CHAPTER THREE
"So something acknowledged the signal", Cain commented as he absorbed Sanders' report. Cain and Sanders were conferring in the conference room just off from CIC.
"Yes, Commander", Sanders confirmed, "the on-board warbook confirmed that it was a colonial probe: Bloodhound class".
Both of them knew that the Bloodhound probes were older type colonial recon drones. While newer types had superceded them, these older ones were still used by vessels on the inactive reserve register – ships like the TRINITY, for example. Still…
"Unfortunately, we can't be sure that the tin-heads are using our own probes against us to set a trap. We have to assume the worst-case scenario", Cain reminded Sanders.
"I fully agree, Commander, but Ensign Roberts' code would not be immediately an easy one to read for the tin-heads, so even if the Omicron Cipher has been compromised, for the short term at least, the place mentioned for a rendezvous should be safe".
"That's a relative term, given that Borallis is an occupied system", Cain replied, "still, the edge of that system would not be as patrolled as the system itself, so it's worth a try".
"So shall I dispatch the probe to the rendezvous point?", Sanders asked. The probe he was referring to had already been pre-programmed for the mission. Similar to the one that was used to make contact with the GOLIATH, it would be the safest option. In the event that it could be a Cylon trap, the probe was fitted with a high-yield nuclear warhead.
"Do so, Major", Cain ordered, "and let's keep our fingers crossed. The more surviving fleet units we can locate, the better it will be for when we eventually launch our counter-offensive". Cain still had hopes of wiping out the Cylon presence back at the Colonies, and the more forces they could get, the better.
Nodding, Sanders left the conference room and headed back to Core Command. The probe would be dispatched to the Borallis System in order to see if the right people had indeed picked up their message.
Lieutenant Annan was evidently expecting the order; she was at Core Command looking at Sanders as he entered. Sanders nodded. Annan turned and gave the order to one of the technicians.
The rendezvous probe was shot out of its launch tube. Sanders and Annan watched as it accelerated away from the PEGASUS on its pre-programmed course. After a couple of minutes, there was a flash, signifying that it had made its FTL-jump. At that, Sanders turned to Annan.
"The Commander suggested that we keep our fingers crossed, Lieutenant", Sanders said, "I hope that it finds what we're looking for".
"Me too, Comms", Annan replied. Annan knew about Sanders' brother. Just then, a buzz came from the core command console. They both turned as a technician responded to it. It was the direct comm-line from one of their patrols.
"Tau Leader to Home Plate, Tau Leader to Home Plate, please respond", the technician heard in her headset. Tau was the code name for the raptor from Black Knight Wing. Tau Leader was the name of it's pilot, LT Derek 'Dookie' Connor.
"Go ahead, Tau Leader", the technician replied. Sanders and Annan had put on their headsets. They were listening in to the conversation.
"Can you put Comms on please?", Connor requested
"Transferring", the technician replied. She nodded to Sanders, who then spoke into his headset microphone.
"This is Comms, Whats up, Dookie?", he asked.
"We've found indications of the quarry", Connor replied, causing Sanders to gasp a little. Given the fact that wireless communications could be overheard, Connor was being intentionally vague, but Sanders knew what he meant: They had found evidence of the GALACTICA!
"Do we need to raise the alert level, Dookie?", Sanders asked, as he quickly pulled himself together.
"Negative, Comms", Connor replied, "We're heading back to Home Plate. ETA in twelve minutes. Better let the Old Man know, and also get a medical team ready as well. We're bringing in something that the doc will want to see".
"Will do", Sanders replied, "Report to your wing briefing room immediately upon arrival. Home Plate out".
With that, he took off his headset. He then turned to Annan, who had overheard the conversation.
"What do you think Tau Leader is bringing back to us that's going to need a medical team, Comms?", Annan asked, "They didn't declare a medical emergency".
"I suppose we'll find out soon enough, Lieutenant. But let the Old Man know about the patrol", he ordered. Annan turned to the comm-link and punched in a code.
As Annan paged Cain, Sanders picked up another comm-link and punched in another code.
"Captain Voight", the voice on the other end of the line said.
"This is Sanders, CAG. Tau flight is returning with hot intel", he informed him, "We're informing the commander, but I guess you will want to sit in on the debrief as well".
"You guessed right, Major", Voight replied, "Thanks for the heads-up. Any change in the alert level?".
"Tau flight says no. We'll see what they have to give us once they have landed. I will see you down there, CAG. Sanders out". Sanders turned off the comm-link and turned to Annan.
"The Commander is heading over to Black Knight Wing now, major", Annan informed him.
"Yeah, so is Voight. I'm going down there as well, so you've got the watch", Sanders replied.
"Understood, I'm assuming the watch", Annan acknowledged formally. Annan headed over to make the notation in the CIC watch log as Sanders headed out.
Down in his office in the Black Knight Wing Administrative annex, Voight stood and headed out the door. He felt a little more relaxed after the call from Sanders. He had thought that Sanders would still harbor ill feelings towards him from that time when he had objected to his using his call sign, but since Sanders had used his title of CAG in a matter-of-fact tone in his call, it meant that professionally at least, Sanders was not using his promotion to do a little tit-for-tat.
By the time that Cain had joined Sanders and Voight in the briefing room used by the Black Knight Wing squadrons, Connor's raptor had landed and both he and his RSO – a rook by the name of Petty Officer Craig 'Cosmic' Bourne – were leaving their ship. As they egressed, Chief Brubaker came up to them.
"The CAG is with the Old Man. They're waiting for you both in the briefing room," he informed them. Both of them nodded. Brubaker walked up to Connor. "What's going on, Derek?", he asked quietly. 'Bru' was the only enlisted man who could call Connor by his first name – they had been friends since childhood.
"Tell you after we've given our 'reception committee' the low-down, Bru", Connor replied, "but in the meantime, could you get her readied?", he asked while jerking his head toward the raptor, "I've got a feeling that we'll be going back out again real soon".
Brubaker nodded. Flipping Connor a salute, Brubaker headed over to the raptor where service crews were already busy refueling it. Brubaker also saw a medical team heading over to the raptor was well. As he started directing his support crews to refuel the raptor, he noticed that the medics were taking a gurney into the raptor. The medics left the raptor a moment later carrying something on the gurney covered with a sheet. It looked man-sized, but since Brubaker knew that Connor and Bourne were the only persons on board when they departed on their patrol, he wondered who…. or what the medics had.
Both Connor and Bourne walked quickly over to the briefing room carrying their helmets. As they walked into the room, they saw that Cain, Sanders, and Voight were already waiting for them.
"Can we quickly get a drink, Commander?", Connor asked. Cain smiled and nodded. He'd rather hear the debrief from relaxed personnel.
Both Connor and Bourne put down their helmets and each quickly grabbed a glass of water. After quickly downing the water, they walked back to where the others were already seated. Connor handed Sanders a small video data disc. As Sanders stood and placed the disc in a projection unit, Connor and Bourne took their seats.
"We made the initial jump to our patrol site approximately fifteen A.U.'s out from the PEGASUS", Connor began, "and about an hour into our sweep, we encountered what looked like an asteroid on our sensors". As he spoke, Sanders started displaying images on the wall. The images indeed showed a good-sized asteroid.
"Our sensors indicated that this asteroid had deposits of tylium, so we zoomed in to take a survey. What we didn't expect was this". The next picture that Sanders projected was a picture of what looked like a fuel refinery; only this refinery was a derelict. There was ample evidence of an attack on the complex.
"At that time, we started an active scan of the site", Bourne said, "The warbook that the refinery was Cylon in make, plus that there were a number of wrecked raider debris on the surface".
"You mentioned - circumspectly of course – that there was evidence of the GALACTICA", Cain said, "so where is that on these images?".
"Right there", Connor replied, pointing to other wreckage not far from the site. Sanders zoomed in on the portion of the picture Connor indicated. It resolved itself into the remains of a viper; a viper of the Mark 2 type.
"The viper was pretty well wrecked, but we got images of its registration numerals", Bourne said next, "the warbook showed that this viper was part of the inventory for the GALACTICA museum". At that, both Cain and Voight leaned over to take a closer look at the image.
"We scanned the general area around the asteroid", Connor said next, "and it showed indications of a recent battle. The refinery's defense network was taken out by colonial ordinance, plus other viper wreckage was found in space not far away, next to a lot more tin-head raider debris".
"What about the refinery itself, Dookie?", Sanders asked.
"The refinery tanks were cleaned out completely and the drilling and excavation equipment had been stripped. It looks like the GALACTICA took out the tin-heads and took all the tylium and equipment that they could carry", Connor replied.
"So the next question is: how long ago did this happen?" Voight asked next.
"Not sure", Connor replied, "but we landed next to the viper wreckage and retrieved the corpse of the pilot. The medical team we requested should be able to get it up to Doctor Ashley for forensics. Perhaps that will give us the answer. One thing that confirmed our suspicions was that the corpse's flight suit bore the insignia of the GALACTICA".
Cain nodded. Given the circumstances, having to land in order to carry out such a grizzly task would not be something to contemplate, but Cain knew that Connor was very intelligent and knew what had to be done.
"Any identification on the body?", Cain asked next. Connor handed over to Cain an identity disc. The disc was singed and half-melted. Cain looked at what remained of the name, then passed it along to Voight.
"I can't make out the name, Commander", Voight said after looking at the name. Sanders walked over and looked, then turned to Cain.
"There is a partial number. I can run it up to CIC and see what the database says about it, Commander", Sanders suggested.
"Do so", Cain replied. ID discs contained a serial number, which was a means of identification. Even if they could not get enough of the serial number to positively identify the corpse, perhaps enough could be ascertained to place this individual on the GALACTICA. Cain then stood.
"Comms", he said to Sanders, "Have the PEGASUS head over to the site of the refinery. Perhaps there are other items there worth salvaging. I also want forensic teams to search for other wreckage. If this does prove to be the work of the GALACTICA, then hopefully, we'll be able to get a lead on where she headed to next".
"Yes, Commander", Sanders acknowledged, "I will also have Dr. Ashley expedite the autopsy on the corpse. The sooner we get a timeline, the better".
"Better let the X.O. know too", Cain added, "But don't wake him. Let him get his sleep. Let him know when he comes on watch". Cain knew that Tolen really did push himself too much. It was not an alert situation and he preferred to have Tolen rested and alert.