A Win, But At What Cost?
"Airlock secured - opening hatch" a voice said. The hatch to the airlock opened and a medical team poured in and took the battered form of Kattoni from Turndike. He watched as they put her on a trolley and wheeled away - working on her form as they moved away. Turndike himself just took his helmet off and stared blankly at the disappearing group before Pedro took his arm and tugged him into the hanger deck proper as people crowded round and gave thanks for saving them all from death.
"On me?" Pedro asked.
"As ordered" and the entirety of the Halo Squadron walked off and pushed their way through the mass of people until they reached Sickbay - hoping for some news of their friend and fellow pilot. Nobody wanted to deal with thirteen pissed off and worried pilots who were, incidentally, all armed, so they were given an unused store room to sit in until news came. After news of their leader's accident, the rest of Halo Squadron had abandoned their escort duty and landed on the Retribution. When later asked why, Pedro had simply replied with:
'Some things, Sir, transcend the discipline of the service'
#
Nearly two hours later, a medical technician knocked on the hatch and the group looked up to see a battered and war weary Petty Officer.
"Major Dial wants to see Captain Turndike and the Senior Pilot for Halo Squadron" she said.
"I'm Turndike" Turndike replied as he stood up and massaged the ache from his legs, "But the Senior Pilot is in surgery".
"I'll go with you, Sir" Pedro spoke as he stood up. He checked the frequency of the radio attached to his flight suit, told the other pilots it and then followed the Petty Officer as she took them to Restormal's CIC. Dial was looking in as terrible condition as Katooni's wrecked Viper. His uniform was torn in places, there was dried blood from various injuries to his head and body and he looked damned pale.
"Sir!" Pedro saluted.
"Major" Turndike nodded.
"Gentlemen, thank you for coming. How is Captain Summers?"
"Still undergoing surgery" Turndike said. "The Doctors think she might make it, but..." he left the rest unsaid.
"I'm sorry" Dial said, and both other of the other two men knew he meant it. "Gentlemen, we are still compiling the lists of those dead, dying and injured but its clear that this attack has cost us between sixty to eighty percent of our forces. At the moment, we're trying to get repairs made to all surviving ships that have half good medical facilities, but its not going well at all. In addition, we've lost nearly eighty nine percent of Viper pilots and almost a hundred percent of Raptor crews. Luckily, if you can call it that, a number of them died from fractured cockpits so their craft might be recoverable. If the Cylons didn't surrender when they did we might not have been able to last more than another four or five minutes"
"Gods..."
"What do you want to talk to us about, other than the fact we became damned lucky this day?" Turndike said.
"To the point as always, Dave" Dial smiled grimly. "We're picking up some unusual readings at the edge of DRADIS range. We're not sure if these are previously hidden friendlies or Cylons who refused the surrender orders from their High Command. I need you two to cobble together a squadron and find out whats going on out there. I don't care if you have to man them with Cooks, but I need a Viper squadron in the air in an hour"
"If you can get Halo Squadron's birds refuelled, Major, then we can get that squadron and maybe a Raptor as well" Pedro said.
"Refuelled? Lieutenant, we don't have enough fuel left in the fleet to put out a flight of two Vipers - let alone a squadron"
"What about fuel for the power plants?" asked Turndike.
"Wrong grade" Dial said. "The only way to get any fuel is to drain the wrecks and those too damaged to fly again without serious repair work"
"That will take longer then an hour" Pedro said. He turned to speak to Turndike who had a grin slowly widening on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. "Sir?"
"We don't need the fuel" Turndike said.
"We don't?" asked Pedro.
"No, we don't" Turndike smiled for the first time in hours. "Major, can you have a tin of red and a tin of black paint on the hanger deck where the Heavy Raider is?"
"Erm... Sure, I guess"
"Good. Pedro, time to dance" and Turndike grinned as he skipped out of the CIC with a completely confused Pedro following close behind.
#
"Permission to speak freely?" Pedro said.
"I'm not Fleet, but go ahead"
"Sir, it is my opinion as the senior member of the Colonial Fleet present that this is beyond insane"
"Your opinion" Turndike said dryly, "Is duly noted"
"Can we go now?" came a voice from the back. The rest of Halo Squadron had managed to squeeze themselves into the back of the Heavy Raider after all asking to go on the investigation.
"Quiet in the back or you don't get juice from the sippy cups" Turndike said. "Georgey?"
"Ready to go" Spanswick was like a child in a sweet shop with all of the beeps, alarms and displays on the ship.
"Restormal Control, this is Heavy Raider Zero One"
"Go ahead, Zero One"
"Ready to take off"
"Pattern has been cleared of all traffic. You are cleared to depart at your discretion"
"Copy that. Zero One out. Alright, lets get this tub of lard off the deck" Turndike palmed the throttle gently and the Heavy Raider lifted off from the flight deck and exited the pod.
"Raider Zero One from Flapjack One Zero"
"Flapjack One Zero, go ahead"
"Flapjacks One Zero and One Eight are forming on your wing. We're assuming escort"
"Copy that"
"One Zero, Pedro. We are going to burn at full throttle for exactly thirty, that is three zero, seconds before throttle back and safe engines"
"Copy that, Flapjack One Zero"
"Raider Zero One to Restormal"
"Go ahead" Dial's voice sounded scratchy over the wireless link.
"Flight requesting permission to proceed on mission. After acknowledging, we will make no transmissions to yourselves - only to Flapjack One Zero and One Eight"
"Ah... Roger that, Zero One. Big Boobs Flight is cleared to proceed. Good Luck. Out"
"Roger that, Restormal. Out. Big Boobs? Whatever will they think of for naming things?" Turndike muttered as he changed channels. "Flapjack One Zero and One Eight, switch to scramble mode seven. Go to full throttle in three, two, one... NOW" and Turndike pushed the throttle as far as it would go for half a minute. As soon as his watch hit thirty seconds, the salvage Captain brought the throttles back down as Pedro and Spanswick turned off the fuel systems to be doubly sure. From now until interception of the unknown contacts, all they would have to use would be their thrusters.
#
"Captain?" Pedro nudged Turndike awake.
"Yeah?"
"We're being intercepted by small fighter craft - Viper size with something Raptor sized trailing"
"Roger" Turndike rubbed his hands over his face and reached for the Raider's communication system. "Unidentified craft approaching my position identify yourselves"
"This is Captain Adama, callsign Apollo, of the Battlestar Galactica" a voice replied. "To which model am I speaking to?"
"None, Captain. This is a Cylon Heavy Raider under the command and crewed by Colonial Fleet personnel. Is Bill Adama still in command of the Galactica?"
"Yes"
"Can you get him on this frequency?" Turndike asked, "Only we have some news for him and we are bingo fuel"
"Roger that" Apollo said. "Standby" and the entire crew of the Heavy Raider.
"Flapjack One Eight"
"Go ahead, One Eight"
"Sir, incoming contacts are now inside missile range. Request permission to paint them"
"Copy that - stand by"
"If they are Vipers, we might cause trouble by locking on" Pedro said.
"Perhaps. Are any of those contacts incoming targeting us?" he asked Spanswick.
"Um..." the woman scanned the unfamiliar control displays. "I think so... Yes! Reading Colonial Fleet attack DRADIS targeting us and Flapjacks One Zero and One Eight"
"Thanks" Turndike looked at Pedro. "We don't know if they are hostile units or not" he argued. "After all, remember that message we picked up about the Pegasus?"
"Sir?"
"Oh yeah, you were kept out of that... Keep it brief, Pegasus made a jump away from the yard where she was making repairs and refitting. We picked up scattered communications about a Colonial warship that was killing civilians. We thought it might be a captured vessel, but we got confirmation that Pegasus had gone rogue. She was stripping civilian ships of people, supplies and equipment. Raider Zero One to One Eight"
"Go ahead"
"Target incoming contacts but do not engage missile systems"
"Confirm Nega Miss?"
"That's affirm - Nega Miss"
"Roger"
"Raider, this is Apollo. Galactica Actual would like to speak to you"
"Put him on"
"This is Galactica Actual. To whom am I speaking?" the voice was well known and unmistakeable.
"Captain David Turndike, late of the Salvage Vessel Exeter. We're flying in a pinched Cylon Heavy Raider with a two ship Viper escort. Your Viper wing doesn't seem to be playing nice at all and has locked on. I am sure that piddly little Raptor out there will confirm that we have locked on ourselves. As it happens, Commander, we bring a message from Caprica Defence Zone, Caprican Office of the Admiralty and the Admiralty of the Colonal Naval Forces"
"Do you have any authentication codes?"
"No, Sir. The Admiralty either in orbit or ground based were killed during the Cylon attack. Caprican Defence Zone and the Admiralty of the Colonial Fleet is being run from the Battlestar Retribution by a Major Dial"
"A Major?"
"Nobody more senior survived. We had a full bird Colonel, but he took massive injuries in an attack and spent weeks on a medical ship - he didn't make it. Commander, we are well past Bingo Fuel - Request permission for Renegade Flight to land on"
"Very well, Captain Turndike, Permission is Granted. Land port side bay - hands on approach"
"Commander, this thing has been hands on approach ever since we left Retribution! Request that you join us on the hanger deck with whoever is in charge and your CMO"
"Why?"
"Sir, I think it best that you just go with the flow for now. We have more important issues to deal with"
"Such as?"
"Such as the Cylon High Command surrendering directly to me" and there was a long pause before Adama spoke a single word uttered by every single person on a radio.
"WHAT?"
"Sir, we have dead, dying and injured onboard what few ships we have left. Request priority landing for Renegade Flight and an immediate jump to the orbit of Caprica"
"Standby until we can verify your information"
"Commander, if we wait any longer, there will not be anybody left to save. Retribution is on emergency power and hull breaches to all decks and all outer compartments. Most of the other ships that have survived can't land their birds or take on medical shuttles for the sick and wounded. Now if you make us standby any longer, I will have no choice but to open fire upon you"
"You have guts, I'll give you that. Very well, land on as soon as you can. We'll make an immediate FTL jump to the area"
"Roger that, out. Renegade Flight from Renegade Leader. Safe your weapons and attack DRADIS"
"Copy, Captain"
"Renegade Flight, this is Galactica LSO"
"Galactica LSO, Good Morning, Sir. Flight of one Heavy Raider and two Vipers approaching from your bow. Request landing instructions, please"
"Good Morning, Captain. You are cleared to land port flight pod. Join the circuit and prepare to lower landing gear"
"Dave..." Spanswick's warning tone came from behind Turndike and Pedro.
"Standby, LSO. Spanners, go"
"We've got a problem. According to this, we've only got enough fuel for course correction and braking jets"
"You sure?"
"If I'm reading these displays correctly, then yeah..."
"How?"
"Must have been low on fuel when she landed. We were busy checking for weapons and not fuel status"
"It never rains but it pours" said Pedro.
"LSO, Raider Zero One. We've got a problem here. We've got a computer glitch that told us we had more fuel then we really did, and we're dry tank on mains"
"Confirm that"
"That is confirmed, LSO. We only have whats in the minor correction and braking jets. Request reversed entry to port flight pod"
"Copy that, Raider Zero One. You and the rest of Renegade Flight are cleared for reversed entry to port flight pod. We'll increase the gravity to give you enough fuel for a turn around"
"Copy that, LSO. Renegade Flight from Leader, turn to port and steer 230"
"Roger"
"Copy"
"Captain Adama, might I request that you break and steer 173?"
"Why?"
"Because, assuming you are the lead bird out there, I am about to over fifty tons of Heavy Raider right through your cockpit in one minute"
"Oh frak" and the incoming Vipers broke out of formation as Spanswick pinged away with the targeting and jamming systems out of spite.
"Target me will you?" she grinned as she secured the systems.
#
"CONTACT! WE HAVE DRADIS CONTACT" a call brought Dial around from where he was discussing evacuating non essential and less wounded crew.
"Where?" he asked.
"Nearly past the ecliptic of Caprica, Major" came the reply. "Getting a message in old style radio waves"
"Can you read it?"
"Yes sir. Message reads FROM ADAMA GALACTICA. WHAT SHIP ARE YOU?"
"Make to Galactica: We are the Battlestar Retribution and fleet. Request urgent medical supplies and personnel to all vessels in fleet. Mission accomplished. Cylon surrender. No terms wanted"
"Aye, Aye, Major"
"Yeoman?"
"Sir?"
"Add:- Ship integrity failing. Life Support failing. Please send assistance at once. Elevators non functional - repeat: inoperable"
"Yes, Sir"
"And then prey to the Gods its not too late" Dial muttered. "Communications, send to Raptor 198. Tell them to inform the Cylons about the situation and that I will be briefing Adama on the situation"
"Aye, Sir"
"Sir, message from Sickbay"
"What is it?"
"They report that Captain Summers has injuries that are almost too great to treat and is very close to death. They say that if she has any surviving family, it might be best to get them aboard"
"She has no family but..." Dial cut himself off. "Comms, make to Raptor 198. Order them to relay the following message to Galactica - Alpha 1 priority channel"
"Aye"
"Message begins. Captain Turndike and Halo Squadron urgently requested. Captain Summers critical - not expected to survive. Ordered to use any and all means to get back onboard. Order them to repeat until they get a reply"
"Aye, Aye"
"To hell with this... Captain?" a young woman from Engineering looked up at Dial.
"Sir?"
"I'm going below - take command"
"Aye" and Dial left the CIC as the message was being sent.
#
"Sit Rep!" Turndike called as he and Halo Squadron came running into the outer area of Sickbay.
"Captain Summers's injuries are too extensive to heal. I can deal with the organ damage perfectly, but its the brain damage that I can not even start to think of treating. Anyone with those qualifications was killed in the attacks or onboard the Nightingale" a Doctor said.
"Can't you look at some texts and do something?" Turndike asked, his face paling as he tried to get a glimpse of his love.
"I can certainly try that, Captain, but it is like a ten year old child being given the instructions to a piloting position. In theory, they could read the books and look at the pictures and they could fly - the reality is somewhat different though"
"What exactly would you need?" asked Dial.
"A complete neurological suite with all of the equipment and supplies" came the reply. "And I would need somebody with complete knowledge of the brain and how it works"
"Can she be moved?"
"She's too sick to travel"
"I am not asking that... Is she physically capable of surviving an FTL jump?"
"If she was put on the floor of a Raptor, then I would think it likely"
"Pedro, go and find a Raptor that fuelled up on the Hanger Deck. Get everybody that you can find and get an elevator working" Turndike looked to Dial. "I need to speak with one of those Cylons"
"Which one?"
"The black one... Says he is a Doctoring type. That Six that came aboard said that he knew the human brain after capturing prisoners - he might be Kattoni's last hope"
"How long does she have, Doctor?" Dial asked.
"Two or three hours at best"
"Do it" Turndike headed out the room. "Doctor, get Captain Summers ready for moving"
"What are you going to do?"
"When we picked up communication channels, we found out that not all of the hospitals had been destroyed. We wondered if it was for prisoners, but we might have a way to save her life. We'll make an in atmo jump directly over the best possible chance and then land as close to the hospital as we can. Another Raptor will be packed with generators to provide power so we don't lose any"
"All this for one person?"
"Captain Turndike saved my life when everything was going to hell. I am going to move heaven and earth to get her well again. I owe him my ship, crew and all our lives... Get her prepped"
"Yes, Major" and the Doctor turned away to start work.
"Major Dial and Captain Turndike to the Hanger Bay. Galactica Shuttle approaching for docking"
"Dial here. Who is on that Shuttle?"
"Galactica reports medical staff, supplies, Commander Adama and... President of the Colonies"
"Oh hell's teeth... Have that Shuttle dock at the forward launch bay on the starboard flight pod and get whoever we can spare down there as quick as possible" Dial put the handset back in the receiver and turned to the waiting group. "Gentlemen, there is nothing that can be done by us now. You'd better get down to the starboard pod and be ready to give it the old one-two for Adama and whoever this President is.
"I'm staying with Megan" Turndike said, then sat on a chair behind a desk and stuck his feet up.
"Civvies" Dial shook his head and grinned. After speaking to a few medical staff, he left Sickbay with the rest of Halo Squadron following behind to get to the shuttle before it opened and discharged its precious cargo.
A/N:
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thats it for another chapter. I am sorry if this seems a little short, but I am still not feeling too well since my operation, so I think I am going to take some time off to get better. I am, after all, only human, and do ocaasionally stop working correctly! Nothing too serious, mind you, but I really do need my rest. So, maybe in about a month I'll start again. I know I have said this in the past, but I have worked myself to death through anti-biotics and painkillers of a dosage given to Beluga whales so I really need to rest. I have one other story to finish which is my Doctor Who story "Growing Up In Space and Time" which should be uploaded tomorrow then it is a month off from any writing whatso ever! As per normal, any and all PMs and reviews will be answered...
Regards
Pixel and Stephanie