CHAPTER TWELVE
As Anderson and Trelawney made their final approach into the landing bay of the TANTALUS, they noticed that the heavy cruiser had sustained considerable battle damage.
"Looks like she's just been in a fight", Anderson communicated to Trelawney.
"And she just barely got out of it too, by the look of things, Lurker", Trelawney communicated back. Anderson nodded. TANTALUS had really absorbed some heavy hits.
"You are clear for final approach, Honcho", TANTALUS Core Command communicated, bringing Anderson's attention back to the task at hand.
"Understood, Core Command", Anderson acknowledged. He activated the auto-land program, locking the viper's flight controls onto the TANTALUS' landing bay beam.
Under automatic control, the two PEGASUS vipers entered the heavy cruiser's entry port and alit on the landing bay deck, with the two escorting TANTALUS vipers following close in. As the four vipers powered down their systems, the clamshell doors of the massive entry port into the landing bay closed behind them.
Anderson and Trelawney saw the flashing yellow lights around them signifying that the bay was being re-pressurized. After a minute of so, the flashing yellow lights were replaced with a solid green lights.
"Re-pressurization Complete", a voice announced – unnecessarily – over the PA system.
"Looks like their recent battle didn't compromise the integrity of the bay, Lurker", Trelawney commented.
"Yeah, but there's still some damage evident judging from some of the debris on the deck, Teaser", Anderson observed.
From their vipers, Anderson and Trelawney watched crewmen stream out into the bay. Some headed toward the vipers while others – evidentially damage control teams – went to other portions of the landing bay to tend to battle damage..
"Honcho", TANTALUS Core Command communicated, "you and your wingman are cleared for egress".
Anderson and Trelawney opened their vipers' canopies, and then waited as crewmen pushed up egress ladders to their fighters. The sharp smell of burning was still in the air, but the crewmen in the landing bay seemed to have things under control.
Anderson and Trelawney climbed down the ladders to face a 'welcome party' of several armed marines and an officer – who bore the rank insignia of captain. Anderson saluted the captain.
"Permission to come aboard, Sir?" Anderson formally asked as Trelawney came up next to him and added his salute.
"Permission granted, Sir", the captain replied, returning Anderson's and Trelawney's salutes.
"My name is Ensign Miles Anderson, call-sign Lurker, Patrol Leader, Silver Spar Squadron Two", Anderson introduced himself.
"Midshipman Daniel Trelawney, call-sign Teaser", Trelawney added a second later.
"Captain Hugh Fawcett, TANTALUS Comms", the officer responded.
Anderson nodded. This officer was Glen Sanders' counterpart.
"I've been directed to escort you and your wingman up to CIC", Fawcett stated, "Colonel Wright is expecting both of you".
"I just bet he is", Anderson replied wryly as he followed Fawcett across the flight deck towards one of the passageways. Trelawney fell in behind Anderson, while the marine guards brought up the rear.
"I see that you've had a run-in with some bad guys", Anderson commented as he saw various damage control parties at work while they walked.
"And I see that you two are from the PEGASUS", Fawcett replied, gesturing to the PEGASUS patch on Anderson's flight suit.
"Yes, Captain", Anderson acknowledged.
"Admiral Helena Cain's command?" Fawcett asked.
"No, Captain. Commander Garris Cain commands the PEGASUS", Anderson answered.
Nodding, Fawcett continued to lead the small contingent deeper into the cruiser. As they walked, other pilots walked on up to see the newcomers. Fawcett raised his hand in a gesture to the pilots not to waylay the newcomers.
"Just be patient, gentlemen", Fawcett said, "you'll have a chance to chat with them later".
A few minutes later, Fawcett led Anderson and Trelawney onto the CIC of the TANTALUS.
"Colonel", Fawcett said formally, "Ensign Anderson and Midshipman Trelawney of the Battlestar PEGASUS. Under the command of Commander Garris Cain".
Colonel Wright walked up to the two officers and offered them his hand. Anderson and Trelawney shook it.
"Welcome aboard, Gentlemen", Wright said, "As you can see, we had a slight run-in with some tin-heads earlier, and we FTL-ed here to the Erenkoy sector in order to escape destruction. I certainly didn't expect to encounter other colonials out here, though why this sector was added as an escape point by out task force commander may indicate he knows something we didn't".
"Task Force, sir?" Trelawney asked.
"Yes, we are part of a combined military and civilian task force centered on the Battlestar HYPERION", Wright supplied.
"Other survivors!" Anderson exclaimed, "That is excellent news, and your presence here isn't exactly unwelcome either".
"I'm sure", Wright said with a smile, "So anyway, where precisely is your patrol from?"
"My wingman and I are part of Silver Spar Wing, based on the PEGASUS, sir", Anderson said.
"Yes, I gathered that", Wright answered, "and it is the one under Garris Cain, judging from the registry number on your patch".
"What is the significance of the commander's first name?" Anderson asked, "Captain Fawcett mentioned something about Commander Cain's sister".
"We recently found out that the replacement battlestar for your PEGASUS – the MERC-class PEGASUS under the command of Admiral Helena Cain - had also survived the war", Wright replied.
"Hopefully giving the tin-heads a good share of grief as well", Trelawney opined.
"We don't know where that battlestar is at the present time. Anyway", Wright said, "as you may have noticed, the TANTALUS has suffered a fair amount of damage. We are going to need to rendezvous with the PEGASUS to help effect repairs".
"This must be your lucky day, Colonel", Anderson said.
"Why is that?" Wright asked.
"We came across an adrift battlestar in this sector from the last war", Anderson replied, "The PEGASUS is currently engaged in salvage operations".
"What battlestar?" Wright asked, intrigued.
"One of the original COLUMBIA's. The CEREBRUS", Wright replied.
"Commander Tyler's CEREBRUS?" Wright asked, wide-eyed at the news.
"Yes, Colonel", Anderson confirmed.
"Well then, let's get going. I'd like to make my acquaintance of Commander Cain", Wright said, "Please go to the DRADIS console and point us in the right direction, please".
"Yes, Sir", Anderson said.
Back on board the PEGASUS, Sanders was at Core Command checking on a report of an overdue patrol.
"Lieutenant Annan", Sanders asked, "How long overdue is Ensign Anderson's patrol?"
"He should have been picked up on our sensors ten minutes ago, Major", Annan replied.
"How's their fuel reserve?" Sanders asked next.
"They are still good for another hour of extended patrol, but this type of delay is not typical for Ensign Anderson", Annan pointed out.
"Any communications?" Sanders asked. Annan shook his head.
"We'll give them another ten minutes, then have Black Knight's ready-alert vipers dispatched from the starboard bay", Sanders decided.
Just then, the officer manning the DRADIS console spoke up.
"Major", the officer said, "DRADIS is picking up a contact to our rear. It's closing".
"The patrol?" Sanders asked.
"Contact is much larger in size", the officer said.
"Go to Condition One!" Sanders ordered, "and let the CEREBRUS know".
Immediately, the alert sirens sounded off.
Over on the CEREBRUS, the crewman manning the communications console interrupted Engle's work on one of the consoles.
"Captain!" the crewman reported, "the PEGASUS has gone to Condition One Alert!"
"Frakk!" Engle muttered. He keyed the PA.
"All personnel!" Engle communicated to the personnel on the CEREBRUS, "Condition One is in effect! Return to the PEGASUS and man your battle stations".
As the various work crews on the CEREBRUS dropped their tools and headed toward the airlock, Cain came up on the bridge.
"Condition One?" he asked.
"The PEGASUS just announced it, Commander", Engle replied. Cain went over to the communications console and called up the PEGASUS.
"Cain here, what's with the alert?" he demanded.
"This is Sanders, Sir", Sanders replied, "Sensors show something approaching our position. In the same direction as an overdue patrol".
"Not good", Cain replied. With the PEGASUS docked with the CEREBRUS, a quick getaway was not an immediate option.
"Get our fighters launched", Cain ordered.
Just then, Lieutenant Annan spoke up.
"Major", Annan said, "We're getting an IFF code from the contact – confirmed Colonial!"
A second later, the communications officer reported, "Major, we have an incoming transmission coming in over Fleet commline Alpha".
The Alpha commline was a secure-TAC frequency protocol between warships. Cain and Sanders realized the significance of such transmissions.
"I heard that", Cain said, "Continue condition one, but standby on fighter launch and get an ident on this contact!"
Sanders turned to the communications officer.
"Acknowledge the transmission, and put it up on the main screen", he ordered.
Sanders and the other CIC officers looked at the screen as the image of a colonial officer appeared on the screen.
"Receiving your transmission", Sanders said, "Identify please".
"This is Colonel David Wright of the Colonial cruiser TANTALUS, HCR-15", the officer on the screen replied, "IFF confirmation code being transmitted".
Sanders turned to the DRADIS console where – on the tactical map – the lettering by the incoming contact changed from COLONIAL-UNK to HCR-15 CONFIRMATION.
Turning to his commlink to Cain, Sanders said into it, "Commander, DRADIS confirms IFF. It is the heavy cruiser TANTALUS. GUARDIAN Class".
"Secure from Condition One, go to condition Two", Cain ordered, "I'm staying on the CEREBRUS' bridge. Launch the ready patrol vipers to get a visual verify".
Turning to Core Command, Sanders said, "Launch ready-alert".
Cain said next," Patch the CEREBRUS communications console through to the TANTALUS. I want to speak to their Actual".
"Patching you through now, Commander", Sanders said.
At that moment, Colonel Tolen came onto CIC. He turned to Sanders.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"We've got a colonial warship in our vicinity, Colonel", Sanders said, gesturing to the DRADIS console.
"The TANTALUS?" Tolen asked, "That's a heavy cruiser".
"IFF and DRADIS confirms, and the ready-alert vipers have been launched to get a visual verification, colonel", Sanders reported.
"Pull up the warbook on the TANTALUS and her last mission specs", Tolen ordered as he watched the contact slowly draw closer to their position.
Over of the CEREBRUS, Cain had just gotten a visual of the transmission relayed from the PEGASUS.
"Commander Cain, I presume", Colonel Wright said.
"And you are?" Cain asked.
"Colonel Wright, Officer Commanding the heavy cruiser TANTALUS", Wright replied, "We have just FTL-jumped from a battle with some tin-heads and our ship has suffered moderate damage. I formally request permission to make a rendezvous".
"We've dispatched our ready-alert viper patrol to verify visually your identity, Colonel", Cain replied, "So stand by".
"Speaking of patrol, Commander", Wright responded, "We've got a couple of your people here with me here in CIC".
The image on the screen panned out to show Anderson and Trelawney standing beside Wright.
"Sorry about being late on our patrol run, Commander", Anderson said, "but as you can see, we've gotten another ride".
"So I gather, Ensign", Cain said with a smile. The smile faded when Anderson spoke next.
"The TANTALUS had FTL-jumped out from a large Cylon attack, Commander", Anderson said, "She has sustained a lot a damage and a number of casualties".
"I'll alert Life Station on the PEGASUS", Cain said.
As Cain was speaking with Wright and Anderson, the ready-alert patrol had quickly sped over to where the TANTALUS was creeping. The patrol leader punched his direct comm.-line with the PEGASUS Core Command.
"This is Honcho", the patrol leader reported, "We confirm that it is the TANTALUS, but she has sustained some heavy damage".
"Roger that", Annan replied, "Get back to Home Plate".
On board the TANTALUS, Wright, Anderson, and the others saw the ready-alert vipers do their once-over, and then head back the way they came.
"Commander", Wright reported to Cain, "we have just been visually verified by another patrol from your ship. I hope that you're satisfied now?"
"I think that is a given, Colonel", Cain replied, "Has Ensign Anderson given you a heads-up on our current disposition?"
"Yes, Commander", Wright replied, "finding the CEREBRUS is excellent news".
"Well, since our primary docking port is attacked to the top-side docking port of the CEREBRUS, you will need to use the bottom-side docking port of the CEREBRUS for you to dock. I assume that the TANTALUS' top-side docking port is okay".
Wright turned to his XO, who nodded.
"The port is okay", Wright reported.
"I'll get Life Station personnel over to CEREBRUS bottom-side right now. Have your people get ready for us to receive your casualties", Cain ordered.
"Will do, Commander", Wright replied.
"Also, get a comprehensive damage report ready for transmission to the PEGASUS", Cain added, "Looks like we will all be busy fixing things for a while".
"Understood, Commander", Wright acknowledged, "We're coming in".
Cain activated his commlink to PEGASUS CIC.
"Comms", Cain said, "Get Life Station personnel over to the bottom-side docking port on the CEREBRUS. There are casualties coming in. Secure from Condition Two and get ready to receive TANTALUS' damage report".
"Understood, Commander", Sanders acknowledged.
As Core Command issued the order to secure from Condition Two, Tolen spoke to Sanders.
"Two wounded birds for us to tend to", he commented, "Makes you wish we had a dry-dock, doesn't it?"