Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate or Battlestar Galactica: 2003.
Another Road not Taken
Chapter19: The Second Exodus
October 5th 2009
Talon System
In orbit above Ulysses IV
EFS George Hammond
Starboard Hangar
The Hammond remained in orbit above the moon Ulysses IV with the five 'Rebel' Basestars of the Cylon Rebellion. A single Heavy Raider left the lead Basestar and slowly entered the starboard fighter bay of the Tau'ri cruiser.
Colonel Carter stood alongside several guards as the Cylon Heavy Raider landed on the hangar deck and the aft hatch opened. The first to disembark was a humanoid machine; sleek and deadly-looking followed by another matching the models Six and Three. The last was another woman, seemingly Asian who appeared to be an Eight.
"I am Natalie Faust of the Cylon Rebellion; it's a pleasure to meet you," the Six introduced. "My companions are model numbers eight and Three. We don't normally have names however we have been designated names to interact with other cultures...these are Gabriela Eight and D'Anna Biers."
"Colonel Samantha Carter, commander of the Hammond," Carter responded. "You'll have to forgive me if I come off as rude but we've been fighting a war against you for over a year now."
"You're not fighting us," Natalie said clearly. "You're fighting the Ones, Fours and Fives."
"Let's take this somewhere more appropriate," Carter said before nodding towards the door. They made their way through the ship and arrived at their destination a few minutes later. It was a large room with a table in the center; the Cylons sat down on one side of it and the Tau'ri sat on the other. "Alright let's begin," she started. "Why you are here?"
"Here?" Gabriella asked suspiciously.
"Why were you under attack and on the border to Earth-claimed Space," Carter continued. "A better question was why were other Cylon ships attacking you?"
"For the past few years since the Second War ended the Ones have effectively seized control despite our best efforts. It was simple to reject his proposals at first however he along with the Fours and Fives managed to take control of the Colony, a massive construct which acts as the Cylon homeworld," D'Anna explained.
"He was going to have us boxed and then purged from the Resurrection network," Natalie continued. "He's already cut our connection with it by forcing us away from the Resurrection ships."
"So you thought that we'd be able to help you?" Carter half asked. "You do know that we are the same race you were trying to wipe out, right?"
"We are aware of the irony yes," D'Anna replied with a smile. "But we have nowhere else to go...and nothing else to lose."
"...What is it you want exactly?" Carter asked them.
"Sanctuary...help...a home," Gabriella was the one who answered.
"You want a world to call your own without being afraid of being killed by your own kind and us humans," Carter smiled sadly.
"Yes," Natalie nodded. "We have something else which you may find interesting...consider it encouragement for cooperation."
"...And what might that be?" Carter asked intrigued.
"The location of every Cylon installation in the galaxy."
October 6th 2009
Talon System
In orbit above Ulysses IV
EFS George Hammond
Carter's Cabin
"Are you saying she has the location of every single Cylon base in the galaxy?" Jack blinked.
"It would seem that way, yes sir," Carter nodded. "I don't think I have to tell you the kind of intel we would gain if we knew exactly where they were."
"We'd be able to hunt them down better than we can already," Jack agreed.
"Couple that with the virus program Mister Wallace developed and we'd have the Cylons on the run. They'd be finished," Carter continued. "As for their demands...they want sanctuary and a world to call their own, sir."
"The council has already discussed it and they agree that the chance to locate every Cylon base in the galaxy is too good an opportunity to pass up. I've dispatched the Odyssey, three Artemis destroyers and a Stargate for Ulysses IV. They can have the moon and we'll discuss the finer points of a trade alliance later," Jack concluded.
"Understood sir," Carter nodded in understanding.
"Hand Gina over to them too," Jack added. "Her counselling has gotten better but I think she'd feel better if she's with her 'sisters' for the time being. Her trial has concluded and she was found not guilty because of all that legal stuff the lawyers were throwing round."
"I'll see what I can do sir," Carter nodded again. "And it's not really surprising she wasn't found guilty after what the crew of the Pegasus did to her. To be honest if that had happened to me I'd have shot Admiral Cain myself too if given the chance."
"Be advised our outpost on New Caprica has detected a Cylon fleet heading for the boarder," Jack continued. "It looks like their target is New Caprica itself...the Colonials."
"How many ships do we have available?" Carter asked worried.
"Besides the Hammond and the Odyssey the rest of the fleet is off in Pegasus hunting down the Wraith," Jack replied. "The Astrea and the Achilles are remaining on station at Earth as guard ships just in case the Cylons decide Earth is a tempting target."
"What about the Artemis destroyers?" Carter asked further.
"They've already been dispatched to New Caprica to aid in the defence but you know as well as I do that they don't have the firepower to take on a Cylon fleet alone. They're escort ships and missile frigates, not capital vessels," Jack responded. "As soon as the Odyssey and her escorts deliver the Stargate to you they'll proceed immediately to New Caprica. Send Eli and his computer virus with them."
"Sir, he's just a civilian," Carter said worried.
"He's also the only one in two galaxies that could figure out that damned Ancient program," Jack countered. "I have the Joint Chiefs, the IOA and the council breathing down my neck over this Sam."
"How many Cylon ships are we expecting?" Carter inquired.
"Give or take thirty ships," Jack answered.
"Those aren't good odds," Carter frowned.
"That's why we're launching the Atlas, Columbia and Olympus as soon as their weapons are stocked."
October 6th 2009
Xi System / Tyron Nebula
New Caprica (P3X-493)
New Caprica City
Colonial One
"So they're finally coming?" President Laura Roslin asked simply. "Are you certain?"
"We detected their fleet heading for the border," Major 'Disaster' Davis replied. "They should be here within eight hours...give or take a few minutes."
"I've already got my people readying up the vipers and raptors for launch. However Madam President I do not think we can hold them off for long," Adama spoke up.
"Tory, send out the order to evacuate," Roslin gave the order.
"Yes Madam President," Tory Foster nodded and left to carry out the command.
"How many ships can you send to aid us?" Adama asked the assembled Terran.
"All forty-seven of our Artemis destroyers should be arriving shortly and the Odyssey should be here within five hours," Davis replied. "General O'Neill has also authorised the launch of the Atlas, Columbia and Olympus as soon as possible."
"The three Battlestars you salvaged from the Colonial mothball fleet?" Adama mused.
"We're still outgunned," Tigh commented. "The frakking toasters are using energy shields and energy weapons now right? Even with those shield generators you supplied us with our Battlestars won't last long against them."
"Maybe and maybe not," Davis conceded. "All we need to do is hold them off long enough to get everyone off of the ground and if worse comes to worse we'll hit them with the Ancient weapons platform at our outpost."
October 7th 2009
Xi System / Tyron Nebula
In orbit above New Caprica
EFS Odyssey
Main Bridge
The Odyssey was the sole Earth-built capital ship in the area surrounded by the large number of forty-seven Artemis-class destroyers and the massive Colonial-built Battlestars. The Galactica and the Pegasus were the closest to the civilian ships in orbit and were in the process of evacuating people off of the surface onto the ships. The other three Colonial-built Columbia-class Battlestars were holding position above New Caprica City after they were launched following the three years spent repairing them since they had been salvaged from the Colonial mothball yards in the Hades sector.
"Sir, we're picking up energy distortions one hundred kilometres out...it's the Cylons," Marks informed.
"Why so far away from the planet?" Emerson mused.
"Cylon raiders are jumping in right on top of us," Marks reported.
"Here we go," Emerson whispered as he leaned back in his chair. "Begin transmitting the program and standby to deploy warheads when ready."
Hundreds if not thousands of raiders appeared before the assembled human fleet in a series of flashes and almost immediately they let loose with one large salvo of missiles. The missiles closed in as the rail-guns on the Artemis destroyers opened up in order to shoot them down. Large explosions of light lit up the space between the human and Cylon fleets as most of the missiles were intercepted and detonated prematurely. A few made it through but the energy shields on the human ships shrugged off the impacts.
"The civilian ships in orbit are jumping out to the rendezvous coordinates now," Marks informed. "The ships on the surface are still being loaded up...it looks like the Colonials are grabbing everything not bolted down. Sir, the program is working however it looks like the Cylons have adapted...they've shutdown access to their networks."
"So what?" Emerson asked.
"Their raiders and Baseships are operating without any form of communication," Marks explained. "They're flying blind sir."
"Start deploying warheads now," Emerson gave the order.
"Warhead one is away," Marks reported.
Out in space in the center of the raiders' lines a single cylinder shape appeared in a column of light. After the light disappeared the countdown on the side of the cylinder reached zero and the area lit up as it exploded. An expanding fireball signified the detonation of the one point two gigaton nuclear device and the destruction of almost three hundred Cylon raiders. Across the Cylon lines other warheads were beamed in and detonated, completely annihilating almost all of the attacking raiders.
"Sir, the Baseships are jumping in now," Marks informed.
"Standby Asgard cannons," Emerson ordered.
The Odyssey turned just as a pair of Basestars appeared behind it and opened fire with its staff cannons. The plasma bolts slammed into the Tau'ri cruiser's shields sending sparks through the warship's main bridge as it brought its guns to bear. Three precise beams of superheated plasma shot out from the vessel's gun-ports and tore into one of the Basestars. The first shot pierced its shields while the second and third shots obliterated it upon impact.
"Analogue on the second Baseship and open fire with the missile batteries. We need to hold them off for as long as we can," Emerson ordered.
The Tau'ri cruiser shrugged off impacts from both plasma bolts and the odd nuclear missile that struck its shields as it moved to engage the second Basestar. Sixteen missiles streaked out of the Odyssey's ventral launch tubes and accelerated at the Basestar. Lacking any real defences other than its fighters—both of which were proving useless against the Tau'ri's new weapons—the Basestar was unable to stop the missiles before they struck its shields and detonating in a series of nuclear detonations in the gigaton range. Their shields were overwhelmed by the barrage and collapsed allowing the energy from the blasts to engulf the Basestar itself.
"Enemy contact has been neutralised," Marks reported.
"And the others?" Emerson asked.
October 7th 2009
Xi System / Tyron Nebula
In orbit above New Caprica
Battlestar Galactica
CIC
Further away the Galactica and Pegasus were laying down flak fire at the large number of charging raiders that were descending on the planet itself. However unlike the Atlas, Columbia and Olympus who were using their newly installed plasma beam cannons against the Cylon Basestars, both Colonial-controlled Battlestars were not outfitted with such weapons and were forced to rely solely on their nuclear ordinance to deal with the Basestars that challenged them.
Nuclear light signified the destruction of yet another Basestar as two more bore down on the defending Colonial Battlestars. Nukes were flying left and right and several struck the Galactica's energy shields almost continuously despite the amount of flak fire it was putting out. As time drew by however it quickly became clear that more and more of the nukes were getting through and hitting them.
"Pass up the cord," Adama ordered and a crewman handed him one side of a long wire. "Connect the other side right away," he added as he quickly connected his side to the relay behind him. The Galactica was a mess and wouldn't last much longer against the four Basestars bearing down on its position.
"We've lost the manoeuvring thrusters," Tigh spoke up. "The frakkers are trying to box us in where we can't provide support for the planet-side ships."
"We can't take any more hits to port or we're looking at explosive decompressions in sections thirty-six through forty-eight," Gaeta reported.
"Jump drive?" Adama questioned.
"Negative," Gaeta replied. "Sir, the Pegasus just jumped behind the Basestars, I think they're trying to flank them."
"What the hell is he doing?" Tigh muttered as he stared up at the DRADIS screen.
"Patch me through to the Pegasus right now," Adama ordered.
"Incoming transition," Gaeta reported.
"Galactica, Pegasus, let us take some heat off you while you get your FTL back online," Commander Lee Adama said through the comm.
"Damn you Lee...keep working on getting that FTL back online," Adama ordered.
"He's just as reckless as you were back in the day," Tigh commented.
"Too true," Adama nodded.
The Pegasus accelerated towards one of the four Basestars pounding the Galactica and opened fire with its forward batteries. Thanks to help from their Tau'ri allies the Pegasus' kinetic energy weapons had been improved to the point that they could accelerate a single projectile to half the speed of light. Each shot from its forward guns battered against the Goa'uld-designed shields of the Basestars until they broke through two of them and tore into the ships themselves.
"Most of the ships are off the ground now...there's only a few left," Gaeta informed.
"FTL is back online," Tigh reported.
"The Pegasus is taking a hell of a pounding sir," Gaeta said with a gulp. "She won't last much longer...sir the Olympus just went up. She's destroyed...it looks like she was hit by eight nukes through her shields."
"Frak, we're getting our asses kicked here," Tigh cursed.
"Land our birds!" Adama shouted out the order. "Let's get the hell out of here."
"All wings, Galactica, come on home. I repeat come on home, combat landings have been authorised," Gaeta said into the comm.
The vipers and vultures in the immediate area turned and accelerated back towards the battered Galactica even as a pair of Basestars closed in. They quickly landed in the two flight pods of the Battlestar and the pods closed once the last fighter was down.
"All of our birds have landed," Tigh reported.
"All hands, all hands, get ready to jump," Adama said into the comm.
A second later the Galactica disappeared in a flash of light as missiles streaked passed where it was just a moment ago...
October 7th 2009
Xi System / Tyron Nebula
In orbit above New Caprica
Battlestar Pegasus
CIC
"Set main batteries to auto-fire," Commander Lee 'Apollo' Adama ordered and another nuke struck the wavering Battlestar. "Lock engines ahead full, flanking speed."
"...We can't last much longer," Duala commented.
"All hands, this is the commander," Lee said in into the comm. "Abandon ship, I repeat abandon ship," he gave the order. "Report to evac raptors and jump to the rendezvous coordinates. Good work and I'll see you on the other side."
"Alright people, let's move!" Duala shouted to the command crew. "Let's go," she said as they started filing out of the room. She stopped at the door and turned to Lee who stood at the table in the center. "You too commander," she told him.
Lee sent her a look she didn't recognise but didn't reply and after she left he slowly walked to the door as sparks flew throughout the room. He stopped at the door and looked around the room at his first command. This was his ship and always would be for as long as he lived.
"Thank you," Lee whispered before he exited the room.
The Pegasus continued on course and accelerated towards one unfortunate Basestar. It rammed the Basestar at full speed, breaking through its already weakened shields and smashing its space frame. The engines of the Pegasus exploded a moment later, blowing the two ships apart and sending debris scattering across the battlefield. Half of its port flight pod was blown away and slammed into another Basestar that was unfortunate enough to have already lost its shields and was destroyed.
October 7th 2009
Xi System / Tyron Nebula
In orbit above New Caprica
EFS Odyssey
Main Bridge
The Odyssey shook as another nuke struck its shields and it waved its way through the debris covered battlefield. The battle was taking its toll on the Tau'ri battlecruiser as it returned fire with a barrage from its missile batteries, consuming a pair of Basestars in nuclear light.
"Damage report!" Emerson demanded.
"Shields are failing," Marks reported. "We have hull breaches on decks six and eight in sections two and four. We've lost the Asgard weapons and we've exhausted our remaining ordinance on that last salvo. The rail-guns are down to their last mags and they won't last much longer either...we need to break off."
"What's the status of the rest of the fleet?" Emerson questioned.
"Twenty-two of the Artemis destroyers have been destroyed and we've lost the Pegasus and the Olympus. The Galactica has jumped away and both the Atlas and the Columbia are preparing to jump too. The last of the civilian ships have jumped out," Marks replied.
"That just leaves the Ancient outpost," Emerson said as another plasma bolt struck the shields.
"Sir?" Marks asked confused.
"We've done all we can here," Emerson spoke clearly. "Break us away and get us into hyperspace."
"Yes sir," Marks nodded and carried out the order.
The Odyssey quickly moved away from the Cylon fleet as the remaining vipers and vultures in the area started landing in its hangar bays. Once clear of the debris field it tore open a hyperspace window and accelerated inside on course for the rendezvous coordinates.
October 7th 2009
Xi System / Tyron Nebula
New Caprica
Ancient Outpost
Control Room
"Vala?" Daniel asked as another earthquake shook the room. "We need to go right now! The Cylons will be here any minute; it's now or never."
"Alright, I've got it," Vala said as she slipped in another crystal into a slot on in the draw and pushed it in. The wall lit up and she smiled in satisfaction at her work.
"Firing drones," Cam said from the control chair in the next room over.
A swarm of Ancient plasma drones shot out from the outpost and into the air outside. The drones continued up until they broke through the atmosphere and closed in on the orbiting Cylon fleet. The Cylons saw them coming however and a few managed to jump out however most were torn apart by the salvo and destroyed.
"That's the last of the drones," Daniel sighed. "The ZPM is depleted...and the Cylon ships that escaped the drones have jumped back into orbit."
"Head to the Stargate while I activate the self-destruct," Cam ordered as he stood up from the chair. "Go!" he shouted as he made a mad dash down the corridor deeper into the outpost.
He reached a large empty room with a blast door and a single cylinder shaped object in the center. He gulped as he approached it and opened up a panel on its side. This was a Mark IX Naquadria-enhanced nuclear weapon and he supposed it was fitting that he be the one to activate it and destroy the outpost since he was the one who used the last one on the Cylon homeworld three years ago.
He quickly entered his code and after setting the timer he left the room. The bomb was set for a five minute countdown so he needed to hurry back to the Stargate and leave before it went off. Half way there however a pair of centurions appeared in the hallway and shot at him forcing him to take cover. He was pinned and he knew it forcing him to remain in cover as they fired at him.
Familiar gunfire filled the air and the centurions dropped to the ground with a clattering sound. He looked around the corner and spotted Daniel and Vala standing over the destroyed machines. Cam nodded and the three took off towards the gate-room where they had moved the Stargate years ago. Daniel quickly dialled the gate to Earth and after Cam sent through his authorisation code they ran through the gate.
As the Cylon forces started landing on the planet and searching for the anything of value like where the Colonials had fled to. They were surprised to see an expanding light come from the mountain range that incinerated everything on the habitable section of the cold and barren world. The orbiting Cylon fleet watched with what they quickly realised was fear when they remembered a similar nuclear detonation on the former Cylon homeworld...
Author's Notes:
New Caprica falls to the Cylon onslaught though because of the actions taken by the defenders both the civilians have escaped and the Ancient outpost has been nuked, erasing all of the Ancient tech there so the Cylons can't get their hands on it. On the other hand the Tau'ri now have the location of every Cylon base in the galaxy and a target list to strike at.
Gina is going back to her sisters because to be honest I think she's suffered enough already; that and it might calm the Rebel Cylons who are nervous about negotiating with humans.
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