"Colonel Tillman/NAYLOR CIC, you've been cleared for final approach, please maintain current heading and speed." The voice said over the wireless.
"Affirmative Naylor, requesting condition one security protocols." Braylen insisted knowing the importance what he was carrying, he wanted the hanger cleared of all nonessential personnel.
A welcoming committee consisting of Braylen's brother, Col. Edwards, Capt. Rhodes, and a team of Marines was waiting for him as he exited the transport.
"Glad to see you made back." Jason said as he shook his brothers' hand. "Why all the security? What's on the freighter?"
"We recovered four raptors and two stealth-stars they look like they're prototypes." Braylen informed his brother as they walked into the cargo hold.
"Look at these babies!" Rhodes said enthusiastically.
"We also cleared out the cold storage freezer and some files." Braylen said as he pointed to the storage containers.
"Captain Rhodes, please see that these ships are quietly transferred to HYPERION and that the food is transferred to the DEADALUS freezers for now. Good job." Jason said as he looked at his brother. "I've called a senior staff meeting in thirty minutes. Kirby found something on Tauron was well."
CONFERENCE ROOM - NAYLOR STATION
Thirty minutes later all senior officers were present with the exception of Colonel McKnight who was patrolling outside the asteroid field that hid the station.
"As you're aware our recon mission has returned. Each team leader with give their reports on their findings." Lt. Walker announced. "Colonel Walsh would you please begin.
"Our goal was to probe the cylon defenses around our home worlds. The cylons have focused on Caprica, Tauron, Virgon, and Leonis. Picon, Gemenon, and Sagittaron were devastated during the initial attacks and are barely inhabitable." She began. "From what we could tell they occupy the rest to a lesser degree."
'Who many baseships are we talking about?" asked Colonel Brice.
"Somewhere in the range of thirty-five to forty baseships with the majority around the first four colonies Cmdr Walsh mentioned." Major Ashley answered.
"That gives the cylons one hell of an advantage!" Rhodes quipped.
"Well, we wouldn't be able to enter a direct conflict. It would be suicide." Madden added.
Wanting to move the briefing along, Jason asked Braylen to proceed.
"My mission was to recon a Black Ops facility of interest on Picon," he started. "It contained mostly offices, living quarters, and a research lab. We were able to recover six raptors and two stealth-stars crafts. All prototypes. It looked like they were getting ready to transfer them off base prior to the attacks."
"What kind of prototypes are we talking about?" asked Colonel Hayes.
"The raptors are slightly bigger and carry more of a defensive weapon package. The stealth-stars are built for two instead of one. All of the crafts were coated with a liquid carbon composite material making them virtually invisible to dradis. All birds will be transferred to HYPERION for research and testing." He finished as he gauged the reactions around the room.
"Braylen's team was also able to recover an ample supply of uncontaminated meat from the bases' pantry." Jason began. "I want you to listen to Lt. Kirby real carefully. His is the most shocking."
"Our team's goal was to recover medical supplies from the Tauron University Medical Center. We were unable to complete that mission. We found three more types of human looking cylons. That brings the number of known humanoid cylons to seven, three females and four males." Kirby relayed as he showed recon photos of the humanoid cylons on a monitor. "They were conducting experiments on female human prisoners. We believe they are the same experiments the female cylon told us about a few months ago."
"How many experiments are there?" asked Cmdr Roberts.
"We don't know. There could be hundreds of these facilities. It's possible that the colonies most guarded are the sites for these experiments." Kirby theorized.
"It also seems the cylons are concerned about fragments of the colonial fleet. They couldn't get a final number of destroyed warships." Jason began. "They know no less than twelve battlestars survived due to direct engagements over the last three months. Bill Adama's GALACTICA, Admiral Cain's PEGASUS, HYPERION, NEMESIS, TYCHE, POLYCAON, THERON, ANDANIA, and four more unidentified. The list includes battlecruisers TRINITY, AGENOR, DAEDALUS, CHIRON, GOLIATH and one unidentified. We do not think they know about JUNO.
"How do you acquire this information?" asked Marcus.
"We hit a shuttle carrying humanoid cylons. We extracted the information from the skin jobs and recovered documents." Kirby answered.
"Do they know what class the unknowns are?" Brice asked knowing that the last two named were the smaller class battlestars.
"No. They do know that ANDANIA, POLYCAON, and TYCHE are separately protecting civilian ships and THERON is heavily damaged and without viper protection. They're uneasy about PEGASUS, NEMESIS, TYCHE, and POLYCAON due to the MERC class having viper production capabilities. There's more. It seems that one of the humanoid cylons have has defected, a female. It actually saved GALACTICA from some type of computer virus. It's now considered an outcast."
"On a final note, during our recon we were able to also uncover information about resistance cells on Caprica and Tauron." Kirby continued. "It seems that they've been conducting hit and run tactics on the cylons. The cylons also have some type of prison camp located on Leonis. It's on the east coast of her main continent."
"I thought they don't take prisoners? How many people?" Cmdr Jones.
"They never used too. We're unsure about the numbers." an expressionless Roberts replied.
"I know how everyone feels. There is nothing we can do for them now. As your aware, the cylons have extended their patrol patterns with each passing day. We must concentrate on our own right now. Colonel Williams what is the status of DAEDALUS?" asked Jason.
"As I informed the Admiral earlier today, most of hull plating for her bow has been fabricated and transported to her starboard flight pod. Installation should be completed in a few weeks. All catapults and PDT's are offline. The engines are online and functioning at seventy percent. Williams reported.
"Colonel Edwards, when I first assigned you to oversee Naylor I asked you to devise a evacuation plan. What is your status?"
"Well, there is never more than a thousand on the station at one time. We keep one colonial heavy in the landing bay and the other on the docking port underneath the station near the fabrication bay. We've conducted drills and we need about fifteen minutes to fully evac the station.
"Major Keegan, what's the medical status of the fleet?" ask Roberts
"Well, there's nothing out of the ordinary. The health of the populace has returned to a somewhat normal state. The only thing on the rise is pregnancies among the military. We have a total of fourteen. Some are nervous about the senior staff's reaction." Keegan said as he made direct eye contact with Jason
"My wife and I have discussed this recently. Given our circumstances this would eventually happen. We cannot stop nature from taking its course and to put it bluntly it's our responsibility to preserve the human race." Jason began. "Doctor, please put together safety guidelines regarding pregnancies and what would be deem hazardous duty."
"Thank you, sir." Keegan replied know the leeway the Admiral was granting.
"What about the civilians?" Cmdr Roberts asked.
"Some of the children have had trouble adjusting which is to be expected. Were trying to work our way through it." Keegan responded.
"Very well, lets call it a night. Please remember to discuss this with no one. Dismissed." Jason said as he stood and gathered his reports.
Braylen waited for the room to pretty much empty before approaching his brother and Cmdr Roberts.
"How long do you think we have?" asked Braylen.
"I'm not sure. The cylons have been slowly extending their search to the surrounding sectors. We know they are committed a portion of there resources to finding GALACTICA for some reason. It might take them a while to look out here." Jason surmised.
"That why we've be quietly transferring everything off the station." Braylen realized.
"The only good thing is that Admiral Cain out there among others causing problems for the tinheads." Roberts added.
"Remember the more they strike the more the cylons get pissed off." Jason commented as they left the room.
DAY ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN – AULUS PYRAMID ARENAIt was the deciding game of the Pilots Division finals. The winner would meet the Boreas Breeze in the finals of the Fleet Pyramid League. It was the Hyperion Hammers against the Trinity Angels. The league was the brainchild of Captain Matt "Bug" Elder of TRINITY. Originally conceived as a moneymaker scheme, it later turned out to be a moral booster for the fleet. The league consists of two four-team divisions. The Pilot Division includes the Hyperion Hammers, Trinity Angels, Juno Jammers, and the Daedalus Dogs. The Fleet Division consists of the Mystic Monsters, Boreas Breeze, Haven's Helpers, and Geminon Twins.
The Trinity Angels were leading by a score of seven to four in the final period. The main arena was packed with about four hundred spectators. Admiral Tillman and his family were enjoying the game.
"I can't believe Ryan (Lt. McMillan) fouled out the game." Kayla told her sister knowing that Ryan was their strongest player.
"I know. He's going to be moody if they lose." Cassidy said of her boyfriend knowing that he was the teams' leading scorer.
Jason watched the reaction around the stands. He was originally resisted the idea at first but with later realized with the help of Keegan and his wife that the pyramid league was something for the populace. It was a needed diversion to the dark reality that engulfed them. Jason spotted a few of his crew in the crowd; they were with some of their families that survived the attacks near Leonis. Jason realized how lucky he was to have found his brother and try to rebuild their relationship. The game buzzer had sounded and the Trinity Angels had endured a late rally by the Hammers to win twelve to ten. Jason stood and clapped and grabbed the plaque he was going to present to the winner when the alarm klaxon sounded followed by announcement over the public address system.
"ALL CIVILIANS REPORT TO THE DESIGNATED SAFETY AREAS. POSSIBLE CYLON ATTACK UNDERWAY! ADRIMAL TILLMAN, PLEASE CONTACT THE OPERATION CENTER!"
Jason could feel the ship moved underneath him. He quickly contacted the OPS Center and returned to his family who by this time were surrounded by the players and other military personnel.
"BOREAS has sent their EDB (Emergency Distress Beacon) back down the chute. Everyone get back to the ships." Jason ordered as he turned to his family "Get down to the medical center it's the safest area. I'll send for you afterwards." He said as he turned to leave the arena.
Jason sprinted all the way down to the cargo bay one and entered one of the new raptors recovered from Picon. Due to the last moment decision to attend the match, space in the hanger bay was at a premium. AULUS decided to use the empty cargo bay instead. Among those inside the raptor were some of his crew and the pyramid team still dressed in the playing gear. Piloting the raptor was Lt. Tom Addison and his ECO Ltjg. Dina Timmons who are normally assigned to raptor 619. Tillman took the co-pilots set and placed a headset on.
"After we clear AULUS get me HYPERION on the wireless!" ordered Jason.
"AULUS/Raptor 1601. Requesting decompression of cargo bay one and opening of its doors." Timmons asked over the wireless. A moment later Addison guided the raptor out of the bay. Addison located HYPERION and was heading towards the battlestar.
"Sir, I have Admiral Tillman! He in raptor 1601!" reported the communications officer.
"Transfer to my station." Colonel Hayes ordered.
"HYPERION /Dodger, Sitrep"
"BOREAS sent a Sierra Alpha message thirty minutes ago. They jumped to the entrance of the chute and powered down five minutes later. We received their EDB fifteen minutes ago. I ordered Nighthawk One (codename for the stealth-stars) to terminate its testing and to investigate. TERTIUS and ADELPHIA are guiding the civilian vessels down the escape route. Naylor is under an evacuation order. They're transferring everything possible to DAEDALUS and one of the freighters docked under the station" Hayes relayed to Jason.
"What about DAEDALUS?" inquired Jason as a squadron of vipers pass in front of his raptor.
"DAEDALUS is powering up the spinners on her FTL. They'll need about twenty minutes before they can jump." Hayes answered before being interrupted.
"Sir, dradis contact starboard!" barked Lt. Walker!
"HYPERION/ Nighthawk One! Mark One Eyeball, Five baseships have entered the chute. E.T.A fifteen minutes! Eight squadrons of raiders E.T.A less than ten minutes! BOREAS is a fireball! Do you copy?" bellowed Lt. Neal Owynns.
Hayes nodded to McCall.
"Nighthawk One/HYPERION, Confirmed message! You are ordered to return home." Relayed McCall.
"Wilco! Hyperion" acknowledged the pilot.
"Raptor 1601, you are cleared to land portside. Checkers' red, you have the ball." Dyson informed the raptor over the wireless.
The raptor quickly landed and descended to the hanger area. Tillman quickly departed the raptor and headed for CIC.
"TRINITY, JUNO and ZEPHYRUS are in position. ADELPHIA is hanging back to cover DAEDALUS. Naylor reports their weapons systems is online." Walker reported
"Bring Planetary Defense Satellites (PDS) one, two and four online! Set main batteries to suppression fire! Target the center of the chute!" ordered Hayes.
"Dradis contacts confirmed! Cylon raiders!" Walker announced!
"Lt. Walker, launch all missiles on satellite one. All batteries FIRE!" barked Hayes.