A lot going on in this chapter, plot wise…although soon we'll see more Lee, Helo and Evelyn. As normal, I don't own BSG and am making no money from this, and for those who have reviewed…I adore you all ^^. Enjoy this chapter, I'm off to work on Closing of an Era ^^
The CIC was a hive of activity, people talking on headsets, others typing away on old computers. Beneath the DRADIS, Commander Adama and his XO, Colonel Tigh watched the screen with stern eyes, hoping to be able to finally offer good news. Two rows above them, Dualla, the communications officer, watched as more messages printed out rapidly. Lt Gaeta leaned over her shoulder, scanning the messages through the pile as more printed out.
"What's the latest?" He asked quietly, not wanting anyone to overhear in case something was wrong.
"A lot of confusion," she replied just as soft, keeping close to him. "I keep seeing these weird reports about…equipment malfunctions."
"Why is that weird?" He asked, not quite understanding what she was trying to say.
"It's the number of malfunctions. One report said an entire Battlestar lost power just before it came into contact with the enemy. They said it was like…someone just turned off a switch." They shared a look, mirror reflections of their own confusion and terror.
Everyone was tense as they watched the DRADIS, the dots symbolizing their Viper pilots in a stern pattern. There was barely a word in the room, their eyes caught on the two red ones, indicating the enemy as it lazily flew towards the twenty friendly green ones. Apprehension was reflected in the eyes of Gaeta and Dualla, the reports of malfunctions floating in their minds.
It was seconds away from the enemy reaching the friendlies, two against twenty. Then something went wrong. The Galactica pilots scattered with no destination in mind. One...two…two ships collided, destroying themselves on impact. People winced, their hearts mourning the loss of their friends, those they had served with for years.
Boomer and Helo's dot was far back, still maintaining their position as the two Cylons reached the still scattering Vipers. It was horrific to watch, the pilots picked off so fast, it was almost incomprehensible. Soon, the only green dot that was left was the Raptor, and even that didn't take long to disappear.
Evelyn worked on the old Viper side by side with Starbuck, polishing the canopy until it glistened, crystal clear. Beside her one of the deck crew fastened a bolt, and then dropped the wrench. The large metal tool scrapped down Evelyn's leg before clattering down on the floor.
"Ow! Careful!" she scowled, before tossing the cloth towards the toolbox.
"This one's ready to fly," said a voice from the other side of the plane. Nodding, Evelyn jumped off the wing and moved towards another as the speakers let out a hum.
"…Preliminary reports indicate a thermo-nuclear device in the fifty-megaton range…" Starbuck moved out from under her Viper, staring up in shock, her pale face reflected by everyone around her. "…was detonated over Caprica City approximately thirty minutes ago…"
"Frack me…" Evelyn whispered, her thoughts turning over the number of people in just the city alone. It was silent in the bay, people dead still, waiting for more news.
"There's no report on casualties, but obviously…they will be high." Cally, one of the Chief's deck hands stood up, her hands bracing her body against the Viper.
"How many people in Caprica?" she asked absently, speaking her thoughts.
"Seven million," Kara replied grimly, her throat working as she swallowed thickly. The commander's words were too much to be true, too horrible to assimilate. How could such destruction, such a holocaust occur? How was it possible with all of their defenses?
"…Mourn Caprica later. Right now, the most important thing you can do is get this ship into the fight." Commander Adama's words were strong with his conviction. Clicking off the loudspeaker, he looked around the dead CIC, the people's stunned and horrified expressions. No-one conversed; they tried not to even think about what was said. Suddenly a shatter broke the moment; a coffee cup had slipped out of someone's hand. It was enough to get people moving, to get everyone's focus.
The CIC was a hive of activity once more.
"Kara…" Evelyn spoke up, her words adding to the gloom. "Has there been any word of Burner? Of Helo? Anyone?" She swallowed thickly, not looking at her mentor. Helo…
"No…no word yet."
"We've only got two left!" Boomer yelled back towards Helo as she furiously controlled the Raptor. Pressing a button, a small decoy drone dropped from the Raptor's belly. The tiny missile shaped canister raced away from the small ship, a Magnesium flare attracting one of the missile's sensors. The second on hesitated, and then continued after its original goal.
Inside the ship, the two pilots watched with growing horror and panic as the missile continued to follow them.
"Damnit!" Boomer cursed, trying to fly evasively.
"Uh…Sharon…" Helo's voice echoed in the cabin, apprehension thick.
Boomer's reply was quick and impatient. "What?"
"Check the screen ahead." His screen reflected so many contacts, that in the back of his mind, it reminded him like a field of moving stars. Tiny amounts of debris hit the ship, causing a pinging noise to echo throughout the tiny space.
"I guess we found the main fight," Boomer said in awe, unaware the missile was getting closer. A buzzer went off in the cockpit, warning the occupants that the missile managed to get a lock on them.
"MISSILE LOCK!" Helo yelled urgently. Boomer hit a switch, the remaining decoy was released. An explosion rocked the ship as its pilot swerved to miss the main brunt of it. Electronics went off madly, circuitry popping and sparking, even a small fire started.
Extinguishing the fire with her small extinguisher, Boomer straightened out the ship, her eyes darting over the instruments. "Okay…okay…we're still here…Helo? Hey, are you okay?" She looked over at her shoulder. Lying prone in his chair, Helo nodded, dazed.
"Present," he replied groggily.
"Stay with me," Boomer ordered, her eyes turned back to the windshield. Helo looked down at the bleeding wound in his leg and noticed the breach in the hull. Sealing it off, he reached for the medical kit stashed underneath his consol and bound his wound, praying silently that they don't get another hull breach.
"We have a fuel leak," Boomer said, flicking a few switches. "We're going to have to put down to repair it…"
"Lotta company between us and home…" He replied quietly, looking out towards the Cylon Basestars and patrols.
"Yeah," she replied, thinking for a moment. Grabbing the controls, she hit the throttle and the damaged Raptor leapt forward. Guiding the ship straight ahead, she cut the power and the Raptor grew dark.
"So we coast?" Helo asked, hobbling forward to look out of the canopy.
"Best way to avoid attracting attention. No power signature, go into a straight line—unless someone gets close enough to actually see us, we'll look like a chunk of debris on sensors. I think we have enough inertia to make it to Caprica's ionosphere, and then we'll power up and find a place to land."
"Nice," he replied, a little pained. "Nice thinking there…I think we can officially stop calling you a Rook now, Lieutenant."