"Frakk", Syke muttered to himself as he read the message from the PEGASUS. Syke quickly contacted Gorde.
"You got the message, Newguy?", Syke asked.
"Yeah", Gorde replied, "The Old Man is taking a chance, isn't he?"
"If it is a trap down there, we'll need to know just what kind of trap it is. Let's just stay quiet", Syke said.
The other pilots wondered why Syke was not ordering them to power up as the armored tank that was the Cylon 'freighter' cruised past them. All of the vipers were concealed and the 'freighter' gave no indication of detecting any of them. As it cruised on past and down to the asteroid, Syke quickly activated his short range ship to ship communicator.
"We've been given orders to let it pass and to hold off engagement until it's return trip", Syke said quickly, "so stay cool. Bojay out".
"Bojay", Newguy said then over the laser link, "the disguised scanner has picked up some interesting data from that ship. Apart from it's large array of armaments, it's carrying what appears to be very large bullet shaped masses in it's cargo area. Much larger than what a main rail gun could use. The sensors could not probe further without risking being picked up".
"Okay, Newguy. You'd better relay that information to Home Plate. I guess our marine friends will be getting some answers very soon", Bojay replied.
Howe had just finished reading the relayed message from Cain. So, there was going to be a visitor soon, he thought to himself. All of the teams were well concealed and camouflaged so that this incoming ship shouldn't be able to see them. He used his infra red lamp to flash the code for INCOMING SHIP, STAY CONCEALED. He hoped that the recon squads would be able to get a good view of things as the 'freighter' came in to land.
Both Jones' and March's squads kept still under their camouflage as the heavily armed 'freighter' came in to land. The monoculars were relaying images of the landing to Howe. Howe watched as the freighter gently landed beside the central complex building that was in the middle of the mine site. He expected that. What he didn't expect was for the complex building to suddenly fold up inside itself, exposing a large metal door embedded on the surface. Despite the increased risk of detection, Howe had these images relayed to the FLEET AVENGER.
"We've got real-time video coming in, Hondo", Sims reported.
"Then let's relay it up to the PEGASUS", Hunter said. Sims grunted a 'yes' and hit the relay control. Something interesting must have been found to make Howe risk detection by using real-time video. A few seconds later, he understood.
The door was like what would cover a sub surface missile silo, but this one was very large. It was a hundred feet in diameter and appeared to be enormously thick. Howe watched the screen as the doors slowly slid apart, exposing the barrel of what had to be the largest rail gun he had ever seen! The diameter of the barrel was at least four times the circumference of the type carried on battlestars! He wondered what Cain and the others on the PEGASUS were making from the images.
"Frakk!", Tolen muttered as he saw the immense size of the weapon.
"Tha's putting it mildly", Cain said. This monster gun could easily take out the PEGASUS with a single shot, or with a multiple of smaller bullets, blow away incoming squadrons like shot-gun fire to a flock of birds!
"So now we know the surprise the tin heads had in store for us", Sanders said, "An attacking force would destroy the complex structure - not realizing that its a facade. Those doors are so thick, the gun would not be harmed, then the doors open and Bam!".
"Yeah", Cain answered, "And we sure as hell can't leave such a thing to ambush and take out the GALACTICA. It's going to have to be destroyed".
"So what do you suggest, Commander?", Tolen asked.
"Silver Spar will have to destroy that 'freighter'. Inform him to prepare to execute ANVIL. Howe will then have his marines attack. Those doors will have to stay open for that gun to get it's ammo: that's evidently what Gorde detected what was on board that ship. That will give Howe his best chance to take it out", Cain replied.
"That's risky, Commander, and it could dangerously expose them, not to mention us", Tolen cautioned.
"You have any better ideas?", Cain asked, "because I'm open to suggestions".
No one answered. This trap had to be dealt with. It just could not be left for the GALACTICA or other groups of human survivors to stumble onto.
"Comms, let them know", Cain ordered.
FREIGHTER WILL BE DEALT WITH AFTER DEPARTURE. THIS SITE MUST BE TAKEN OUT ONCE NOTIFICATION OF SUCCESS OF ANVIL IS RECEIVED. RECOMMEND YOU ATTACK WEAPON WHILE DOORS STILL OPEN TO RECEIVE AMMUNITION.
Howe read the message. He didn't like it one bit. Those doors could snap tight before his weapons could bear on it. However, what else could be done? He had his orders. He called Marconi over and with his writing tablet, told him to have the mortars trained on the doors of the super rail gun. The hand held missiles and the marines' gauss-rifles would have to deal with any centurions who tried to thwart their attack. With his recon squads separated and unable to give immediate support, it meant that the weapons squad would be on their own for the first critical minutes of the assault.
Just then, another message came to Howe: this time from the FLEET AVENGER.
READ RELAYED MESSAGE REGARDING ATTACK. HAVE SUGGESTION. Howe read the rest of the message. He thought about what Hunter had to offer, then replied, AGREED. YOU WILL NEED TO BE ON STATION WHEN ANVIL IS SUCCESSFUL.
Marconi tapped Howe on the shoulder and pointed at the screen. The armored freighter had quickly dumped it's load of giant bullets and had just lifted off. Several centurions were now moving in to transfer the bullets into the open silo where the massive gun waited...
"Here it comes", Syke said to Gorde. He was watching the telemetry from the disguised sensor package. The 'freighter' was heading back along the route it had taken in.
He saw that the 'freighter' was getting nearer and nearer to their position. Still no indication of it noticing the human presence. Syke could see on the screen the red beam swishing to and fro from the 'cockpit' of that ship. As it passed by Syke's position, Syke flipped his communicator and said, "Newguy, execute ANVIL!".
Gorde immediately powered up the raptor and immediately brought his engines up to full thrust. The raptor had been fitted with a large plate at the front and it was serving as a buffer. The raptor had been parked directly behind it's selected asteroid at it's center of mass, and it was now pushing the large chunk of rock into the flight path of the incoming Cylon ship. The engines were rapidly red lining as it pushed against the huge mass, but it was moving and the timing was excellent.
The Cylon automaton brain detected the movement of the large rock and instinctively slowed down it's speed and fired a large array of missiles at it. The missiles struck the mass, but the size of it was such that the first salvo did not break it up. It fired a larger, second salvo.
As the second salvo left their tubes, Syke opened his communicator and said, "Silver Spar Group Leader to all ships, attack!".
"Let's get out of here, Newguy", Dundee suggested as the second missile salvo closed in. Gorde immediately hit reverse thrust and backed away from the boulder at high speed. The second salvo hit the asteroid, blasting it into lots of small pieces. The mass of debris shielded the raptor from view as it continued backing away. The 'freighter' had just dispatched a third salvo of missiles to dispose of the remaining pieces that were big enough to worry about when it's sensors detected the incoming mass of ships.
COLONIAL VIPER TYPE SEVEN CONFIRMED. ESTIMATED THIRTY PLUS, the sensors informed the automaton brain. The Cylon ship had already expended most of it's missiles at the asteroid. It now realized that it was a trap. It had to get out and escape so as to inform Cylon Command.
"We're jamming it's short range wireless", Gorde informed Syke, "so those tin heads down at the 'mine' aren't getting any warning messages".
"Thanks, Newguy", Syke said, "Okay people, let's take it out. You're cleared to fire!".
The vipers immediately fired their guns at the fleeing freighter. With the expenditure of the majority of it's heavy weapons, there was not too much that the freighter could do. It fired what few missiles it had left, but none scored any hits. The few vipers threatened had all deployed decoys which distracted the missiles. The defensive guns though did cause the vipers to have to fly somewhat evasively, but the Cylon ship could not get into a clear enough flight path to compute an FTL jump. While one squadron was behind giving chase, the other two were closing from in front, causing the freighter to have to fly a constant evasive pattern.
The fighter squadrons were actually forcing the freighter to head over towards the raptor. The squadron commanders were doing an excellent job of making sure that the freighter could not escape any other way, despite the counter fire coming from it's guns.
"We're herding it over to you, Newguy", Tricia communicated, "You're cleared to fire when it's in range".
The raptor had been armed with two longbow missiles. As Dundee fired the clamps that detached the buffer plate, Gorde aimed the raptor directly for the freighter. Gorde winced as a burst of fire from one of it's guns hit the wing of a viper, causing it to veer off, but then Dundee said, "I've got acquisition. Whenever you're ready".
"Fire both missiles!", he ordered. Dundee hit the firing switch. The longbows roared out of their mounts and bore in on the Cylon ship. Dundee was steering the wire guided missiles, aiming for the 'cockpit' of the ship. The Cylon automaton brain detected the missiles boring in, and tried jamming them, but the direct controlled missiles were not affected by the tactic. The Cylon ship then fired it's guns at the missiles, but Dundee managed to steer the missiles away from the counter fire.
With two large flashes, the missiles hit their target and detonated. The automaton brain was destroyed by the explosion. The remains of the freighter now drifted out of control, it's engines offline and now no longer a threat to anyone.
"Newguy, you'd better give Dunsel a tow", Syke said, referring to the damaged viper flown by Lieutenant JG Damon 'Dunsel' Seath. Seath's viper had been badly damaged by the Cylon guns but he was still alive and breathing.
"Will do", Gorde replied. As he headed his raptor over to where Seath was waiting to be picked up, Gorde thought that they had been very lucky. He hoped that the luck would continue for the marines...
Tricia had in the meantime maneuvered her viper over to the wreckage of the Cylon 'freighter' and commenced scanning. By taking out the automaton brain, the rest of the ship was relatively intact. The vessel was now a derelict, but it could still yield valuable data. She called Syke and broached the idea of salvaging the craft.
"Good idea, Sheba", Syke remarked. He then activated the secure link to the PEGASUS. He had to get this message off before forming the wing back up for the next part of the mission.
HAMMER SUCCESSFULLY HIT BY ANVIL. HAMMER'S TIP SMASHED BUT REST OK FOR PICKUP. NO WARNING GIVEN. Cain put down the message slip from Syke and turned to Sanders.
"Let Howe know that they are cleared to strike, and have Connor dispatch his raptor to the co-ordinates given so that they can tow that hunk of junk back here", he ordered.
So far, things were going okay. The threat posed by the armored freighter had been neutralized and there was enough left of it to perhaps glean some valuable intelligence. No warning had been given. Now it was up to Howe and his marines to take care of the 'mine' and it's weapon.
"Suggest we deploy Black Knight Wing to relieve Silver Spar, Commander", Sanders said, "Voight's wing is fully armed and fueled and can get there quickly.
Cain thought about it, then nodded. Besides, if the marines run into bad trouble down there, then air support would probably be needed and Syke's ships had likely expended a fair amount of fuel and ammo.
"Very well, Inform Captain Voight that his wing is to relieve Syke's. Then Inform Captain Syke to return his wing to the PEGASUS for refueling and re arming.