Battles and Betrayals
"Sir. Message was sent off"
"Good" said Henderson. "Did you receive a reply?"
"Yes. Standing by"
"Very well. Don't speak of this to anybody at all"
# # # # #
"Attention on the Dauntless. Pass the word for Commander Henderson to contact CIC" Golden's voice filtered through the ship.
"Henderson" the Commander picked up the nearest phone in Engineering – being there on an inspection.
"DRADIS reports multiple contacts just where we expected them to be"
"Understood. Close up the forward defences, and prepare to launch ready Vipers"
"Aye"
"I'll be there in little while. Henderson out" he replaced the handset and made a run for CIC. It was three weeks after their encounter with the Serenity, and the Dauntless had passaged through some tricky parts of space based on the last known heading of the group that had attacked it.
"COMMANDER ON DECK!" a petty officer said.
"As you were. Sit Rep"
"DRADIS contacts fit profile of the ships under the control of the SRA" Golden said. "We will have to get closer to be sure, but I can't think of anything else this far out" she shrugged.
"Any transmissions we can listen to?" Henderson looked at the duty communications officer.
"Faint comm traffic, Sir. Just routine yard chatter"
"Damned machine!" the CIC looked as an officer kicked the scanner readout console.
"At ease, Lieutenant" Golden barked.
"Sorry, Colonel. I keep getting an echo on scanners, but DRADIS is showing nothing at all on the scopes. I have rebooted three times, and I still get the same damned contact"
"It will be a glitch in the system, Mister" Henderson said. "We'll strip it down the moment we have the chance"
"Yes, Sir" the officer said, looking at his screens with hatred for the display. "Sorry, Comm… HELM - HARD TO STARBOARD" the junior officer's shout caused the helm to put the ship into a tight right turn.
"What the frack are you thinking of, Mister?" Golden said.
"DRADIS CONTACTS!" the DRADIS officer shouted. "Ships closing in from all direction. Vipers, Raptors, Warstars… There is everything out there, Sir"
"ACTION STATIONS ACTION STATIONS! SET CONDITION ONE THROUGHOUT THE SHIP – THIS IS NOT A DRILL LAUNCH ALL VIPERS. MAN BATTLESTATIONS" Henderson said. The faint shaking of the deck plates told him the defences had started up to knock out the many missiles now coming towards them.
"Gun crews report all stations manned and ready" the weapons officer said.
"Concentrate main batteries on the Warstars and other capital ships. Leave the smaller ships to the Anti-Aircraft and secondary batteries" Henderson ordered.
"Vipers away" Golden said.
"Order them to fire to disable only. If that isn't possible, then they are authorised to take out any hostile targets – but only otherwise…" Henderson said. DRADIS, any readings on the Greene?"
"Nothing. If she's here, she's rigged for silent running"
"If she has gone and done a runner…" Golden said quietly.
The battle raged on for over an hour, and both sides took heavy losses and damage to manpower and equipment. The Dauntless had suffered hull breaches in sever sections, but none of them were key to the ship's operation. In return, the vessel and her fighters had attacked and destroyed a dozen Warstars, three frigates and dozens of Vipers. A lot of other Vipers drifted around the combat zone disabled and unable to do anything for themselves. As Henderson held onto the map table after an impact shook the entire Battlestar, he realised why everything seemed to be thrown at him.
"Navigation – plot an FTL jump to the space station directly ahead"
"Sir?"
"Commander?"
"You heard me – plot it now" Henderson looked to Golden. "I have a theory they are stopping us from getting the Greene. If that ship escapes from us, we might as well just go home"
"But what about our Vipers?" Golden frowned.
"Launch all Raptors with chain cannon and full missile load outs – they'll act as gunships" he replied. It took a few minutes, but all Raptors were launched and the Dauntless readied itself for an FTL jump.
# # # # #
"Where the hell did our Battlestar go?" one of the pilots asked.
"There was no warning" said another.
"Cut the chatter. Viper squadrons 1, 2 and 3 form line CAG and prepare for a burst run. Remaining Vipers and Raptors standby to fire all weapons at the Warstars – they're going down" Odell said, swinging into a new position. "They will come back for us"
"Bullshit"
"Who said that?"
"Big Top, negative bullshit on DRADIS"
"Death Star, negative on the bullshit"
"CAG, Raptor 378. We're not picking up bullshit at this time" and Odell couldn't help but smile. A small part of him regretted what he was about to do as he opened a new communications channel…
# # # # #
"Jump complete" said the navigation officer.
"DRADIS contacts bearing 123 carom 96 and 164 carom 22. Numerous weapon targeting systems locking on"
"Is the Greene here?"
"Checking… Checking… Commander! Battlestar sized contact at edge of reduced DRADIS range"
"Reduced?" Henderson looked round to where the science officer was.
"Partial jamming of DRADIS by enemy forces, Sir. Nothing I can do about it"
"Very well. Helm, take us directly to the contact. All guns are cleared to fire on any hostile target without seeking permission" Henderson said.
"Standby missile batteries 1 through 20" Golden said.
"Load Devastator cannons" Henderson ordered. "Standby to fire on the Greene"
"Sir, I'm picking up a wireless transmission" the communications officer said.
"Put it on speakers"
"Its some kind of code, Sir. It'll take a few moments to break it"
"Well get on it with" Henderson said. The woman worked hard and frowned when she had completed the task.
"Sir, the sender appears to be using the newest communication packets built into our Vipers"
"Looks like someone went on a shopping trip" somebody muttered.
"Entering enemy weapon range"
"All hands, brace for uncovered attacked" Golden repeated it three times before the ship shook slightly from the impact. "Hell of a shakedown cruise" the Colonel muttered.
"Science – what is the latest information on that contact?" Henderson asked, looking at the fuzzy DRADIS screen.
"We're sure it is a Battlestar"
"Oh, that makes everything better"
"You think you can do better, you come work the DRADIS and I'll run the fucking Battlestar"
"Marines, escort the science officer to the Brig. Ensign, take the Captain's position"
"Yes, Sir"
"Aye, Aye, Sir. Contact bearing 117 carom 00 appears to be the Greene scanners indicate she is beginning a power up sequence – estimate six minutes until she has sufficient engine power to leave dock"
"Your birthday, Colonel"
"Thanks. Missiles and Guns, on my mark fire all that bear on the Greene's engineering spaces. One salvo fire from all points that come to bear.
"Standing by on all points" weapons confirmed.
"Communications, hail the Greene and everything else near us. I want to talk to them"
"Suppose they don't want to listen" the communications officer said.
"They will when they pick this up" Henderson said. "As senior officer present in theatre, I am authorising the use of nuclear weapons. Missile officer, spin the war heads on missiles 1 and 2 and dial them to maximum yield"
"Commander?" Golden blinked in surprise.
"I'm not going to use them, but I can't help but think how pissed off they will be if they aren't alive to be liberating something" Henderson said.
"Good point"
"They're… They are responding. On handset…" the communications officer pointed to the one nearest Henderson.
"This is the Colonial Battlestar Dauntless, Commander Henderson speaking
"I suggest that you leave this place now. Otherwise, you will end up just like your pathetic air wing"
"What?"
"You don't know?" the voice of Tom Zarek was mocking. "Your CAG is working for us – one hundred percent"
"Zarek, you are in violation of so many laws, they are using a small moon just to store the charges. Surrender all of your forces at once, or I will deploy the first of my nuclear missiles"
"You wouldn't dare do that"
"Try me. Missiles, lock on to the end point of this transmission and prepare to fire in three minutes… MARK"
"You do this, and you would be as much a criminal as we are. I know all about your regulations"
"Maybe you are right, Zarek" Henderson said as several missile shot out from Dauntless and impacted the Greene's engineering section. "But there is something that you don't know about"
"Oh? And what is that" Zarek mocked Henderson as he continued pounding the lone Battlestar.
"This" Henderson replied. "Dauntless to Cylon Commander – Destiny" and there was a gasp as Henderson seemingly communicated to the Cylons.
"By your command" a metallic voice replied. All at once, Cylon Baseships, Basestars, Raiders and other vessels lit up the DRADIS screens – surrounding the entire area of the space borne base.
"Frack me" Zarek said.
"BY YOUR COMMAND" Henderson and the Cylon replied, and both sides opened fire and overwhelmed the SRA and its ships.
"DRADIS contacts. Three Warstars entering extreme edge of DRADIS range. They will be here in four hours and fifteen minutes"
"Dauntless to Cylon commander. Thank you for your help, but more of our ships are heading this way. I think it best if you vanished before they get here"
"Acknowledged, Commander" and the Cylons regrouped and jumped away.
"Away the boarding parties" Golden said. "Priority is to find Tom Zarek and bring him aboard at once"
"Commander, the Warstars do not appear to be in any kind of registry" the DRADIS officer reported. "I have even checked the lists of ships retired from service and sold on, but I get nothing whatsoever"
"Names, Lieutenant"
"Whisperer, Silent Killer and Shadow"
"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Golden asked.
"I'm afraid so" Henderson looked at the faint traces on the DRADIS screen above him. "Move us closer to the station before we launch the shuttles. We need every moment we can get" and the Dauntless edged closer to the base – some parts of which were still firing. The ship replied by pounding them with missiles and heavy weapons fired from the Devastator cannons mounted in the nose of the Battlestar. The Marines boarded the station, several smaller capital vessels and the ship yard – assuming control of the Greene. Zarek was found, cuffed and hurried aboard the Dauntless before the three contacts came too close for comfort.
# # # # #
"We are being hailed" said the Communications officer. "On channel 1, Sir"
"This is Commander Excalibur of the Shadow"
"Dauntless, Henderson. I was under the impression we were to work alone"
"Plans have changed, Commander. Have you found Zarek?"
"No" Henderson lied. "We breached a number of compartments on the different targets. We suspect he was either blown out into space, incinerated or torn to pieces by debris"
"What about the others in the SRA?"
"We're taking on prisoners as we speak" Henderson replied.
"Stop doing so. Admiral Kronos is ordering you to leave this place now"
"I still have to recover my air wing, Commander" Henderson said. "Before he died, Zarek said they had been ambushed and betrayed by our CAG"
"That would explain the debris we found"
"How many survivors?"
"None – all lives lost. You are further ordered to ignore all that has happened between us"
"Excuse me?" Henderson frowned at Golden – she was as confused as he was.
"Turn your ship around and leave. This is an Alpha Red priority mission. Clearance verification 9-2-1-8-BLACK. By authority of the central command you are ordered to turn your ship around, erase all records of this encounter from your logs and speak of it to no one. Is that clear?"
"I'm not leaving without my shuttles. It will take ten minutes to recover them" Henderson said.
"Very well. Start now" and the line went dead.
"Rosie, get onto the shuttles and tell the marines to cram as many people on as possible – disregard safety factors. We'll come closer to them instead"
"Commander?"
"Those ships are not coming here to take over the custody of the prisoners. I find it very odd they show up without any knowledge. Kronus could easily have let us know about the extra vessels and yet he didn't do so. Colonel, once all shuttles are aboard, I'd like the Dauntless to come out of here slowly and carefully. Take us as close as you dare past the Warstars, and get as many pictures as possible"
"Aye, Aye, Sir" Golden knew when to be all business.
"Navigational officer!" Henderson said shouted.
"Yes, Sir"
"Come to my cabin with the manuals for FTL travel. Also, bring me print outs of our location and the Kimba sector"
"Print outs… I mean, Aye, Sir"
"Communications, I want you to monitor everything that is going on between those three Warstars. Suck in every signal those bastards make. Rosie, get those pictures to Waters as soon as you can. Put her in the Wardroom with a pair of Marines you trust on the doors"
"Permission to speak freely?"
"Go ahead"
"Commander, don't you think you are being a little bit paranoid?"
"How so?"
"You think Kronus would kill Zarek? Those ships might be so secret they can't be on any registry"
"Rosie, look at their formation. They are set up to launch a massive assault the moment we leave here. You have your orders, carry on" Henderson said
"Aye, Sir" Golden saluted him.
# # # # #
"Commander on deck!"
"Clear the deck" Henderson said. "I want everyone out of here except for the XO. Wait outside and sit on the deck" and they all left with confusion over their faces. "Shut the hatch, Rosie" and Golden did so.
"What's going on, Sir?" she asked.
"We're not going back home just yet. I've plotted a jump point for the Kimba nebula. Once there, we're going to move inside and hide until we get to the bottom of this"
"I don't follow"
"I didn't think those ship's had been seen before – but I know differently now. Remember about three years ago? The appropriations submission?"
"I heard something about it, but I was out on deep space patrol at the time" Golden said.
"CI asked for money to re-commission a couple of Warstars for use in undercover missions and such like"
"And you think those are the same ones?"
"Rosie, I might not have passed my maths exam with flying colours, but I can add things up" Henderson looked up at the DRADIS screen that showed the faint contacts moving towards the base. "Something is going on here, and I just don't like it at all. I think Kronus is behind some of this"
"You are joking!"
"No, I am not" the Commander said. "Warn Engineering to bring the FTL engines into standby mode. We're making an FTL j- HOLY SHIT!" Henderson blurted out as he saw the DRADIS and scanner readouts. The three Warstars had destroyed the SRA base and everyone still alive inside the station and docks. "Lords of Kobol, hear my prayer. Take the lives of those murdered this day into your hands. Their crimes deserve no forgiveness, but they did not deserve a death like this. I appeal for the damnation of those that struck them down without mercy. So say we all"
"Amen" Golden said.
"Not a follower of the Gods?"
"I follow one God, Commander"
"Oh? Well… nobody's perfect. Check that we recorded all of that, then get Engineering to ready the jump drives. We're getting out of here"
Beep Beep
"We're being hailed" Rosie said, moving to the communications station. "Shadow"
"Ignore them" Henderson replied, entering figures into the jump computers. "Attention all hands, this is the Commander. Prepare for immediate FTL jump. Gun crews, remain at Condition 2. CSAR Raptors, prep for launch. Emergency medical teams report to the hanger deck. Doctor McCoy to the CIC on the double after Jump. Jump in five, four, three, two, one - NOW!" and the Dauntless twisted away.
# # # # #
"I have always wanted to meet you, Mr Zarek" Henderson said, walking into the wardroom. Marines guarded every hatchway both inside and out in case of an escape attempt.
"I find that hard to believe, Commander. Forgive my rudeness, but I can not shake your hand" Zarek mocked him.
"You may find this hard to believe, Zarek, but I actually understand what you talk about. I can not, in good faith, condone what you have done, but I sympathise with your movement" Henderson said. "I have even read a copy of your book" he added.
"Isn't that interesting?"
"My orders were to kill you on sight. Those are orders I intend to disregard. It is my belief that you have been set up for some of the crimes you have committed"
"Really?" Zarek looked over to where Henderson was seated. "I'll make you a deal, Commander. I tell you everything I know about our supply points and you let me go free"
"I don't think so. You must stand trial for what you and your group have done, but I will speak on your behalf so long as you give me information" Henderson said.
"Freedom to be imprisoned? Rather an interesting concept, don't you think?"
"Fine – be that way. Marines! Take Mr Zarek back to the brig"
"WAIT!" Zarek said. "Do you really mean what you said? That you would speak on my behalf at my trial?"
"You have my word as an officer in the Colonial Fleet"
"What do you want to know?"
# # # # #
CSAR Flight
Raptor 212
"Jump complete"
"Reading massive amounts of debris" the ECO said. "Scanning for transponder codes and comm channels…"
"Moving us closer to the debris field" the pilot said.
"Hey!" the ECO cried out. "I'm picking up a large contact bearing 180 carom 23"
"Can you identify?"
"Attempting… It is a Warstar… Kobol class... I'm now reading shuttles amongst the debris"
"What the hell is one of those doing out here?" the pilot turned to head in that direction.
"Getting civilian codes and beacon"
"Scavengers!" the pilot hissed. "Arming weapons. Hail them"
"Channel open"
"This is Raptor 212 to the civilian vessel directly ahead. By authority of the Colonial Fleet, you are hereby ordered to remain where you are and to cease shuttle operations at once. Acknowledge!"
"Getting the ship's name…"
"Hold your horses, Raptor" a voice said, "We have an invite to this party"
"Repeat your last"
"Serenity?" the ECO frowned.
"Raptor, we have a lot of extra friends now. Would you care to join us in a reunion?"
"This can't be right…" the ECO tapped her controls again. "I'm reading Vipers and Raptors being towed into the civilian"
"Perhaps…" the voice said, "You might take back the news to the Dauntless?"
"Bring a pilot to the channel, Serenity"
"Ensign Michaels reporting"
"Pilot, are you under duress?"
"No, Ma'am"
"Send confirmation code"
"Delta Delta Sierra Bravo Zulu Delta Tango"
"Code is authentic" the ECO said.
"Serenity – report your status"
"I'm stuffed up with birds like I was costive bound, Raptor"
"Copy that, Sir" the pilot said. "We're coming in for a landing"
#
"DRADIS contacts!" the CIC all turned to see two contacts pop into the display.
"Getting wireless message" the communications officer said. "Raptor 212… Commander, they report they are escorting the freighter Serenity and her high value cargo"
"And what is that?"
"Our… Sir, they report that they have our Air Wing aboard"
"Well…" Henderson said dryly, "What are the chances of that…?" and he left the CIC smiling.