access to your ship to ensure you are not a threat to my people," Adama countered.
"That is acceptable," Kirk replied.
"I'll prepare Alpha Bay for your arrival," Adama said before ending the call.
0
"Core Command to Blue Leader," Rigel called to Captain Apollo. Apollo was leading Blue Squadron in its watch over the Enterprise as it orbited over Caprica, waiting for any false move by the human, but alien ship.
"Go ahead," he replied.
"The Enterprise will be dispatching a shuttle to the Galactica in a few centons. You are ordered to have two pilots escort the shuttle to the Alpha Bay."
"Will do," Apollo responded. "Boomer, you and Greenbean escort the shuttle."
"Yes, sir," Boomer replied. Their shuttle bay must be behind the large clam-shell doors at the end of their smaller cylinder section, he surmised while Greenbean gave his acknowledgment.
0
Commander Adama and several warriors from Red Squadron stood to one side of the landing area of the Galactica's Alpha Bay waiting for the shuttle from the Enterprise. To their surprise, instead of a shuttle approaching for a landing, five pillars of light formed about ten meters in front of them, coalescing into the shapes of five men, well four men and a presumably male alien. Adama saw that one of them was Captain Kirk and that only two others were openly armed. At the sudden, and mysterious appearance of the five newcomers, Adama's warrior escort all drew their laser pistols from their holsters.
"Hold," Adama immediately ordered. "Holster your weapons."
Kirk looked askance at the nervous actions of his host's escort, but breathed a slight sigh of relief when he saw Adama order his men to stand down. Kirk then retrieved his universal translator and activated it. "I'm Captain James T. Kirk," he began. "With me are my First Officer, Mr. Spock, my Chief Medical Officer, Leonard McCoy, and security specialists Paulson and Drake."
"I am Commander Adama," Adama replied before driving directly to the heart of the matter. "We were expecting you to arrive in a shuttle, not to just suddenly appear before us, please accept our apology for your unfriendly welcome."
"We're sorry our method of arrival startled you," Kirk explained. "In all our encounters with space faring nations that have the Warp Drive, none that we know of have failed to invent transporter technology."
"Transporter," Adama vocalized while ignoring the mild rebuke. "Hmmm. We'll please follow me to our main conference room where we will meet with some of my senior officers to discuss your situation."
"Please lead the way."
Adama and his escorting team of warriors led the Enterprises' officers deeper into the battlestar, up several elevators, down a couple of tram lines and finally along a few corridors to the ship's main conference room, just aft of the giant ship's bridge. Kirk and his officers maintained their silence during the five minute passage. At the entrance to the conference room, Adama motioned that the guests should precede him into the room.
"Please make yourselves comfortable," Adama said while moving to take his customary chair. His warriors flanked him or stood by the entrance in overwatch positions. Kirk and his officers sat opposite of Adama. Spock and McCoy at Kirk's sides. The two security specialists stood behind the trio also in overwatch positions. A moment later a mature black male officer entered the conference room.
"My second in command, Colonel Tigh." Tigh took a seat next to Adama. The Enterprises' officers nodded their greetings.
"So, Captain Kirk," Adama began. "Our civilization is new to you, you said. I've never heard of any humans living outside the Twelve Colonies. So, please explain to me who exactly you are, where you are from, the why you are here you already explained.
Kirk had been observing the hyperawareness of Adama's crew and recalled that the Twelve Colonies were currently in a state of war with the Cylon Empire.
"Again, my name is Captain James T. Kirk. I am the commanding officer of the Federation Starship Enterprise. Next to me are my First Officer and Science Officer, Mr. Spock, and my Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Leonard McCoy. My ship and crew are part of the Federation Starfleet, the defensive and exploration organization of the Federation."
Adama silently absorbed Kirk' statement. "Then where is your Federation?"
"Mr. Spock?" Kirk deflected.
"Upon our arrival above your planet., I used standard astronomical references to make a rough calculation of our position. The Federation lies about twenty-five thousand light years 'west' across the galaxy, in the next galactic arm which we call the Orion Arm. We call the galactic arm your Twelve Colonies reside in the Sagittarius Arm."
"That is quite the distance," Adama commented. "Your close encounter with the black star must have been a lot closer than you thought to sling you this far. But, please excuse me, I am unfamiliar with Mr. Spock's species."
"I am a Vulcan," Spock replied. "Logic dictates that taking offense is unnecessary."
"But, as a human I must fight against our nature and not give offense," Adama replied. Spock just nodded graciously. "Now, please tell me more about your federation?" Adama asked while leaning forward slightly.
"The United Federation of Planets was formed about a hundred years ago the wake of war with the Romulan Empire." Kirk went on. "The Vulcans, Andorians, Tellerites, and Mankind all fought together to repel the Romulan invasion. Afterwards, we allied together for mutual defense and cultural improvement. The Federation now has scores of member worlds, and species, and a multitude of colony worlds."
Adama couldn't stand not knowing the answer to his question anymore. "And what is the name of your home world, Captain Kirk?"
"Earth," he answered simply.
"Earth," Adama almost whispered. A couple of the warriors in the room also showed their surprise. The Enterprise's crewall noticed the impact, the answer made on their hosts.
"Now, it is our turn to tell you about our civilization," Adama began., "and when we do you will know why your being from Earth is a shock to us. According to out most ancient records, and from the Book of the Word, our religious text. Our civilization began on a world called Kobol, where all mankind originated. Kobol began to die when its star began transitioning to a flare star. Twelve of the tribes of Kobol soon found the Cyrannus star system and colonized it. Hence the Twelve Colonies of Man. There was one more tribe that was last to leave Kobol, the Thirteenth. They sought a world to colonize in a different direction. Centurons later word came back to the twelve tribes here that the thirteenth tribe had settled on a world they called Earth.
"Well, we can assure you that my world is not a colony of some other," Kirk replied. "We have overwhelming archeological and paleontological evidence that mankind originated on Earth."
"What are the names of your tribes," Spock asked.
"Do you suspect something?" Kirk asked.
"The Twelve Tribes of Cyranus are Aeries, Taura, Gemoni, Orion, Leo, Virgon, Libra, Scorpio, Sagitara, Caprica, Aquaria, and Piscera." As Adama recited the names Spock was inwardly nodding his head while Kirk and McCoy were both about ready to interrupt.
"Now, wait a minute," McCoy erupted when Adam finished. "Do you mean to tell me that the name of your tribes and colonies are nearly the same as the twelve signs of the zodiac?"
"All except for Cancer, which you call Orion." Spock interjected.
"What is the zodiac?" Adama asked.
"It is a series of twelve constellations of prominent stars in the sky as seen from Earth," Spock explained.
"Then there is something more than a coincidence going on here." Kirk surmised.
"One last question," Spock began. "What is the name of the thirteenth tribe?"
"They are called the Atlanteans," Adama answered.
"Earth history has records of an ancient civilization called Atlantis," Spock announced.
"Now, we have a mission while we are here," Kirk announced. "To learn all we can about any connection between our civilizations."
"Now, tell me about your war with the Cylon Empire," Kirk asked. "We heard an announcement about a peace treaty when we arrived."
"Colonel," Adama prompted.
"The Cylons are a race of humanoid intelligent machines," Tigh began. "They were originally created by a reptilian race, the original Cylons, as labor saving devices, Already aware of humanity, they designed their robots to mimic man, whom they considered to have a superior form. As the robots became more intelligent over time they overthrew their creators. Also, they began to spread themselves across the cosmos in order to give it their perfect robotic sense of order. Our war with them began nearly a thousand yahren ago when we went to the aid of the Hasaris, a former trade partner of ours. We've been fighting them on and off ever since."
"So, why the peace offer we heard about from your media broadcasts?" Kirk asked. "If the Cylons are bent on subduing all around them to their 'robotic sense of order' as you said. Then why would they change their minds."
"We've had our share of encounters with malevolent machines," McCoy added while recalling their recent encounter with the Roger Korby android. "They don't change their tune."
"I've had my misgivings," Adama admitted. "But the rest of the Council of the Twelve have refused to listen to me."
"I assume the Council of the Twelve is your governing body," Kirk said. "Would it be a good idea to meet with your Council, perhaps after your safety inspection of the Enterprise and after we do a quick records search regarding the Earth being your Thirteenth Tribe. I'm not completely sold on the concept, but we should do our research first. Commander Spock and our ship's historian will go over any documents you send over. We'll also send you what we have."