Part 8
"Energize," Captain Kirk ordered while standing next to the Transporter Chief. Presently a single figure materialized onto the transporter stage; Commander Adama.
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"Captain's log, Stardate 3113.5 Commander Adama has requested a face to face meeting with me onboard the Enterprise. He did not mention what he wished to discuss. I feel a sense of foreboding from this meeting due to its clandestine nature.
Shore leave on Caprica is going well, there have been some adjustments necessary as the Colonies are still in a capitalist-cash economic system. We've had to negotiate a temporary exchange rate between Federation credits and Colonial Gold Cubits to prevent gold hoarding and to promote fair trade."
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"Welcome aboard, Commander," Kirk greeted.
"Thank you, Captain," Adama replied after stepping down from the transporter stage and taking a translator earpiece. "Can we go somewhere to talk privately?"
"Just you and I? Can't Commander Spock or Dr. McCoy join us?"
"For now, just you and me, please," Adama requested.
"Okay..." Kirk replied. "Then, please follow me to my quarters." Kirk led Adama to the turbolift where they traveled up a few decks to Deck Five, and to his stateroom. There Kirk moved to sit at his desk and waved at his guest chair. "Have a seat, Commander. In here you can call me Jim." Adama took a quick look around as he sat, noting the various alien artifacts and the books that were neatly stacked wherever there was room for them in the stateroom. He's a reader, Adama noted happily.
"As my culture has only single names, you can call me Adama."
"Now, what's on you mind.
"First, I am here to officially inform you that the Cylons, through Count Baltar, have requested the presence of the Enterprise at the armistice signing, to be neutral witnesses."
"I see," Kirk replied cautiously.
"Now," Adama went on. "I still have my misgivings regarding having all of our remaining Battlestars present at the meeting. It is not like we can't handle ourselves should the armistice turn into a battle with a superior number of Baseships and their fighter compliments. I just don't like the idea of just having to rely on our static defenses in the Colonies during that time."
"I fully understand your concerns, Adama," Kirk replied. "Perhaps, since the Enterprise is to be present then we can replace one of your ships which could then remain in the Colonies."
"I already made that suggestion to Adar and Baltar, but they both insisted that all of our Battlestars are to be present. Baltar alluded to a Colonial showing of force to ensure a meeting of equals."
"So, you've had no luck persuading your Council, despite our warning, to be more cautious in the negotiations?"
"It seems like the entire Council, Adar included, are in a daze at the prospects of peace with the Cylons. The war has lasted a thousand yahren. Some are looking at future historical records as the Council that ended the war peacefully. For the others, it is almost like they have lost their collective minds. Even those whom I thought I could trust have become almost childlike in their thoughts regarding the armistice."
"Then we'll just have to keep out guard up." Kirk suggested. "Rest assured that should the armistice become a battle or something worse happens, we'll be at your side. We're a long way from home and it will take us decades to return to the Federation. I'd rather the Colonies were secure until we can figure out how to get home quicker. 'A friendly port in the storm', we would say.'"
"Thank you, Jim," Adama said while relaxing slightly, his apprehension still under the surface. He extended his hand for a shake. Kirk immediately took his hand and shook it in for their gentleman's agreement.
"To help reassure you about our ability to hold our own should a battle take place, let me call Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy into our conversation."
"By all means," Adama replied. Kirk pressed his intercom button.
"Kirk to Bridge," he called.
"Uhura here," came the reply.
"Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy are to report to my quarters immediately."
"I'll call then, Captain," Uhura answered. Spock was on the CON so he immediately had Scotty relieve him and departed the Bridge. It took McCoy an additional minute or two to arrive. Presently, Kirk's door buzzer announced their arrival. Kirk pressed his enter button and his door whooshed open.
"Come in Spock, Bones."
"Greetings, Commander," Spock said while passing an earpiece to McCoy, already knowing who he was going to see in Kirk's rooms.
"Hello," McCoy greeted simply.
"Gentlemen, I need your advice," Kirk began. "First, Spock, considering all the facts and the insistence that the Cylons require the entire Colonial Fleet to attend the armistice, what are the odds that this is all a subterfuge for the Cylons to attack the Colonies. Also, know that the Enterprise has been invited to the armistice as neutral observers."
"Neutral observers?" McCoy scoffed as passionate about things as he always is.
"Our being neutral observers does not concern me," Kirk explained. "It is Commander Adama's concern about their entire fleet being required to attend the armistice and leaving the Colonies defended only by their static defenses that is the problem. Spock?"
"With the Cylon's machine mentality, despite their sentience, and like Dr. Korby, I compute the odds that the armistice effort is indeed a subterfuge at a certainty. It puzzles me that the Colonial leadership, Commander Adama excepted, has agreed to their ruse."
"I understand," McCoy said thoughtfully. "After a thousand years of war the Colonial peoples must be tired of the constant threat to their existence. I understand how much they hope the war can end peacefully. But, I agree with Spock."
Kirk was slightly taken aback at the Bones' agreement with Spock. The two usually bickered on such matters.
"Commander Adama and I have come to a gentleman's agreement," Kirk announced. "Should the armistice be a ruse and the Cylons attack the Colonial Fleet, we will come to their aid."
"I would certainly hope so," McCoy agreed emphatically.
"Now, we need to reassure Commander Adama that we can hold our own should such an attack occur," Kirk went on while Adama looked on with curiosity and a little hope. "What's the best way to do so? A weapons demonstration? Revealing capabilities from the computer database?"
"Commander," Spock began. "Are Cylon weapon capabilities equivalent to Colonial capabilities?"
"Generally," he replied. "Fighter to fighter they are about the same. Defensive-anti-fighter weapons on board a Baseship are about the same as a Battlestar's. But a Baseship has higher powered main weapons, their mega-pulsars. We've had to compensate using missiles with Solonite warheads."
"Solonite?" Spock asked.
"A, highly explosive, unstable chemical compound."
"As we initially scanned when we arrived here, Captain, megawatt class lasers and chemical warhead capital missiles," Spock summarized.
"I think a weapons demonstration would give the biggest impression," McCoy said.
"But," Kirk added. "There's no reason to give Cylon spies any intelligence on our capabilities. Where can we go to give you a little show, Commander?"
Adama thought for a moment. "Cyrannus has two nearby exo-planets, Borea and Tartarus. Borea, is a gas giant about the size of Gemoni's. It is where the armistice is to be held, at the Colonial Star Kobol research station. Tartarus is a much bigger gas giant (Jupiter class) with a massive radiation zone around it. The Cylons have not used it as a staging ground in my memory. Perhaps we can go there."
"We'll need the coordinates for the exo-planet," Spock said.
"We'll also need a Viper or two to take pot-shots at the Enterprise once we are there," Kirk added.
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"Captain's log, Supplemental I've cancelled and recalled all shore leaves. Commander Adama has remained onboard as while the Enterprise travels to an extrasolar planet to conduct a weapons demonstration. This is to reassure the Commander that, should the armistice become a battle, that we can hold our own against the Cylons who are sure to attack us too. Adama ordered two of his Vipers to land in the Enterprise's shuttle bay. They will also take part in the demonstration. Colonial Fleet command was informed that we are making a scientific scanning run to Tartarus, and that we would return within the day."
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"Reduce speed to one-quarter Impulse," Kirk ordered as the Enterprise entered a wide orbit around Tartarus.
"Aye, aye, sir," Sulu replied from the helm. Adama again watched the actions of the Enterprise's bridge crew from the Engineering monitoring station. Lieutenant Starbuck and Lieutenant Greenbean stood next to him.
"Full scan, Mr. Spock," Kirk ordered. "I want to know if any Cylon spy devices are here."
"Yes, Captain," Spock replied as he stood up before his scanner hood and began working his instruments.
"Captain," Spock began a moment later with the basic data about the wandering planet. "Tartarus is a Jupiter class gas giant. It is moving in a hyperbolic course around the Cyrannus system at a velocity of 135 kilometers per second and a current distance from the Nova of Madagon of five thousand AU.
"The scanners detect three large Gallilean class moons, and twenty one smaller moons ranging from 100 kilometers in diameter down to ten kilometers in diameter. No refined metals detected so far. I'm continuing to scan."
"Mr. Sulu, maintain one-quarter Impulse and swing us around the entire planet for a full scanning run.
"Aye, Captain," Sulu replied. The full scanning run took another twenty minutes, but no refined metals or other advanced materials were detected around the planet.
"It looks like we are all clear," Sulu announced after reviewing the findings on his own instruments.
"Confirmed," Spock echoed. "No refined metals, no communications or other signals detected."
"Mr. Spock," Kirk began. "Please find a partially metallic body about a hundred meters in diameter. Mr. Sulu, after Spock identifies the object then take us to within ten kilometers of the object."
"Yes, Captain," Sulu replied while Spock simply continued to operate his instruments.
"Mr, DePaul," Spock began. "Object located on heading thirty-five, mark 2, range fifteen thousand kilometers.
"Setting course," Mr DePaul replied.
"Maintaining one-quarter impulse. We'll be in position in a couple minutes, Captain," Sulu announced.
"It is time to begin," Kirk said while turning to Adam and his warriors.
"Go to your Vipers and prepare for launch," Adama ordered. Starbuck and Greenbean immediately departed the Bridge to go to the Hanger Deck. A few minutes later they were both in their sealed cockpits ready for launch.
"Red Three, ready for launch," Starbuck called.
"Blue Five, ready for launch," Greenbean then called.
"Launch Vipers," Kirk ordered. First one then the other Viper were lifted by the Hanger Deck's tractor beam and placed outside the hanger doors. There Starbuck and Greenbean activated their engines and powered away from the Enterprise.
"Vipers are clear," Sulu then announced.
"Raise deflector shields," Kirk then ordered. Sulu then adjusted his controls.
"Shields are raised," he announced.
"Uhura, signal the Vipers that they may make as many attack runs as they want, but they are to nor close within a hundred meters of the Enterprise."
"Aye, Captain," she replied before sending the instructions.
"Your shields," Adama began. "Are they a physical part of your ship, or do they operate by some other method?"
"They are an electro-magnetic force field that is projected from the Enterprise's hull," Kirk explained. "They protect the ship from particle and radiation weapon effects and various space environmental effects."
Again, Adama was amazed at the technical achievements he had seen on the Enterprise. He wistfully thought about how the effectiveness of the Colonial Fleet could be improved if they could obtain the Warp Drive, and now shields.
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"Let's go, Greenbean," Starbuck called to his temporary wingman while pressing his turbo button on his control stick.
"I'm on you left wing," Green replied while also thumbing his own turbo button.
"Initiating firing run," Starbuck then called while lining his lasers up on the Enterprise. He then thumbed his laser firing button. He watched as his Viper's twin laser beams reached out and struck the enterprise's shields, to no visible effect. Greenbean's attack run had a similar disappoionting effect. Both Warriors flew past the Federation starship and turned to make another attack run.
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"Captain," Spock began while monitoring his instruments. "I've registered multiple weapons impacts on Shield #3, no appreciable degradation to shield strength."
Adama was taken aback somewhat at Spock's announcement. No damage! From two Vipers using full lasers! Kirk wasn't lying! I'm glad we're doing this demonstration. Now, to see how powerful the Enterprise's weapons are.
"Very, well," Kirk replied. "Let them make another run or two then recall them back to the Hanger Deck."
A few frustrating minutes later the two Warriors and their Vipers were again safely ensconced on the Enterprise's Hanger Deck. A few minutes after that the two Warriors were again flanking their commander on the Bridge.
"Mr. Spock, Kirk began. "Put the rock you identified earlier on the main view screen." Spock adjusted his controls and the irregularly shaped mass appeared as requested.
"Mr. Sulu," Kirk began. "Arm phasers and lock onto the rock."
"Phasers are locked on target," Sulu announced after working his controls a moment.
"Cut it in half, Mr. Sulu, fire phasers."
"Firing phasers." Presently, the Enterprise's forward beam weapon lashed out and made short work of the rock which indeed was cut cleanly in half in just a few seconds time. Sulu ceased firing once the job was done.
"Well done, Mr. Sulu," Kirk praised.
Adama sat and silently watched the remains of the space rock rotate slowly on the view screen. A hundred metron rock cut cleanly in half in just a few microns! He thought. He had to clamp down on his envy as he realized that the Enterprise and presumably all the ships of the Federation clearly outclassed the Colonial Fleet. Starbuck and Greenbean beside him kept their thoughts to themselves except for Starbuck's whispered 'Frak' at the display. It would take a sustained barrage of Battlestar's main turret lasers several centons to pulverize a similarly sized rock, not to just cleanly cut it in half like a jeweler cutting a precious stone.
"Commander," Kirk began. "As we only have a limited stock of torpedoes on board, I think we will forgo demonstrating them today. From your reactions just now, I think that a demonstration is also no longer necessary. Shall we return to Caprica?"
Adama, still in a slight shock, just nodded his head.
"Mr, DePaul, set course for Caprica," Kirk ordered.
"Course laid in, sir," DePaul replied.
"Ahead Warp Five, Mr. Sulu," Kirk then ordered. "Mr. Spock, you have the CON."
"Gentlemen," Kirk addressed to Adama and his Warriors. "There's been something on my mind for a while. If you will accompany me to the Briefing Room, we'll discuss it there."
"By all means, Captain," Adama replied while rising from the Engineering Monitoring Station's chair.
"Uhura, call Lieutenant McGivers to the Briefing Room. We'll be there in a moment." At that Kirk and the Colonials entered the turbolift.
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In the Biefing Room, Kirk and the Colonials all took seats around the table. Lt. McGivers arrived a moment later and sat at the room's computer station. She gave her captain a questioning look. He held up one index finger signalling that she would know why she was there in a moment.
"Commander," Kirk began. "When I was in Starfleet Academy we studied starship combat tactics, and strategy. One thing has bothered me since our arrival here and after learning a bit about the composition of both the Colonial Fleet and the Cylons. Can you please explain why you and the Cylons only use Battlestars, Baseships, and fighters? Did not either of you develop lighter ship units to use as escorts for your main carriers or for other purposes?"
"Mostly," Adama explained. "It was because the Cylons never developed such units. There have been proposals over the yahren for the creation of escort ships, but like the Cylons we relied on larger and larger numbers of fighters on our ships. A Colonial Warrior is expected to fight heavily outnumbered and to easily overcome three to one odds or greater."
"Well, let us show you the utility of lighter fleet units. Lieutenant McGivers, please access the Library Computer and pull up visual records of the defense of United States Navy aircraft carriers during Earth's World War II."
"Yes, Captain," she quickly replied as Twentieth Century history was her specialty. She immediately displayed film clips from the Battle of the Coral Sea, then the Battle of Midway, followed by the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. McGivers pointed out the defense of the aircraft carrier Enterprise during the battle. Then she spoke about the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands. Finally, she spoke about the Battle of the Philippine Sea. All through the presentation she spoke about the industrial capability of the two Pacific opponents, the Japanese and the Americans, and of their abilities to replace losses of pilots, ships, and material. She finally pointed out that after the war, carriers would continue to be produced by several of the Earth's major powers, but no further major carrier battles would take place.
"Commander, Lieutenants," Kirk summarized. "As you saw the effective use of escort ships can protect your Battlestars much better than just keeping your fighters close and for a lesser cost in material or experienced pilots. Then your fighters can be used to attack the Cylons instead. Smaller ships can also be specialized for different tasks; carrier escort, convoy escort, light carriers, general or multi purpose, patrol, or ship-to-ship combat, just to name a few. Should the peace talks with the Cylons be a sham, then perhaps your can improve your fleet's combat effectiveness by implementing the construction of smaller ships. Please know that my first independent command was on a destroyer, a medium sized combat ship. I also served on a border patrol frigate, a very small combat ship. "
"Captain," Adama began. "From the founding of the colonies, the Colonial peoples never had to develop nautical combat units like your Earth nations did due to the unified nature of each colony world. So, I appreciate the lesson you have presented here. I can now see why you brought his subject up." Inwardly, Adama felt like he was being treated like a cadet at a Colonial Fleet academy historical lesson, but he did not resent the feeling. He did not know that Kirk actually taught at the Starfleet Academy on this particular topic. The thought of inter-tribal warfare on Earth also bothered him. Colonial unity had been a given through the long history of the Twelve Colonies.
Starbuck, and Greenbean just kept thoughtful expressions on their faces, mostly because they were still absorbing the images they had seen on the Briefing Room's display screen. They were dismayed by the human on human combat they had seen, but they had also been impressed by the skill and valor of both the Japanese and American pilots.