"Looks like a treasure trove", Tolen commented after reading the hard copy from the scanned telemetry.
"That's what troubles me", Cain replied. Both of them were in the debriefing room talking with Gorde and Dundee. The Two Jasons had wasted no time in returning to the PEGASUS and reporting their discovery of the mine.
"What do you mean, Commander?", Sanders asked. He had been brought down to the debriefing in order to get his input on this latest development.
"That freighter went straight in and straight out" Cain said, "so it could not have picked up any substantial materials in that space of time, otherwise it would still have been down on the surface of the asteroid when Gorde made the jump".
"It could have been carrying extra first generation Centurions to help mine the ore", Sanders ventured.
"That's a possibility, Comms", Tolen agreed, "plus given the fact that the mining area is not extensive, points to the conclusion that this is only a recent discovery on their part. The lack of defense installations seems to bear this hypothesis out".
"We should also bear in mind that the tinheads are not expecting anyone this far into the Promar Sector, Commander", Gorde suddenly spoke up, "after all, we did make quite a lengthy in-sector jump after operation TOUCHSTONE".
"The tinheads do nothing without a reason", Cain stated flatly, "and judging from that new freighter design, they are making it damn hard - if not next to impossible - to intercept their cargoes".
"Which makes the source of their cargo - that asteroid - the logical target" , Gorde said. Other heads in the room nodded. Those materials - particularly the platinum and beryllium were items that could definitely be used.
"And that is what concerns me", Cain answered, "First generation tinheads which can be easily taken out, and an open area mine with lots of minerals that just happen to be there for the taking. It's too damn good to be true" , he concluded, giving voice to his suspicions.
"You think that this is a trap of some kind?", Tolen asked. Cain nodded slowly.
"If this is a trap - and that's what my instincts are telling me - then they are evidently expecting someone to come along and make a try for the mine as the 'freighter' would be too hard a target".
"But without any defensive installations or any of these new generation tinheads, how can one fail to succeed in getting those minerals?", Sanders asked.
"Either this trap is just getting set up", Cain replied, "or something is down there that our sensors did not pick up".
"So what do we do?", Gorde asked, putting into words the overriding question.
"Either way you look at it, we have to take it out", Cain answered, "we can't allow the GALACTICA to be caught".
"Nor us", Tolen added.
"If this is a trap", Sanders said, "then any hidden defensive positions would be geared to fighting a direct assault from space. That means in order to find out, we'll have to land a team on the asteroid and check it out on the ground". Cain nodded and thought about what Sanders had said. He then went over to the wall and picked up a communicator. He punched in a code.
"Chief?", Cain said into the communicator, "Has Peregrine Five returned from patrol? It has? Good. Have Hunter and Sims report to the Silver Spar debriefing room now". He put the communicator back on it's hook.
"Let's wait until those two come in and we'll start talking a little more about this", Cain suggested.
The others quietly chatted amongst themselves. After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door. Sanders got up and opened the door. Lieutenant Walter 'Hondo' Hunter and Ensign Calvin 'Coffin' Sims entered the room, still wearing their flight suits.
"We came as soon as we got the word from Chief Krag, Commander", Hunter said by way of greeting, "we had only just got out after landing".
"How was the patrol, Lieutenant?", Cain asked, ignoring the apology.
"Nothing worthwhile to report reconnaissance wise", Hunter said, Athough in regards to training, both Joker and Cowboy are rapidly picking up the nuances of the peregrine". Hunter was referring to Ensigns Steven 'Joker' Meade and Axel 'Cowboy' Hopper, who had been assigned by Syke to be trained as a backup crew to fly the peregrine so as to give both Hunter and Sims a crew to give them some relief.
"The reason I had you called in was to talk about the peregrine's troop carrying capabilities", Cain explained, "We found a location and situation that may require that ability".
Cain gestured to Sanders, who quickly filled Hunter and Sims in on what was encountered earlier. When Sanders had finished, Cain spoke about his suspicions regarding the mine.
"So you want the FLEET AVENGER to drop a team of marines onto the asteroid and to scope this installation out?", Hunter asked.
"Scout, and if possible - to destroy", Cain said, "I don't want anyone falling into such a trap. Besides, there might be an opportunity to do that, and to gather up some of those minerals".
"Judging from the size of that asteroid, we would have to come in from behind it, and if this installation is a trap, it would probably have hidden sensors to detect anything flying low in the vicinity, so we would have to set down a fair distance from the site", Hunter pointed out, "and since the asteroid has no atmosphere, the marine contingent would have to be in spacesuits. That's going to be a rough hike".
"The peregrine is capable of taking and deploying an APC, is it not?", Cain asked.
Hunter cautiously nodded, but said, "unfortunately, the FLEET AVENGER wasn't carrying one, and I don't believe that we have any APC's on board the PEGASUS.
"But we do have landrams", Cain pointed out, "and as they are the same size as an APC and can be used in a vacuum environment, the marines would have ground transport".
"Landrams are not armored and only lightly armed", Hunter objected, "plus as they are not pressurized, the marines would have to wear their suits even while in it".
AThe marines can cope, Cain replied, Abesides, there is nothing else available. I want you to go back to the bay and instruct Chief Krag to prep the peregrine for a ground insertion mission, and to get one of the available landrams prepared and loaded in".
Hunter nodded and stood. Sims followed suit.
"You'll get the word soon on departure. Get some sack time once you give Krag the word. Dismissed", Cain said.
As Hunter and Sims left the debriefing room, Cain turned to Tolen and said, "When we're done, get Captain Syke, plus Lieutenant Howe and Sergeant Haig down here and give them a brief. They'll need to get their troops ready for this assignment".
Tolen nodded. First Lieutenant Nate Howe was the commander of the Colonial Marine contingent on the PEGASUS, informally known as 'Nebula Force'. Master Gunnery Sergeant Robert Haig was the senior non-commissioned officer amongst the marines. Both were extremely competent and had excelled themselves some weeks earlier when they and a few marine volunteers had helped Tricia take over and sabotage a Cylon tylium tanker.
"Comms", Cain said next to Sanders, "Get up to CIC and have Helm hold station here. No point getting any closer until it's time. Maintain condition two alert for the time being". Nodding his understanding, Sanders left the room and headed back up to convey Cain's orders to the helm officer.
"All right everyone", Cain said, "we've got work to do, so the rest of you return to your stations. I'll be in my quarters. When the plan is finalized, let me know". With that he left. Tolen gestured to Gorde and Dundee, who left to head back to Silver Spar admin and to give their report to Ensign Vansen. Tolen sent out a page for Syke, Howe and Haig to report to him. With that done, he sat down to await their presence. This would probably be the last time that he would be able to relax for a few minutes, so he was determined to take advantage of it.
When Cain got to his cabin, he headed over to his desk where he activated his terminal. He spent the next few minutes looking up old letters from Admiral Hendrix, finding out quickly what he wanted to know. He opened up a new file, then began to write his latest communique to go out on the next scheduled FTL probe to meet up with a probe from Commander Hawke.
From: Garris Cain, Commander PEGASUS To: Matthew Hawke, Commander GOLIATH Classification: Your Eyes Only. No permanent record.
Matt,
Interesting things are occurring here in the Promar Sector. One of our recon patrols had encountered a new type of autonomous tin head freighter, though this 'freighter' packs more firepower than a light cruiser! It was seen stopping off at an asteroid that has what is ostensibly a mine containing a lot of useful minerals, but it seems somewhat suspicious. If this is a new type of trap being set up for the GALACTICA, then it means that the tin heads are being more creative. I'll keep you informed on developments. Enclosed with this communique are the specs of this new ship gathered from our recon scans.
I hope that Captain Hayes and his squadron of volunteers are proving themselves useful to you. That extra fuel and supplies that the WARLOCK delivered was very well received, thank you.
One other thing of interest, I have found out that one of the pilots in Black Knight wing is the son of Commander John Roberts (a.k.a. 'Shaker'). Ensign Michael Roberts told me about his father commanding the battlecruiser TRINITY, which was interesting information, given that a person of his experience is in command of a ship on the inactive reserve list. So, I looked at the last batch of letters sent to me by my old C.O., Admiral 'Hounder' Hendrix (he kept me well informed on fleet developments even after he made it to the Joint Chiefs).
According to Hounder, the TRINITY was assigned to assist the Battlestar HYPERION in escorting a new colony of settlers to the Hatari Sector. This information was not generally known and there was a lot of last minute inclusions. This escort mission took place during the tinheads' assault on our home worlds. Given that the large nebula between Cyrannus and Hatari makes direct transit impossible, there could be a chance that some of this task force, or at least a portion of it's assets could still be intact. When you send out your recon mission to the PROMETHEUS, perhaps it might be an idea for another recon to Hatari, in order to check out this possibility.
Hopefully, by the time of the next manned rendevous (point ZODIAC according to the list), there will be more information and other trade items. Until then, take care and don't give those tin heads a moments respite.
Garris.
Cain had the letter dumped onto a disc, along with copies of the new freighter's specs, then paged a courier. The courier arrived two minutes later. Cain instructed him to take the disc up to Sanders for inclusion in the next FTL probe dispatch. Nodding, the courier saluted Cain, then left his quarters.
While this was happening, Syke was in the debriefing room listening to Tolen brief Howe and Haig on the Cylon encounter, and informing them that they would need to get a contingent of marines ready for a surface deployment.
"So this is more than a reconnaissance probe, this is a raid", Howe stated flatly. Tolen nodded.
"The scans showed only first generation centurions working the site, which should be easy meat for your boys", Tolen said.
"I'm well aware that those first generation tinheads won't last long against us", Howe replied, "but if this is a trap - as the Commander believes - then there could be other surprises, and if that armored freighter arrives at the wrong moment, it's not going to be a good situation from our side of things", he finished with classic understatement.
"That's why Captain Syke is here", Tolen replied, "because Silver Spar Wing will be deployed to distract this freighter should it become necessary. Black Knight Wing will fly cover over the complex once you take out the centurions and neutralize whatever other threats there could be down on the surface". He looked at Syke, who nodded.
"Well, my boys will like the change of pace", Howe said, "a real mission will be welcome after so many sims. Platoon strength should do. I'll have them fully ready for deployment in eight hours".
"That's about how long it will take for the landram to be prepared and loaded into the Peregrine", Tolen answered, "so take these hard copies of the raptor scans. You'll need them to plan the fine points of your mission. Report to the peregrine crew in nine hours".
"Understood, Colonel", Howe said. With that, both Howe and Haig stood and saluted Tolen. After Tolen returned the salute, they left to head back to marine barracks. Nebula Force was going back into action.
"That freighter could end up doing a lot of harm to my wing", Syke said to Tolen after the two marines had left.
"If that freighter comes at the wrong time, then those Marines are doomed", Tolen said, "I don't really care how you do it, but if that freighter comes, you must stop it from either getting to the surface, or jumping out in order to warn a base star or two".
"Then I'd better look up Dragon's book of dirty tricks", Syke said, "given the success of CORONA and TOUCHSTONE, perhaps he'll have an idea". With that, Syke left to return to admin. He had to talk this over with Tricia.
Tolen sighed, then stood up and left the room. He had to get back to CIC. It looked like this mission was going to be a tough one...