CHAPTER ELEVEN
"Boy, this equipment belongs in a museum", Ensign Jorgen Layette remarked as he looked over the console.
"But it's operational. You can use it, right?" Tricia asked. Layette cautiously nodded.
Layette was one of the Beta Watch shooters for Silver Spar Wing. He was with Lieutenant Cain in one of the CEREBRUS' launch tube control stations looking over the equipment.
"I've got other techs fueling up the Mark II's in this part of the bay, and I've got enough pilots to man them so I'd like to get them out of here as soon as they are all tanked up", Tricia said.
"Judging from these panel displays, Lieutenant", Layette replied, "it all looks like it is okay, but these controls have not been used since the last war. Without running a through diagnostic of both the equipment, and the launch tube catapult system, there is a chance that there could be problems".
"There are risks in anything we do these days, Ensign", Tricia pointed out, "so I will be the first pilot to launch".
"In Clipper's ship, I presume, Sheba?" a new voice said. Tricia turned to see that Lieutenant Andrew Macklin had entered the station.
"Hey, Shooter", Tricia replied, "what brings you over here? I thought that Spar Two was the ready-alert squadron".
"The XO asked me to hand the duty off to Zigzag", Macklin replied, referring to his squadron deputy, Lieutenant JG George 'Zigzag' Bourne, "and to get over here to check over the launch tubes".
Tricia nodded. Macklin – before he became a viper pilot – used to be a launch tube officer, hence his call sign of 'Shooter'.
"You know, CAG isn't going to like you taking risks", Macklin commented, "so shouldn't you have another pilot make the first launch?"
"As CAG is on the PEGASUS, I'm Silver Spar Group Leader here on the CEREBRUS", Tricia replied, "So I made a command decision to take the first Viper II out".
"Point taken, Sheba", Macklin acknowledged. Just then, Tricia's commlink beeped.
"This is Sheba", Tricia said into the commlink.
"This is Rogue", the voice said on the other line. LTJG Matt 'Rogue' Higgins was one of the ready pilots in the launch bay.
"What's up, Rogue?" Tricia asked.
"The first flight of Viper II's are fueled and we're ready to get them launched", Rogue replied.
Tricia looked at Macklin. Macklin turned to Layette, who nodded.
"I'll take personal charge of getting these first birds launched", Macklin said to Tricia, so you'd better get over to Clipper's ship. Time to see just how well this equipment works".
"On my way", Tricia said, leaving the station.
"I still think that we should run further diagnostic tests of this launch gear, Lieutenant", Layette said to Macklin.
"The CEREBRUS' diagnostic equipment is fried, Ensign", Macklin replied, "and the gear on the PEGASUS is not compatible with this older gear, so the visual inspections made earlier will have to do".
Layette nodded. It was unavoidable. He hoped that the equipment was still in working order. Battlestar hardware was tough and durable, but forty years of dormancy after a major battle made things rather less than guaranteed. Firing the catapult earlier (without a viper attached) was successful, but until an actual viper was catapulted off the CEREBRUS…
Tricia got on board the Viper II that she wanted to fly off the CEREBRUS – 'Clipper' Clark's. As she strapped in and closed the canopy, she gave a thumbs-up signal to the deck crew, who started to push the viper over to Macklin's launch tube.
"Everything coming online", Tricia reported as she activated the onboard systems of the viper II.
"Looks good from our end", Macklin reported over the intercom, "You're clear for entry into the tube".
The ground crew maneuvered the viper into the launch tube. Unlike the launch tubes on the PEGASUS, there was no airlock door. The exit ports of each launch tube had a similar atmospheric force field to the large ones on the CEREBRUS' landing bay entry ports.
"She's in place", Layette reported to Macklin. Macklin nodded.
"Deck crew stand clear", Layette ordered over his commlink. The deck crew stood away from the viper.
"Shooter to Sheba", Macklin's voice came over the intercom; "you're clear to engage your hook".
The hook was an attachment in the nose gear of the viper. That was where the viper attached to the catapult. As Tricia activated the control that lowered the hook, a receiver catch raised itself out of the launch tube rail, latching onto the hook.
"We're latched", Layette said.
"Shooter to Sheba", Macklin communicated, "you're latched in. Fire up your engines".
"Understood, Shooter", Tricia acknowledged. She thumbed the ignition switch for all three of the viper's engines. They smoothly came on line.
"Shooter, this is Sheba", she reported, "All engines are ticking over a-ok".
The deck crews had put on ear protectors to screen out the rising noise of the viper's engines. Macklin then keyed another commlink for the bridge.
"This is shooter in Port Tube One. Silver Spar Group Leader ready for launch", he said.
"This is Engle", the voice on the other end acknowledged, "you are clear to launch at your own discretion".
Macklin switched his commlink over to Tricia's frequency.
"Are your systems nominal, Silver Spar Group Leader?" Macklin asked formally.
Tricia checked over her controls and saw nothing indicating any problems. She gave a thumbs-up.
"Shooter to Sheba, Go to full power. Commencing launch", Macklin reported.
Tricia gave a salute to Macklin, indicating acknowledgement. As Sheba opened up the throttle, Macklin thumbed down on the LAUNCH control.
Tricia was abruptly slammed back in her seat as the catapult hurled her viper down the launch tube at an ever-accelerating speed. She let out a scream of joy as the viper was successfully flung into space.
"We're out and about, Shooter!" Tricia exclaimed as she took control of the viper's controls.
Macklin turned to Layette, saying, "looks like we're in business. Let's get these others going".
As the next viper was being maneuvered into the launch tube, Tricia ran the viper II through some quick maneuvers. The fighter was responding beautifully. Not bad for being grounded the last forty years, she thought. Tricia keyed her communicator.
"Silver Spar Group Leader in viper Nebula-Three-Zero-Zero-Zero-One-Aurora to Home Plate Core Command", she communicated.
On the PEGASUS, the Core Command duty officer's eyes widened at the registration numbers that Tricia had communicated.
"That's Clipper Clark's ship", she breathed, before activating her communicator to reply.
"Go ahead, Silver Spar Group Leader", the duty officer formally responded.
"This is the first CEREBRUS viper launched, and I'm ready to bring her in", Tricia announced.
"You're clear to land in Port Bay, Sheba", the officer responded, "and be careful; that's a piece of aviation history you have there".
"Don't I know it, Core Control", Tricia replied, "I'm coming in".
Tricia deftly brought the viper II into the port side landing bay of the PEGASUS and smoothly landed it on the lit landing platform. As she powered down the engines, the platform lowered itself into the hangar bay beneath. As the ceiling panel slid into place overhead, the hangar bay started to pressurize.
After a minute, the flashing yellow indicator lights in the bay turned to a solid green, indicating re-pressurization of the bay was complete. Tricia took off her helmet, undid her straps, then slid open the canopy.
"Hey, Sheba", Syke said as he walked into the bay, "I see you couldn't resist flying that particular viper".
"Well, CAG", Tricia replied as she climbed down the ladder which a crewman had just placed there, "I had the opportunity, so I took it. For a forty-year old bucket, she handles like a dream!"
"Well, when we start training the new batch of volunteers for fighter duty, these Mark II's will be excellent ships for them to transition into", Syke commented as he walked around the viper, looking over it carefully.
"The others in the CEREBRUS are in good shape as well, Gene", Tricia said as she walked with him.
"I know", Syke replied, "Rogue reported that the first section of ferry pilots has all launched safely from the CEREBRUS and they are all heading in".
"And our viper VII's still there?" Tricia asked.
"They're getting ferried back as well. Despite our fortuitous discovery, we do need to get them back on board so we can quickly get them back on patrol", Syke replied.
"Our other patrols are still on the set rotation, aren't they, Gene?" Tricia inquired.
"Yep, but the sooner those other vipers are on board, the less chance of our rotation being disrupted", Syke replied.
One of the patrols that Syke had mentioned was running a patrol pattern just beyond the rear sensors of the PEGASUS. This was the patrol responsible for covering the rear flank. Ensign 'Lurker' Anderson was commanding the two-viper patrol. Anderson, along with his wingman - Midshipman 'Teaser' Trelawney – was near the extreme end of their patrol run.
"Still nothing but a lot of nothing, Lurker", Trelawney communicated (using the secure laser communications).
"Which is a frakking lot better than a lot of tin-heads", Anderson replied. It had been a while since Anderson had gotten his wings as the first of Lieutenant Higgins' students, but he still remembered the death of his wingman Midshipman Dyer vividly. For Anderson, it was a hell of a way to be introduced to combat.
"Are we going to head back now?" Trelawney inquired.
"Well, since our sensors still show clear, and as we're at the end of our patrol run, I don't see any reason to delay, Teaser", Anderson responded, "let's punch in the co-ordinates for the return leg".
"Just a minute, Lurker", Trelawney suddenly said, "My sensors show indications of an FTL-entry. It's at the extreme range of my sensors.
"I see it too", Anderson replied, "Belay my last. We'd better take a look-see".
Both vipers changed their heading and turned to where their sensors had indicated the FTL-entry. Anderson and Trelawney both armed their vipers' weapons.
"Should we signal Home Plate?" Trelawney asked.
"Negative, Teaser", Anderson replied, "we would have to use our long-range wireless, and if that FTL-entry turns out to be a Cylon base star, they'll detect it".
"Gotcha", Trelawney acknowledged.
"Activate passive sensors and your warbook", Anderson ordered, "lets see if we can get an ident".
"Already doing it, Lurker", Trelawney replied.
The passive sensors would not give out any obvious sign of their presence, but it did depend on the contact doing so themselves. If they were also running silent, then it would end up being visual contact instead.
"Lurker", Trelawney said suddenly, "I'm getting an IFF signal. Warbook indicates Colonial military ID – positive identification".
"Could it be the GOLIATH, or the WARLOCK?" Anderson inquired, "or perhaps DRAGON'S LAIR?"
"Their IFF codes are in our warbook files, and their codes are not the ones I'm receiving".
Just then, a communication came over the short-range UNICOM wireless frequency.
"Unidentified craft, we have you on LIDAR. Send over your IFF codes or we will determine you hostile", the communication said.
"Stand by to run, Teaser", Anderson said as he punched his IFF TRANSMIT switch.
Just then, two Viper mark VII's buzzed them. Anderson saw that they did not bear the insignia of either Silver Spar or Black Knight Wing.
As the two new vipers moved into their 'six' position (directly behind them), the voice that had challenged them spoke once again over the short-range UNICOM.
"Attention viper pilots, your IFF identifies you as colonial military", the voice said, "retard your speed and continue on your current course".
"Who is this?" Anderson communicated back.
"Just continue on your course, pilot", the voice tersely ordered.
"Look, Lurker!" Trelawney said, "That must be their base ship ahead".
"I don't believe it!" Anderson exclaimed as his warbook made a positive ID of the warship ahead: COLONIAL GUARDIAN CLASS CRUISER – CONFIRMATION.
Just then, a new voice came over the UNICOM.
"This is Core Command, Cruiser TANTALUS to unknown viper patrol", the voice said, "You are directed to land. Proceed immediately to our landing bay".
"This is Honcho, TANTALUS", Anderson communicated, using the generic term for patrol leader", before I comply I need some positive identification. Put me on to your Actual".
"This is Actual", a new voice said over the wireless, "go ahead, Honcho".
"Please give me your name, Sir", Anderson asked, "for voice print ID check".
"Colonel David Wright", was the reply.
On the readout screen, on Anderson's control panel, the lettering VOICE PRINT ID CONFIRMED flashed over the screen. Anderson nodded.
"Confirmed, Actual", Anderson responded, "Sorry for the request, but we can't be too careful these days".
"Where do you hail from, Honcho?" Colonel Wright inquired.
"I prefer to talk face-to-face about that, Actual", Anderson answered, "this is a remote sector, but we still have to be careful".
On the main screen in TANTALUS CIC, Colonel Wright, and his Executive Officer, Major Samuel Gale, watched the two vipers as they approached the TANTALUS' landing bay.
"Get a security team down to the bay", Wright ordered Gale, "Once cleared, get them up to CIC. I want to speak to those pilots".