The heavily damaged Cylon raider was doing an automatic damage control routine, activating emergency power cells. The damage control told the automaton brain that weaponry was off-line and controls were only partially effective, but the FTL-drive was still able to function. The brain made a decision. It fed in the co-ordinates of it's home base star.
"Frakk!", Sims exclaimed, "the sensors just detected that second raider had made an FTL-jump. It was only damaged", he concluded unnecessarily.
"We'd better hope that help arrives before the bad guys do, Coffin", Hunter said, "I've got the auto-destruct system ready to activate if worst comes to worst". Sims nodded. Better that than capture.
On the base star where the patrol had been launched from, Number Seven was wondering what was taking so long for them to report. He was just about to order a second flight of raiders launched when a centurion reported, "Single raider from dispatched patrol returning. It has been heavily damaged".
"Get a combat report from the raider right now!", Number Seven ordered while simultaneously bringing the base star to the Cylon equivalent of Condition One. The report started coming to him over one of the video display screens his model type needed to use.
PATROL LEADER DESTROYED. SELF SEVERELY DAMAGED AFTER BEING HIT BY MISSILES LAUNCHED FROM HUMAN RAPTOR-CLASS RECONNAISSANCE VESSEL. RAPTOR WAS IN THE COMPANY OF DAMAGED PEREGRINE-CLASS GUNSHIP. SITUATION INDICATES RESCUE MISSION UNDERWAY.
"Centurion, set a course for those co-ordinates. And have all of our raiders ready to deploy when we do so", Number Seven ordered.
"By your Command", the Centurion replied. Number Seven wanted that Peregrine. It must be the one that was giving the other occupation forces all the recent trouble...
Back in the Promar Sector, Lt. Higgins was collecting data from the other probes that had returned. While the ones from Caprica, Borallis, and Picon were of interest, the one from Cimtar had information worth ten times it's weight in tylium!
PROBE REPORTS ONE DERELICT BATTLESTAR PROCEEDING OUT OF THE CIMTAR RANGE WITH ASSISTANCE OF CUTTER-CLASS VESSEL. IDENTITY OF BATTLESTAR EVALUATED AS THAT OF ITHACA, the probe reported.
Frakk!, Higgins thought. What a time for the PEGASUS to be away. He hoped that the battlestar would return soon. This was definitely something worth reporting.
The PEGASUS exited it's FTL-jump - with Dutch's raptor following a few seconds later - in the vicinity of the Peregrine. Both Hunter and Sims slapped each other on the back as they saw the impressive leviathan of the battlestar close in. They could also see that both landing bays were extending outwards. They were going to launch fighters!
"Launch bays extended and locked into position", Core Command reported to Sanders.
Sanders spoke into his headset to the launch tube officers in both bays: "Shooters, Launch all fighters. I repeat: launch all fighters".
Lance Voight was the first pilot of Black Knight Wing to be catapulted out of the PEGASUS. The other thirty-eight combat-ready fighters of his wing followed in quick succession. Thanks to Dutch giving him the co-ordinates of the earlier emergence of the Cylon patrol, the fighters started forming it's defensive cordon.
From the other landing bay, Silver Spar Wing was being launched and formed into a defensive cordon around the PEGASUS. While Syke covered topside, Tricia covered the fighter screen underside.
Hunter was using what engine power he had left to maneuver the Peregrine towards the port-side landing bay. The LCO had given him clearance for a combat landing and two vipers from Spar One Squadron were flying to cover the Peregrine on it's approach. He did caution Hunter not to divulge the name of the battlestar over the wireless.
"Understood, Home Plate. We're on our way in", Hunter replied, using the code-name that Dutch had mentioned earlier. Slowly, the Peregrine moved towards the battlestar. While this was happening, Sims transmitted the co-ordinates of the location where the raiders had made their FTL-exit to Core Command. It was a good bet that the expected Cylon reinforcements would arrive in the vicinity of that point in space as well.
Black Knight Wing was now in position to cover any attempt by Cylon Raiders to avoid the expected missile and weapons barrage . All of Voight's pilots were wearing the PACIFICA patch on their flight suits and were given clearance to use their squadron designations in any open communications. With the lights that illuminates the battlestar's nameplates switched off, it would take a very close look by anyone to get a positive identification.
"We've got incoming, Knight Leader!", one of the pilots in Knight Two communicated suddenly. Voight saw it: It was the appearance of a base star approximately ten clicks away.
On the PEGASUS, Cain smiled grimly. The base star had appeared right at the same location as the fighter probe earlier - the co-ordinates courtesy of the Peregrine crew. He barked out to the officer manning Fire Control - who had already ranged his heavy weapons on those co-ordinates, "Open Fire. All topside and bay batteries, Full suppression and missile barrage!" He personally would have preferred firing the primary rail guns, but that diverted a lot of power and unless you were absolutely sure as to the target's position, it was not a risk he felt that he could take. Still, several heavy missiles were now streaking towards the inviting target that the base star now provided...
Number Seven finally understood the human emotion of surprise when he saw a battlestar and over seventy fighters deployed and waiting for combat. Before he could tell the command centurion, "Have our batteries open fire of the battlestar and launch all raiders", the first missiles and bullets (the latter fired from the guns on the PEGASUS' landing bays) impacted on the base star - all in vital spots - before any counter battery fire could be brought to bear.
The base star lurched with the detonations from the impact of the first salvo of missiles- which took out a number of missile batteries and damaged one of the hangar decks destroying several raiders getting ready to launch, but it was now starting to shoot back with their intact artillery. Counter battery fire from the PEGASUS was so far succeeding in stopping the reduced Cylon barrage. However, the first echelon of Cylon raiders had already launched and were now attempting to fly a flanking maneuver to avoid the missile barrage, but Voight's wing moved in to intercept. The battle was now under way in earnest.
After checking the readouts from Damage Control, Number Seven turned to the centurion responsible for communications, "Signal our courier drone to relay a message to the Command Base Star that we are engaging a human battlestar and are taking heavy damage. Estimated fighter strength of six squadrons of Viper Mark VII's. The shutdown beam had no effect on any of them!", he ordered as the base star took another hit from a heavy missile. Sparks flew out of several consoles on the command deck from this impact.
As the message was transmitted to a message drone just outside the battle zone, the communications technicians picked up the coded message. It was immediately recorded, but as the PEGASUS was in the midst of a battle, it was not put into the decoder immediately. The drone itself immediately FTL-ed to Caprica - some twenty-five light minutes away.
On the command base star over Caprica, Number One received the couriered message: BASE STAR TWO-NINER ENGAGING COLONIAL WARSHIP OF BATTLESTAR TYPE AT CO-ORDINATES NINER-NINER-FOUR MARK ZERO-FIVE-EIGHT. HAVE SUFFERED HEAVY DAMAGE. ENEMY VIPER STRENGTH ESTIMATED AT SEVENTY-PLUS. REINFORCEMENTS URGENTLY REQUESTED.
Number One though had another problem at this time: another battlestar was heading towards her base star on an intercept course, after first firing their rail gun at long range, with the result of substantial damage, and that they had also lost contact with the base star over Cancer. She issued orders to have several drones courier immediate orders for three base stars from the nearby colonies to converge on her position and the remaining three to support Number Seven. Somehow, the humans had decided to strike in a fully co-ordinated attack with substantial assets!
Number One ordered the courier probe to return to the scene of the battle to inform Number Seven of the situation. Having done that, she returned to the situation at hand.
Back near the PEGASUS, Voight's squadrons were tearing into the incoming Cylon raiders. The damage inflicted upon their base star had forced several raiders to fly in a defense pattern around it, helping to destroy incoming fire from the PEGASUS. That made the odds a little better. Several Cylon fighters were already destroyed, though several of his fighters had been hit.
Number Seven had seen that the Peregrine was slowly closing in on the battlestar. Well then, he thought. If he couldn't have it , then no-one would. He directed one of the Cylon attack echelons to go all-out to destroy the Peregrine - at all costs!
The vipers of Black Knight wing were doing an effective job of keeping the raiders away from the PEGASUS, and their own losses were very light. This was definite payback for the PACIFICA, he thought.
Suddenly, Lieutenant Tate signaled, "Pointer, ten raiders have broken through the perimeter. They are on an intercept course for Home Plate and the Peregrine".
"Understood, Citgo", Voight replied. He switched to another frequency.
"You've got incoming hostiles. Two of those are converging on the Peregrine. Underside Leader", he said, referring to Tricia Cain, "do you acknowledge?"
"Understood, Pointer", Tricia replied, "We've got them covered".
As Cain had directed all of the battlestar's artillery to continue pounding the base star, the fighters would have to do the intercept. Tricia saw the two raiders Voight reported boring in on the Peregrine, which was now very close to landing on the port hangar bay deck. The other eight were keeping the rest of the Underside contingent busy.
"Ratchet", Tricia called to the closest viper able to intercept, "Those two hostiles are all yours, The Peregrine is depending on you".
"Understood, Sheba", Lt. Calley replied. She quickly drew a bead on the first raider and fired a short burst. The raider exploded. Calley homed in on the other raider - which this time was flying somewhat evasive - but was still closing with the Peregrine at high speed.
"Frakk!", she muttered, "I can't get a bead on this one".
"I've got an idea, pilot", a new voice called. It was Hunter. He saw the incoming fighter on his scanner screen. It was closing hard, and he realized that this one was determined to destroy his ship, before he could alight on the PEGASUS (he was close enough to read the darkened plate during the initial approach). He ordered Sims to pull the same stunt as what had saved them at the beginning of the war, but this time, to dump the lot.
Halley was sure that she had failed. All of the PEGASUS's batteries were fully committed to the base star and no other fighters were close enough. Just then, she saw the Peregrine jettisoning all of its remaining drop tanks. The Cylon fighter fired a burst at the Peregrine, but the incoming rounds hit the drop tanks instead. A massive fireball lit up the space where the tank was hit. The Cylon thought at first that it had destroyed the Peregrine and started to pull away (in order to get a positive ID on the battlestar's identity), but then realized that the Peregrine had not only survived, but it had just crossed the threshold and into the landing bay. The raider started to turn back, but that brief hesitation had allowed Calley to close the range. She fired, hitting and destroying the raider.
While the base star was trying to fight back after the first telling hits from the PEGASUS, Number Seven had ordered the communications centurions to listen in on the combat frequencies in order to positively identify the attacking battlestar. While this was going on, another centurion reported.
"A courier drone has returned with a reply. The Command Base Star reports that three other base stars will be deployed to support you as soon as they are notified by couriers", it said.
"Why isn't Number One coming herself?", Number Seven replied. Not only that, he thought; there were four other base stars in this system.
"They are reporting that another battlestar is moving in to engage them over Caprica", was the answer, "They have taken substantial damage from a rail gun and are also trying to get reinforcements to assist them. In addition, the base star deployed over Cancer has been listed as missing".
Number Seven could not believe what he had just heard. ANOTHER attacking battlestar? A notification from the centurion monitoring the combat frequencies made things even more confusing.
"The designators used by the human viper pilots have been evaluated as coming from the wing called 'Black Knights'. This particular wing's home battlestar is the Battlestar PACIFICA".
"That can't be!", Number Seven roared as the base star shook again from missile hits, "The PACIFICA was on the confirmed destroyed list!"
"Then that must be a confirmed destroyed battlestar engaging and inflicting a high amount of damage on us", the centurion replied matter-of-factly.
Number Seven looked at the centurion with exasperation for it's narrow mind-set. He said, "The PACIFICA's fighters must have evacuated over to another battlestar before it was destroyed, Centurion!". He shook his head, trying to get rid of these annoying human emotions. The centurion did not react. It was awaiting further orders.
Number Seven looked at his flickering viewscreen at the battlestar. It was of the same class of battlestar as the PACIFICA, but the identification tabs were not illuminated and the damage inflicted upon the base star so far had rendered their scanners almost fully inoperative. The only reference to a name was 'Home Plate', which told him nothing. None of the surviving raiders had managed to get an ID either. He looked at the damage reports and made a decision.
"Withdraw the base ship to Sagittaria", Number Seven ordered the command centurion, "and order our fighters to disengage and meet us there. We cannot do any damage to them in our current state and their fighter wings are holding back all of our attacks".
"By Your Command", the centurion acknowledged. Number Seven could not wait for the arrival of reinforcements. His base star was heavily damaged, and with the majority of the Cylon fleet deployed on the mission to seek and destroy the GALACTICA, withdrawal was the only option.
"They're breaking off the attack!", Sanders shouted as he saw the telemetry from the DRADIS console showing clearly the base star retreating from their position. The crew in CIC broke into a cheer.
"Is the Peregrine safe on board, Comms?", Cain asked over the shouting.
"Affirmative, Commander. It's now being lowered into Hangar Bay Twelve", he answered, then asked, "Do we pursue the base star, Commander?".
Cain was sorely tempted, but realized that there would have to be reinforcements on the way. He slowly shook his head.
"Until we have more firepower, Comms, all we can do is hit-and-run tactics. Recall our wings for combat landing. We jump back to Batwah as soon was we get them back on board", Cain ordered.
The crew quieted down as they realized the import of the statement. They were withdrawing! Cain running away, some of them thought? Cain turned to address them all.
"I want to make the Cylons pay for all that they have done just as much as all of you, but as we are only one battlestar, and that reinforcements are undoubtedly on the way, we have to have the GALACTICA to assist before we can return to stay. Don't worry though, people: We'll be back!".
"The Base Star has just jumped, Commander", Tolen said, "There's not many raiders left. A lot of them are jumping themselves", he reported.
On both flight decks of the PEGASUS' landing bays, both fighter wings were moving in to hard-land. The PEGASUS was firing cover for the fighters as they landed, so the few raiders that did not FTL-jump with the retreating base star were not able to get close enough to interfere. In a few minutes, all of the surviving fighters had landed.
Syke and Voight were the last pilots to land on their respective landing bays. As soon as the fighters touched down, the bays started to retract.
"Countdown under way for FTL-jump back to Batwah", the helm officer reported. At that moment, Sanders walked up to Cain, holding printouts that had just been handed to him.
"Commander", Sanders said to him, "The Communications department just gave me these Intercepts from Cylon message drones. Three Base Stars have been alerted, but the Command Base Star also informs the one that we attacked that they are also under attack by a battlestar themselves!"
"WHAT???", Cain asked incredulously. The CIC crew also could not believe what had been said either. Sanders repeated it.
"If there is another battlestar, we'd better move in to support it", Tolen suggested. Just then, a PROXIMITY ALERT alarm sounded. A screen on the DRADIS console showed three base stars just exiting an FTL-jump.
"Frakk!", Cain exclaimed, "We can't remain here. Commence immediate jump back to the Promar Sector instead!", he ordered, seeing on the screen all three base stars deploying wave after wave of raiders. Going back to Batwah was not an option, Cain knew after glancing at another screen on the DRADIS console. The scheduled Cylon patrol of that area of the Cyrannus System would be in the vicinity of the jump exit point around this time, and an FTL-jump would be noticed. The PEGASUS started firing her batteries again, but there was now a lot more incoming ordinance and raiders.
"3...2...1...jump!", the Helm Officer said. There was a flash of light, then the base stars saw their missiles streak through empty space where the battlestar had once been.