CHAPTER EIGHT: Answers
SHIP'S LOG, FINAL ENTRY. Uncharted space, no power, and no more hope. The few of us remaining on the CEREBRUS have all realized that the end has now come. If anyone ever comes across us sometime in the future and reads this log, I ask that our bodies be buried with honors, and that the CEREBRUS somehow will get back home.
Cain and Tolen paused the screen to look at each other. Commander Tyler was a legend in the old Colonial Fleet, and for him to acknowledge that the end had come must have been a hard one for a man of his temprement, yet the voice recording that came with the typed-log sounded so matter-of-fact. Cain pushed the RESUME button to resume listening to the log.
I earnestly hope that the others who had managed to abandon ship before we were blasted into uncharted space did get off safely and were picked up. The twenty crewmen left on board with myself all volunteered to remain in order to assure that the others abandoned ship okay. For their selflessness, I would like to recommend them all for the Gold Cluster medal. Chief Engineer Larsen has just informed me that he could introduce Carbon Monoxide into the ship's atmosphere so that we will simply all fall asleep, instead of slowly strangling on Carbon Dioxide. I have given orders that he do so. All of those on board deserved a better fate than this, but without the energizers to power the lunch tubes, let alone the main engines, and with no idea of where we are, with no means of being able to survive on board, and no planets anywhere in the vicinity, what else can one do? It seems a pity, but I do not think that I can say any more, save that I will be found where I belong: on the Bridge and at my post. May the Lords of Kobol look after our souls, and the souls of our loved ones. Tyler, Commander, Battlestar CEREBRUS.
For a while, neither Cain nor Tolen said anything. Both could imagine those final moments when – as the remaining power started to ebb – Tyler and the others felt tired, then dropped where they stood. Cain swore to himself that Tyler's wish for him and his crew to be buried with honors would be carried out.
Cain stood and walked over to the Communications console. He tapped the duty officer on the shoulder.
"Get me Hunter on board the CEREBRUS", he directed, "use the Fleet scrambler protocols"
The officer tapped in a code, and then spoke into his headset.
"Hondo", the officer said, "Stand by, Home Plate Actual wishes to speak to you". After a couple of seconds, the officer took off his headset and gave it to Cain.
"This is Actual", Cain said.
"Go ahead, Actual", Hunter's voice replied.
"I've just looked at the log. I want to reiterate that all of the bodies are to be left where they are until we dock. The medical personnel will then take care of them. Remember: no one touch the bodies until then", Cain ordered.
"Understood, Actual", Hunter acknowledged. As he had also read the last log entry, he understood Cain's admonition. All of the corpses here would be treated as hallowed heroes.
"I've just gone over the specs of our lower docking port and it is of the type that is compatible with the port types used on the COLUMBIA class", Cain continued, "so you'll need to check out the primary docking port to make sure its integrity is still nominal".
"According to the console readout, Commander", Hunter continued, "the primary and secondary ports are all okay. Souster's marines – once they finish their landing bay survey – will be heading to the primary port to manually activate the receivers".
"Excellent, Hondo", Cain acknowledged. The docking ports also had power couplings so that power from one ship can flow into the other. If the primary energizers on board the CEREBRUS could not be brought online, then the PEGASUS' power would be able to be used to get full power to the landing bays, and that would allow the Vipers and Javelins on board the CEREBRUS to be retrieved and brought over.
"Anything else worth reporting at this time, Hondo?" Cain asked next.
"The deep space scanners are still showing nothing in our vicinity – except for Home Plate of course. Other systems are being brought online a bit at a time, but with only the auxiliary energizer functioning, it's only going to be essential systems for the time being", Hunter reported.
"The damage report shows that the weapons systems are off-line", Cain said next, "any hope of rectifying that?"
"Not with the manpower we have, Actual", Hunter replied.
"I don't like you sitting out there unarmed, Hondo", Cain cautioned, "but do the best that you can".
"Understood, Actual. Hondo standing by", Hunter acknowledged.
Putting down the headset, Cain turned to Tolen.
"So, any idea of how the CEREBRUS ended up here in the Erenkoy sector?" he asked.
"Nothing I can say for sure. The log did not provide any conclusions either", Tolen answered, "but I surmise that that last volley impacting the CEREBRUS at the moment it's FTL activated either gave it a surge of power that enabled it to trave far, or that the circumstances of the impact and the FTL made a wormhole that hurled the CEREBRUS way out here".
"Either explanation is possible, I suppose. Anyway, Priority One is to get their weapons systems operational", Cain said, "they may only be primarily short-range defensive, but the more firepower we have, the better".
"No problem, Commander", Tolen replied, "even though their scanners and ours show nothing in the vicinity, I'll feel better when we get their weapons operational as well".
Lieutenant Souster was himself feeling better. Down in the CEREBRUS' starboard landing bay, the recon squad of marines had discovered over the next half-an-hour another thirty Viper II's and five Javelin scouts. It was pure bad luck at the outset of the CEREBRUS' last battle that the first Cylon volley had taken out the energizers and thus prevented the vipers from launching. Had that happened, then perhaps the CEREBRUS would not have ended up out here, but by the same token, with the CEREBRUS rediscovered, then she - and her fighter complement - would be very useful indeed to the Battlestar PEGASUS.
Corporal Pulver – one of the marine NCO's - came up to Souster and saluted.
"Yes, Corporal?" Souster asked.
"We've located and secured the armory, El-Tee", Pulver reported, "there is a lot of equipment and ordinance that we can use, and a survey of the magazines indicate a goodly supply of ammunition – primarily light artillery, but certainly compatible with the secondary batteries on the PEGASUS".
"Excellent", Souster answered, "Well then, lets get the marines together. We need to get topside and set the primary and secondary docking ports ready to receive the PEGASUS".
"Yes, El-Tee", Pulver acknowledged. He brought out a whistle and blew three quick short blasts to signal a recall of the marines. Five minutes later, all of them met up with Souster and Pulver.
"This place is secured, so lets head up to the docking ports. Pulver, take squad two and head up to the secondary port. I'll take squad one. Let's move it, people", he ordered.
Quickly and expertly, the marines formed up and headed out. Sosuter pulled out his portable communicator and contacted Hunter.
"This is Hunter", Hondo replied.
"This is Nebula-Five", Souster said, "we've completed the initial survey. There are thirty intact viper II's and five Javelins down here, plus the armory and starboard ordinance magazines are intact. Looks like we struck pay dirt. We're heading up to the docking ports now".
"I just had a communication from Home Plate Actual", Hunter reported, "requesting the very same thing regarding the ports. Apart from that, the essential systems here on the bridge are coming online. Also, Actual directs that the bodies are not to be touched pending honorable burial", he reminded Souster.
"Understood", Souster acknowledged. He was just as reverent towards combat casualties as Cain and he understood the sentiments of the military toward honorable burials. The dead crewmen of the Battlestar CEREBRUS would receive all military honors.
"The ETA for Home Plate is a little under two hours, so the sooner you can report status of the docking ports, the better", Hunter added.
"We'll let you know", Souster answered, "Nebula-five out".
Hunter then opened up the communication link to Sims, who was still looking after the AVENGER.
"Coffin", Hunter called, "You still there?"
"Yeah, Hondo", Sims replied, "Still looking after the old girl and getting bored stiff while you guys are having all the fun".
"Well, it won't be for much longer", Hondo said, "Home Plate will be here in a couple of hours and once docked, then you'll be able to stand down from duty. Just hang in there and get ready to take us off if we need to make a quick getaway before then".
"Will do, Hondo. Have fun yourself", Sims acknowledged.
"Right", Hunter concluded. He then switched channels to speak with the engineers monitoring the auxiliary energizer in Engineering.
"Ensign Michaels, how's it going with the energizer?" he asked. Engle – who had overheard – came up to where Hunter was to listen in.
"The auxiliary energizer is stable, but we're noticing that the peak output limit will shortly be achieved", Michaels reported, "It might be a good idea to secure from any further powering-up until the PEGASUS can dock and supply some more power".
Engle tapped Hunter on the shoulder. Hunter nodded and gave the communicator to him.
"Michaels, this is Engle. Keep tabs on the energizer and let me know when the energizer hits ninety-five percent capacity".
"Yes, Sir", Michaels acknowledged.
"Very well, Engle out". He passed the communicator back to Hunter.
Engle gestured to Hunter to follow him. Hunter gestured for one of the techs to man the communications console, then followed Engle behind the large combat screen and to a conference room that was behind the bridge.
Engle sat down at one of the chairs in the conference room and Hunter followed suit.
"Well, the CEREBRUS can certainly provide the PEGASUS with salvageable materials, not to mention the extra vipers and javelins", Engle said, "but I just can't see any way to get the primary energizers online without a dry-dock, and without them, we cannot power up the engines. The CEREBRUS will not be able to be battle-worthy if she can't move".
"Well, not from us certainly, but if we can let the GOLIATH - or those others we're trying to communicate with – know about her, then perhaps they can piggy-back the CEREBRUS to where they could do to her what we can't", Hunter replied.
"Well, that's a possibility", Engle replied, "It's just that I would have loved to have been able to get her working again myself".
"Well, I know that engineers are supposed to be miracle workers, but even though this one may be beyond one of your miracles, you've still done wonders with her regardless", Hunter pointed out.
Captain Vandergrift repeated that observation back on board the PEGASUS. The initial survey reports, plus the status of the restored systems, were relayed to him. He let loose a low whistle from his seat at the conference table in the briefing room behind CIC.
"They sure don't make them like that any more, do they", Vandergrift rhetorically asked, "little offensive armament, but her hide was still tough enough to sustain all of those hits and be able to be brought back to life forty years after the fact".
"Not fully back to life, I'm afraid – at least until we dock", Tolen reminded him. Sanders nodded. Annan had relieved him so that he could attend this meeting. Cain was present as well.
"Well, I suppose I did put it rather simply, given that the two energizers are a twisted pile of scrap and will need nothing short of a lengthy dry-docking to fully restore her to battle readiness", Vandergrift ruefully replied.
"Well, perhaps there can be a way for the GOLIATH and her group of survivors to get her repaired sometime in the future", Sanders pointed out, "but in the short term, her fighters, scouts, plus her ordinance supply will definitely be of use to us".
"Seems like it's a form of cannibalization though", Vandergrift commented.
"I don't think that Commander Tyler would begrudge us taking what we can use from the CEREBRUS, given the circumstances we are in", Cain pointed out.
"No, Commander. He sure wouldn't", Vandergrift agreed, "and it looks like given the total lack of any other company in this area of space, we will not be under any time constraints to fully take advantage of her".
"True", Cain replied, "but the sooner we can finish with her, then continue looking for the GALACTICA, the better".
Just then, a technician entered the room.
"Sorry to interrupt, Commander", the technician said, "but we have an incoming transmission from the CEREBRUS. I've piped it through to the local communicator".
"Thank you", Can acknowledged, "Carry on". Nodding, the technician left.
Cain pushed a switch on the chair arm of his seat.
"This is Actual", Cain said, "Go ahead".
"This is Hunter", the voice on the other end replied, "I'm reporting that the marine recon teams have just certified that the marine recon teams have brought the primary and secondary docking ports on line. They are now ready to receive Home Plate".
"Excellent, Hondo", Cain replied. That meant that utilizing both ports would enable a quicker transfer between the two warships.
"Coffin is getting bored riding shotgun on the AVENGER and politely asks that you expedite the rendezvous", Hunter added.
"We'll try to accommodate him, Hondo", Cain said with a laugh, "Actual out".
Turning to Tolen, he said, "It's time to deploy a fighter patrol to cover our rendezvous. Give both CAG's the word. We've got a Battlestar to meet".
With that, the assembled officers stood and left the room. There was some work to do to make the rendezvous and docking a reality, and the moment was close at hand…