Ellada Sector
Darkspace
7 Days After Cylon Attack
1597 People
Orion
Colonel Gabrielle had been thinking over what to do next. Trying to get help would be best but he had no real ideas where they might be more Colonial forces. They did have two slight leads to less official support. "Captain Greer I would like us to check out both or options here. What is your advice for both" said Colonel Olaf Gabrielle.
Unofficially Captain Greer was just another of the civilian Captains but as the head of the CIF or at least the group they had here she had along with Major Gobi become part of the "Triumvirate" as some of the people were calling it. The other Captains had more or less allowed Captain Potts to be their go between when talking to the Orion. Colonel Gabrielle would have to do something eventually to get things more official but for know they were following his lead if only because he had the most powerful ship.
"Colonel I think we should send the Sandpiper to talk to the Ha'la'tha. They will definitely be the most hesitant. With the Zephyr and myself here if we find any CIF ships I can talk them down even with you Stompers there" said Captain Greer with a head nod to Major Gobi.
Colonel Gabrielle had learned that while Captain Greer had some unusual beliefs (to his admittedly upper class upbringing) and still used the term "Stompers" to refer to any official Colonial forces she had been willing to work with him. Still sending the Sandpiper which had very little weaponry and nothing in armor was dangerous. The Ha'la'tha were not freedom fighters that might be misguided they were outright criminals. They sold illegal drugs like dust, weapons, prostitution (which since it was legal on most Colonial planets sometimes meant outright slavery) and other nefarious activities. Major Gobi had from his wider and less personal viewpoint had been fairly forgiving of the CIF and SFM but had outright loathing for the Ha'la'tha. Still they needed help.
Major Gobi had reluctantly agreed to contacting the Ha'la'tha but there were still some problems. "And you are sure we can not send someone on the Sandpiper" asked Colonel Gabrielle. The Sandpiper was small but should be able to carry an observer or two.
"That would be unwise. The person we have contact with knows everyone on the Sandpiper and would be suspicious of anyone else" replied Captain Greer. What she was not saying but all knew is that anyone not from her people would be suspicious and either they trusted her (or in this case her and Captain Russel and his crew) or not and while they had their families as not exactly hostages then "guests" made outright betrayal unlikely.
Such repairs as LT JG Gavins and her crew (nice to finally have an official chief engineer) that could be done to fix up the Orion with the parts they had available (and the parts salvaged from the Tapir) had been completed. Main CIC was now operational and the portside defenses were back up to around 60%. Again not optimal but an improvement. Problem was they need supplies and if possible a dockyard or repair ship. The missing engine on the Orion was the most notable issue but the Zephyr had taken some damage as well. Also tyleum was going to have to be addressed one way or another fairly soon. The last 48 hours had been helpful in getting things organized but it was time to move the fleet.
"Fine I understand the logic" said Colonel Gabrielle. "While the Sandpiper check with the Ha'la'tha we will check out your supply caches and rendezvous points."
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8 Days After Cylon Attack
Sandpiper Bridge
System 09852 Monza System
The Monza star system was one of the brightest stars in the sky of the Twelve Colonies. It was a very young star at an estimated 400 million years old. Whatever planets it might have had were long since consumed by the star leaving a very light asteroid belt around the star and there were very few heavier than hydrogen elements. This made the system along with the along with the solar flares that were occasionally massive completely worthless. The Ha'la'tha had used this star system as their base outside the Cyrannus System due to the interference that Monza caused Dradis systems along with the rare but non negligible solar flares that would cripple or even kill ships out to several astronomical units. The Colonial Navy hadn't been here in years. While Captain Larry Russell understood the logic he hated this star system. Knowing they could be 10 minutes (or less) from death at any time while the Ha'la'tha thought it gave them some bullshit machismo it was just more dumb than anything else.
"Mr. Fazekas what have you heard from the Colonies in the last few days" asked Captain Russell. Tomas Fazekas was prickly (or just a prick) due to his low position. He had shown zero skills in their somewhat legal business and lacked the threatening presence needed to sell "protection". What he did have was a grandmother that was the current (or had been) Guatrau of the Ha'la'tha but he was the second child of the third daughter. Selling to the various pirate groups and running one of the dust production facilities was about all he was considered able to handle. From what Captain Russell could see the Derzelas an ancient Medicalstar that the Ha'la'tha had acquired from the always losing ships Virgons (before the Cylon War at least) that they used to make dust and a few other ships that also had been here last time.
"Larry we are aware of the attack on the Twelve Colonies by the Cylons" replied Tomas Fazekas. "Also refer to me as Guatrau from now on."
"Sorry Guatrau. I am sorry to hear of your grandmother's passing" said Captain Russell. Tomas Fazekas had about 20 people ahead of him so this was either the last of the Ha'la'tha or he was jumping the gun and claiming control of the organization. There was some talking but the new Guatrau made it clear he and his people were not leaving the Monza System nor would they sell or trade any supplies. With little to talk about Captain Russell returned back to the fleet.
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Ellada Sector
System 05233
13 Days After Cylon Attack
Vigilant CIC
The supply caches/rendezvous spots had been a mixed bag. The first had limited supplies of mainly water and military rations and the second and third had been empty with signs of being stripped by someone in the last few days. Possibly contact could be made with them. The fourth and last though they had gotten lucky. The LZ (as everyone called it) had been supplying the CIF with tyleum for decades (at a higher cost than if they sold it legally) and was willing to join their fleet as long as Captain Greer vouched for the Orion and Vigilant. That an old run down mining vessel that was illegally mining looked down on them was annoying but understandable.
The word from Captain Russell that the Ha'la'tha were unwilling to compromise wasn't a surprise and in many ways a relief. Let them stay in their star system (the location of which he was willing to not know of). That this person was claiming to be the new head of the Ha'la'tha is none of their business at this time.
Major Gobi was still not sure about Colonel Gabrielle. The Colonel was in over his head as shown by the costly rescue of the CIF people a few days ago showed a lack of experience. Still the Colonel wasn't as uptight as a lifelong member of the Canceron SDF towards the CIF as he would expect. Might have something to do with the situation. Colonel Gabrielle had thought more tyleum mining was needed before they left this Sector. While the Orion and the other ships were safe in Darkspace the Vigilant was ordered to keep an eye out for Cylons while the LZ mined.
The idea had made some sense but the Vigilant couldn't take on a Baseship by itself and would quickly get overran by a large number of Raiders. If only the "Lucky Zenith" and it's Captain "Heph Mangala" (an obvious fake name) would hurry up. The LZ was about half full and it would take a few more days to fill it's holds.
"Captain I mean Major we just got a flash" said LT Sheila Kinis. "Shit it's a pair of Cylon Raiders."
"Have they seen us yet" asked Major Gobi.
"Not yet sir but they are going to see the LZ in a few minutes" replied LT Kinis.
"Captain Mangala you need to jump out of here. The Toasters have arrived and will see you in a few minutes" said Major Gobi over the wireless.
"Confirmed Vigilant. We will meet you at the coordinates" said Captain Mangala.
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Author's Notes
A lot of the Ha'la'tha was taken from the TV show Caprica that I have not seen since it went off the air. If I made any mistakes well it's been (in universe) more than 50 years so things change.
Thank you everyone for reading. Any questions of comments are appreciated!