The majority of this chapter was co-written with Expatkiwi. You will find that most of this chapter is the same as PEGASUS Book 10: Return to the Fray Chapters 18-21.
DAY ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN - AULUS (0830 HRS)Colonel Marcus shuttle had just touched down on the AULUS landing deck; he was behind a PEGASUS shuttle that was also waiting to be towed into the hanger bay. The hanger was full of off duty people consisting mostly of PEGASUS personnel. As Marcus headed to the main hatch, he saw out of the corner of his eye two officers heading through a different hatchway to a waiting shuttle. He recognized one of the officers as Tricia Cain. He turned to go towards her, but then she noticed Tricia holding on to the other officer in a manner that looked like more than just casual. Marcus approached a young lieutenant from the PEGASUS shuttle a head of his.
"Yes, Colonel?" Lieutenant Annan responded
"Who is that officer with Captain Cain?" Marcus asked, pointing in the direction of Tricia and Gene.
"Oh, that is Major Gene Syke, the CAG of Silver Spar Wing on the PEGASUS", Annan replied.
"Her commanding officer?" Marcus asked.
Annan confirmed Marcus's question with a nod.
"Major Syke seems to like having discipline rather relaxed, if his conduct with Captain Cain is any indication", Marcus observed.
"They're off duty, Colonel", Annan replied, "But when they're on duty, well… that's something else. They're very professional, and Silver Spar is a great fighter wing under their command as a result." she added.
"Thank you, Lieutenant", Marcus said, "Enjoy your shore leave."
Annan saluted and headed out of the bay. Marcus watched Tricia and Syke enter their shuttle without any visible emotion.
HYPERION – ADMIRAL TILLMAN'S QUARTERS (0930 HRS)"Are you sure about this? He's only fifteen." Anne spoke as she watched her husband put on his tunic.
"He only is going to sit in the copilot seat. He's passed every test in the simulator and Brock tossed in a couple of curveballs that would screw up second year pilots. All we're doing is going to AULUS.
"I know. But, I can worry. He's my baby." She responded with a pout.
"Well, if your baby was two years older he'd be in a viper." Jason responded as he brushed his hair in the small bathroom. "He scored a ninety-seven on the hand/eye coordination test. I only scored an eighty five my first time."
"You promise he won't take the controls!" she asked.
"I promise. Tell him to meet me in the hanger bay in one hour." Jason said as he kissed his wife and left.
Tillman was no more than twenty feet down the hall when Colonel Hayes joined him on the way to CIC.
"So, what do you hear?" asked Jason.
"No problems on AULUS. Everything went smooth." Hayes replied as the turned a corner.
"You mean no fights between the fighter jocks? Jason joked.
"Nope, according to sources Cain would have revoke their flight status and have them scrubbing toilet waste lines by hand if a member of silver spar threw the first punch." Hayes responded
"Garris has a tight group." Tillman answered back.
"What about the 56th? What ships were assigned to it?" Walt asked.
"In addition to NEMESIS; POLYCOAN, TYCHE, GANYMEDES, and a few smaller ships. According to records they were on war-game maneuvers with the 71st." Tillman relayed.
"Wow, that's a large grouping. Seventy-first? Battlestar ARION? Wasn't that under Paul Clark? Hayes asked as they climbed a set of stairs.
"Yes, his group was just as large. Apparently the 56th was scheduled to dry-dock after the simulations for refit." Tillman responded without get into specifics as they entered CIC.
"ADMIRAL ON THE DECK!" announced one of the marines stationed in CIC.
"Good morning Captain Dyson. How was your watch? Jason asked Dyson who was the OOD (Officer Of the Deck).
"Fine, sir. No issues. Major Nix requested permission to join the FLEET AVENGER again on her patrol tomorrow." Dyson responded as he handed the admiral his reports.
"What's that? Four times in the last two days?" Hayes joked.
Tillman ran through Dyson's OOD report nodded approvingly and handed it to Hayes.
"Captain, give Nix the go ahead and then you are relieved." Hayes ordered.
"Well Walt, everything seems to be fine. I'm going to head down to the starboard flight pod and catch the shuttle to AULUS." Tillman said as he handed the reports to Hayes before leaving.
TRINITY SHUTTLE INBOUND FROM AULUS (1000 HRS)"That was a short visit." Amy Lorene said as she saw Andrew Marcus sit in the seat across from hers.
"No real reason to stay." Marcus muttered not realizing it was Cmdr Roberts's daughter that made the statement. "Amy?" he said when he realized whom it was.
Amy chuckled at Andrew's reaction.
"Were you going to meet some friends? She asked.
"Well, I was going to meet an old one friend but, it looks like I missed that ship along time ago." he said realizing that restarting a relation ship with Tricia was out of the question.
"Heading to TRINITY?" he asked and then realizing that the TRINITY was the only stop for the shuttle.
Again, Amy chuckled at Marcus, who by this time had turned red with embarrassment with the dumb question.
"I'm hoping to catch my father. We haven't chatted in a few days." She answered.
AULUS (1230 HRS)In one of the AULUS' spacious conference rooms, Admiral Tillman was seated, awaiting the arrival of his guests. There were a few things that had to be discussed, and here seemed to be the best venue. After all, the room had a large portal where the various fleet warships could be seen…
"Managing to relax okay, Garris?" Tillman asked as Cain walked into the conference room. Tillman gestured to an empty chair.
"It makes a pleasant break from the PEGASUS, I must admit", Cain replied as he sat, "but my home is back on my ship, and all things considered, that's where I'd rather be".
Tillman nodded at that. Garris Cain was a real fighter and he was the type that belonged on a warship. The term 'quarterdeck breed' was an apt one to describe him.
"Ah, Dave", Tillman said next as Commander Wright walked into the conference room, "sorry to drag you away from the CEREBRUS, but all things considered, it is best to have this conference here".
"I don't mind taking the shuttle, Admiral", Wright replied as he took his seat, "after all, it gives me a chance to look at the CEREBRUS from the outside. The old COLUMBIA-class battlestars really looks stately".
"You got that right, Dave", Cain agreed, gesturing to the portal. The CEREBRUS could be clearly seen.
"Colonel Gale was a little sad when I told him about my summons though", Wright added, "I had ordered him to take some shore leave on the AULUS, and he was scheduled to come over with the next contingent from the CEREBRUS. Your call meant he had to stay while I came over, but hopefully, it won't be too long before I can get back".
"Well, we'll try not to keep the good colonel waiting too long then", Tillman answered with a smile, "but otherwise, how is the CEREBRUS?"
"The damage from the Naylor skirmish has been made good, but it does drive home the fact that the old girl is rather under-armed", Wright replied with a wry look on his face.
"That is one of the reasons I asked everyone here." Jason began. "Most of you know Lt Amanda Walker, Captain Kester Rhodes and Colonel Peter Edwards. They have come up with a possible solution to upgrading the CEREBRUS armaments. Colonel." Tillman said as he took a seat.
"As you know CEREBRUS's class was designed more as a carrier. We asked ourselves if it was possible to integrate large class turrets to her frame?" Edwards began as he pointed to the diagram on the easel. " Do to our current condition the answer was no. Our next thought was what could we do with our current recourses.
Captain Rhodes then stood and continued. "In our inventory we still have one planetary defense satellite that was stripped of here ordinance months ago. That satellite has four separate missile platforms that can launch five missiles simultaneously. It is possible to strip her missile platform and mount them to some of her existing point defense turrets so they can be continuously reloaded. AULUS has been outfitted with these platforms as a means of defense and it is effective."
"Refresh my memory. What type of missiles can these platforms fire?" Cain asked.
"Type-two, Medium yield fire-hawks." Walker answered.
"Is it worth the effort for only four platforms off a single satellite?" Gale asked.
"I believe there are two intact satellites that can be recovered near Naylor. That would jump it up to twelve." Tillman added.
"How long and where would you mount these?" asked Wright.
"We could mount four each on her ventral and dorsal sides and two on each flight pod. If we were to make it a priority……… Two weeks." Edwards responded.
Tillman looked at Wright who nodded with approval, as he was about to speak. "Cmdr Jones, I want you to lead the team to recover the two satellites near Naylor. Take ADELPHIA and PROTEUS with you for support. Colonel Edwards I want all DAEDALUS repair crews on CEREBRUS in three hours. Captain Rhodes and yourself will lead the repair teams."
"Major Keegan has finished his blood on PEGASUS personnel and found eight matches to the children on AULUS. He'll send you a list tonight." Tillman began "Another issue is crew assignments. I've had twelve pilots and fifteen other crewmembers volunteer to transfer to PEGASUS. Most of them are junior officers and among them is Ltjg. Tom (Blister) Sanders who is already on his way to your ship. He asked to be assigned with his brother and I know Glen is part of your command staff. JUNO has eight Mark VII vipers that they recovered from during their initial escape. Five of them have been repaired and the others still need work on them. I can also spare about a dozen Mark II's. They're yours if you want them."
"Yes, sir. I will see if I have any pilots that want to go the other way." Cain responded
"Once the transfer of the Black Knights from the PEGASUS to the CEREBRUS takes place, a lot of my immediate concerns about being under-armed will be put to rest", Wright replied, "those three squadrons of Voight's wing will be invaluable in keeping any toasters far enough from the CEREBRUS".
"You've already spoken to Major Voight about the transfer, Commander?" Tillman asked Cain.
"Yes", Cain replied, "He will be returning to the PEGASUS soon in order to get the transfer started. I expect that Captain Wise will be doing likewise getting his squadron over to join Silver Spar on the PEGASUS".
"Excellent", Tillman stated, "and I've been given the transfer rosters from my ships to yours – and vice versa. The personnel transfers should be completed in about two weeks. I'd like you to start resuming your search for the GALACTICA starting with Kobol in Sector 218."
Cain nodded. Two weeks would take care of personnel transfers and shore leave for the PEGASUS crew. It was unsaid, but it was obvious that the PEGASUS and CEREBRUS were helping to protect the fleet until then.
"Once we are fueled and provisioned, then there will be no problem", Cain assured Tillman, "but for the meantime, both of our ships will assist your pilots in CAP and recon missions. I don't want to have the pilots of Silver Spar and the Black Knights thinking they are on vacation".
Tillman and Roberts laughed at that last comment. Still, the addition of those strike wings to the patrol roster would be of immeasurable help to the protection of the fleet.
"The addition of the peregrine to the recon roster will be of great help", Tillman said, "in fact, Major Nix had been pestering me to let him go out with Lieutenant Hunter on it's next recon schedule. I've approved it, so it will give my CAG a bit of a change from the routine".
"No problem with that", Cain said, "as long as Major Nix can get himself over to the PEGASUS to catch the flight".
"That reminds me", Tillman said, "the stealth raptor is ready for ferrying over to the PEGASUS from the HYPERION. When are you intending to get your pilots over for that?"
"I've directed the 'Two Jasons' to take the next shuttle over to the HYPERION for that purpose, Admiral", Cain answered, "so it should be any time today".
Tillman nodded at that. So, it looks like things are going smoothly. Considering the recent battle and flight from Naylor Station, the fleet was doing fine. Tillman then started the brief on the fueling and provisioning schedule, which would run in tandem with the personnel transfers.