TERTIUS – CIC, SEARCH GRID 273 (1300 HRS. – DAY 212)
"Jump complete. Dradis clear. Sir, we are now one sector away from the armistice line." Lieutenant John Carter who had been the tactical officer since TRINITY's destruction announced.
"Good, have the CAG prep the raptor crews and get them launched ASAP." Braylen ordered.
"All stations secure from jump. Landing bay, prep all raptors for launch. Flight crews report to ready room for final briefing!" Marcus announced over the ships' address system.
AULUS – COUNCIL CHAMBERS (1400 HRS.)
The council had been in session for five straight hours. Among them was Lt. Walker. They were discussing the military control of industrial ships within the fleet. It was a hot topic issue. Crimmons, Davenport and Sylvan were in favor of demanding that control be returned to the civilians.
"Admiral Tillman has no right to keep them under their control." Crimmons barked.
"Mr. Jorden is requesting that CARPUS be returned to his control. After all, it is his property." Sylvan announced.
"CARPUS and the CONVEYER are vital assets of the fleet." Blythe asserted. "Right now our main concern is our survival. Admiral Tillman has protected those ships along with the civilian fleet since the day we were found. It was his recommendation to take the automated systems offline on MYSTIC and make everyone in the fleet pull his or her own weight."
"Our main concern should be health and welfare of our lives and trying to be productive within our fleet." Lorene said.
"We need to create some type of economy! There are men and woman of high economic standing that have work hard to attain that level and are now reduced to manual labor." Davenport countered.
"Well, a little bit of hard work won't kill them." Lorene muttered.
"We'll stay the course for now. " Redmond began before being interrupted by Sylvan
"Mr. Chairman, I think…"
"Mr. Sylvan, I stand by my decision. We'll table this discussion of this issue until something breaks. Next issue." Redmond said with a strong and stern voice.
"Mr. Chairman, What is our current heading?" Mr. Davenport inquired.
"Right now we're heading towards the Sigma Sector. Admiral Tillman has reason to believe that this sector can provide us with needed raw minerals." Redman replied.
"That is deep within cylon territory." Davenport responded.
"Right now, we're in cylon territory." Lorene interjected.
"I think that the council should have a voice in where the fleet should be heading. Admiral Tillman has us pointed in the wrong direction." Crimmons said as she looked across the table.
"Councilor Crimmons, What would the right direction be? The cylons right now are everywhere in our home system. We have all seen the data. We thought we were safe in at Naylor Station. Recon missions have been sent back to the colonies and the cylons are still there. Tillman's people were the ones to find the CONVEYER, which currently refueled the entire civilian fleet. Now he recommends that we need to search for materials to replenish the fuel stores and I support that decision." Redmond countered.
TERTIUS (1500 HRS)
After securing from the jump, TERTIUS launched all raptors and began its mission. Also on the agenda was the first extended test flight of the newly restored Javelin scout craft. Major Jonathan Spencer and LTJG Michael Roberts were its test pilots. They were sitting on the flight deck waiting for a go.
"CIC this is Shadow, waiting for your GO!" Spencer said over the open wireless.
"Shadow/LSO, You are cleared for dust-off! SAR Raptor is in position."
"This should be interesting." Lt Roberts who was sitting directly behind the pilot said as Spencer powered the Javelin of the flight deck and passed through the flight pod and into space.
"Power levels stable, dradis and KEW online." Roberts reported.
"CIC/Shadow, She has a tight stick and has a slight pull to starboard but it's nothing major. We're going to open it up!"
Spencer proceeded to put the Javelin to the test through banking and abrupt turns as the SAR raptor kept a safe distance. After about thirty minutes Spencer ordered the raptor along side to test the Javelin's outright speed. Spencer found that, although the raptor was slightly faster, the Javelin was more maneuverable.
"Power is stable, no signs of structural defects." Roberts announced.
"CIC/Shadow, I would like to proceed to phase three. Do you copy?"
"Shadow/TERTIUS Actual, You have a go!" Tillman responded after a moment.
"What's phase three?" asked Cmdr Roberts who was standing next to Braylen in CIC.
But before he could answer Carter who was monitoring the dradis barked, "Javelin has jumped to the rendezvous coordinates!" Cmdr Roberts was surprised. He did not expect a jump so soon and voiced his concern about protocols.
"SAR raptor, you're clear to proceed to rendezvous with Javelin 0230!" Markesan relayed via the wireless.
"John, remember most of my crew is not military. This is their specialty!" Braylen began quietly. They are the best at what they do. I have and I will follow almost every military command protocols, but I didn't feel this was one of them. Don't worry Mike will be fine."
John knew Braylen was correct. "Maybe my concern was more from a fatherly than military." he thought to himself. He also knew that Braylen's men had rebuilt the Javelin and the work was outstanding as was all the work these men had preformed over the last several months.
After twenty or so minutes the two small ships jumped back to TERTIUS and landed in the hanger bay. The test flight of the Javelin was deeded a success.
HYPERION (2145 HRS)
Jason Tillman was just climbing into bed. He had spent the last two hours reviewing personnel reports. Anne had just returned from pulling a shift in sickbay. Anne was pulling a regular shift to help cover it only took a few minutes for her to join him.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Well it was kind of quiet. I spent the last hour in the gymnasium on a treadmill." She said as she exited the small bathroom.
"Have you seen Major Jackson recently?" He asked his wife as he put the folder down as watched her climb into bed.
"She was actually down in the gym tonight. Why?" Anne asked.
"I was thinking of making her second officer of HYPERION." He responded
"What of Major Canton?" she responded.
"Braylen needs a executive officer. Carter's been filling in but I would like an experienced officer to back him up." Jason explained as he reached up and turned off the reading light over his bed.
RAPTOR 619 – SEARCH GRID 197 (DAY 225 – 2245 HRS)
Tom "Tico" Addison was trying to repair a communication drone in the back of the raptor. The drone was modified to act as a relay so it could extend the range of the raptor's dradis system. Dina Timmons was manning the raptor's helm and Adam Russell, a former deckhand, now assigned to the Viper Training Squadron, was picking up valuable training hours was monitoring the dradis in the back. They were almost finished searching there assigned grid when the drone failed.
"Any luck? You've been screwing around for hours." Dina asked.
"No. I think the transmitter is burnt out. These drones weren't designed for repeated use." Addison responded as he tinkered inside the casing.
Dina laughed and as she picked up the book she was reading. But, before she could open it a warning buzzer sounded on dradis.
"The other drone is pinging multiple contacts. No energy signals" Russell said as she looked at him.
"Let's see what it picked up. Plot a intercept course into the NAV computer and recall the drone." Addison ordered as he moved up front.
"Shouldn't we notify ADELPHIA?" asked Russell.
"And tell them what? We need to checkout whatever that signal is." Tico began, "But spin up the FLT, just incase."
It took the raptor about twenty minutes to reach the coordinates and it immediately powered down its main systems. The three occupants of the raptor was shocked at the site of a graveyard consisting of at least six wrecked battlestars, their support vessels and hundreds if not thousands of bodies scattered as far as they could see.
"Should I power up? Russell asked.
"No! There could be cylons out there." Dina responded.
Tico had decided to just float for a while and take in the devastation. They drifted among the debris for over an hour scanning for any power signatures. Using his binoculars as they past the wrecked hulks, Russell started reading off the names of the battlestars.
"TYCHE, ANDANIA, CHIRON, OPHION, PAEON!" Russell offered as with each name his voice level dropped until it was slightly above a whispered.
"I can't make her ID plate out! Her pods are too badly damaged!" Timmons said as she tried to identify the last battlestar.
"Look at 1:00 o'clock! There's part of a flight pod. Can you make out what is?" asked Addison.
Russell could only make out the first three letters on the debris. It was NEMISES.
"We found the 56th Battle Group." Timmons responded.
"We found more than that. CHIRON and two of the other are from the 43rd. POLYCAON is missing." Tico said as he brought the raptor up to minimal power.
"Now what?" Russell asked.
"We're staying here and Lt. Timmons is taking the raptor back to inform TERTIUS. We're going to recover one of the raptors in the debris field to begin salvage operations." Addison ordered.
"What about the cylon? Timmons asked
"I don't think anyone has been around in a while. If one of those battlestars survived they would not have come here to survey debris for salvage fearing that the cylons would still be here. If the cylons were around they would have hit us the moment we entered the debris field." Addison said as he turned to Russell. "We need to cold start one of those raptors!"
TERTIUS – CIC (DAY 226 – 0130 HRS)
Braylen was still lying in bed half asleep when the old sound-powered phone buzzed. He quickly jumped up to get the phone before it woke up his family. On the other end of the phone was Lt. Kirby who had the watch in CIC. He informed Braylen that Addison's raptor had jumped back early without him and reported what they had found. Braylen ordered Kirby to assemble the senior staff and Timmons was to report to CIC immediately. As he was making his way through the corridors Colonel Marcus joined him.
"What's going on?" Marcus asked as they were jumping through the open doorways.
"Tico's raptor jumped back early. They found the 56th fleet!" Braylen responded as they entered CIC. Roberts was a couple of steps ahead of Timmons who sprinted up from the hanger bay.
"Sit-rep L-Tee!" Braylen asked Timmons!
"Sir, around 2250 hours one of our drones pinged multiple contacts with no power signals. We jumped in at a safe distance and basically coasted to the site. We found a graveyard of Colonial warships! " She responded as she was still trying to catch her breath.
"Which ones?" Roberts bellowed.
"TYCHE, ANDANIA, CHIRON, OPHION, PAEON and NEMESIS" She responded as tears were forming in her eyes. "Sir, there were thousands of people…." She started before being interrupted by Colonel Marcus. Roberts was visibly shaken by the news two of his oldest friends were in command of TYCHE and NEMESIS. During this Braylen was handed a folder of pictures that were taken by the raptor's cameras.
"Where's Addison and Russell?" he asked.
"Among the debris field there were multiple raptors. We assumed they were blown out the hanger bays during the attack. We were able to grab one of them, go through it for any type of cylon devices and then get it up and running." She replied as they made their way to the plotting table.
"Why stay behind?" Markesan asked
As Braylen and the others went through the pictures Major Coe who had remained silent and in the background spoke up.
"Recon. He's going to make a quick assessment of what could be salvageable and also he's acting as bait." He said.
"He knows it will take us a while to jump to his position. He probably doesn't think there are any cylons. But, he wants to make sure." Marcus finished.
"What about the POLYCAON? Commander Roberts asked, "She was part of the 56th."
"We couldn't find her among the debris field. Also, we couldn't account for battlestar GANYMEDES of the 43rd fleet and Berzerk Class escorts ARGOS and GALLIOTT are among the missing." Timmons replied as that news seemed to perk Roberts's attention.
"I don't see any basestars in these pictures? Why?" asked Marcus
"There were none. Only a few dozen raiders." Timmons replied gloomily.
Braylen was still focusing on the multiple pictures spread out to the plotting table. After a few more minutes he moved to the charts that were under all the pictures and turned to Marcus.
"When are the two other search teams due back?" Roberts asked.
"Two and a half days." Kirby answered.
"That's no good!" Braylen began as he turned to Colonel Marcus. "Lt. Timmons raptor prep needs to be prepped for a quick turn around. I want her to head to the area where ADELPHIA is searching, and then have them retrieve PROTEUS. We're going to the debris field!"
"ATTENTION: NIGHT SHIFT, SET CONDITION TWO THROUGHOUT THE SHIP!" Markesan announced over the address system.
It was over twelve hours before the two guardian class ships were located and joined TERTIUS. Braylen gave specific instructions to each of the commanding officers before they all jumped to the rendezvous point given to them by Lieutenant Timmons. The three ships jumped exactly where Addison's drone picked up the debris field. Braylen following Addison's suggestion of a stealth approach, cut all power with the exception of the FTL and coasted to the edge of the debris and waited and watched the dradis. After about fifteen minutes he nodded to his communication officer. Markesan adjusted the wireless frequency and gave the go-ahead signal. Braylen then up the phone receiver and keyed the transmit button.
"Tico this is Mustang, Do you copy?" as the entire CIC watched silently. Braylen waited a minute and repeated his query.
"Mustang, This is Tico!" The voice replied through the low hum of static. "Transmitting secondary identification codes now! Do you copy?"
"Receiving identification codes now. Identity codes match!" Markesan announced.
"Tico, sit-rep!" Braylen inquired.
"We've been up, down, around and through this graveyard almost a dozen times. No signs of life. No signs of toaster activity. It looks safe for now whatever happened here happened a long time ago. We're almost redline oxygen, requesting permission to return home?" Addison asked.
"That raptor still could be bugged." Carter pointed out to the group around the plotting table.
"He can use the ventral airlock until we can check that bird out." Roberts interjected." If the tinheads show up we can dump it quickly!"
Braylen liked that idea and ordered Addison to proceed to the ventral airlock and then report to CIC. Addison was in CIC within twenty minutes still wearing his flight gear. He received congratulatory handshakes as he made his way through the back of CIC to the front where Tillman, Roberts, Marcus, Carter and Spencer were waiting for him. Braylen commended him for his thinking and asked him to finish his report.
"Well I'm not sure what happened but it looks like they were caught off guard. It looks like the cylons jumped into the front of the fleet." Addison began, "ANDANIA, CHIRON, OPHION and PAEON took moderate hull damage, but the hanger bays suffered heavy damage. They were the main targets. We also noticed that almost all of their compartments were vented."
"Skin jobs!" Spencer blurted.
"Probably." Marcus responded.
"What about NEMESIS and TYCHE?" Roberts asked as the group were handed pictures taken from the recovered raptor.
"That's interesting!" Addison began as he was pointing to one photo in particular. "There's a good size gap between these destroyed vipers and raptors and those battlestars. NEMESIS and TYCHE are at the back of the grouping of battlestars. From their positioning and amount of damage it looks like they put up a fight. They were protecting anyone behind them."
"They bought time so whoever was behind them could get away." Roberts surmised.
"Well one of them was the battlestar GANYMEDES. The raptor we recovered was from her as well as a few of her vipers. I'm thinking that the raptor was blown off of her flightdeck. We also found Vipers from POLYCAON among the main debris field.
"What can we salvage?" asked Marcus softly knowing it was a morbid subject.
"Possibly a dozen raptors, a few vipers were left intact floating in the field. If we have the time we could board the battlestars and get food, ammo and spare parts." Addison replied.
"We could definitely use the ammo and food. Fleet reserves are low." Marcus added.
"We should be able to get into ANDANIA and CHIRON. Most of their damage is to the hanger bays and propulsion system.
"We have no other choice. We start salvage operations!" Tillman began. "Spencer, I want a six bird CAP around the debris field at all times also send out all our raptors as well!"
"I'm on it!" Spencer replied as he left for the pilot's ready room.
"Marcus, we need to prepare the hanger bay. Get it ready for multiple arrivals." Braylen ordered as he nodded to Roberts who had been writing a message that was going to be delivered to HYPERION.
"Understood, I'll have the electronics crews standing by as well." Marcus replied as he watched Roberts move to the communication area.
Roberts reached the Markesan and gave her an order. She then opened a commline to PROTEUS.
"PROTEUS this is TERTIUS, do you copy?
"TERTIUS, this is Actual. Go ahead." Major Timlin responded.
"PROTEUS, Transmitting encrypted data package! Scoop is a go!" Markesan ordered.
"TERTIUS, wilco!" Timlin responded.
A moment later (DAY 227 - 1421 HRS), PROTEUS jumped from its location aft of its guardian class sister ship ADELPHIA.
HYPERION – (DAY 227 – 1300 HRS)
Admiral Tillman was reading through his briefing reports in his quarters when his oldest daughter and his wife approached him. He was surprised to she her as he didn't know she was onboard. Jason stood and gave her a hug and asked what brought her here. After a moment they both sat down.
"We need to discuss something and I wanted to tell you myself." Cassidy began as she took her father's hand. "You know that I've been seeing Ryan McMillan for over five months now and over that time we've become very close…"
Just as she finished her last statement Jason was getting a very uneasy feeling and part of him was hoping it wasn't going in the direction it looked like it was heading.
"Two weeks ago he asked me to marry him." Cassidy finished.
Dead on…Jason thought to himself as he looked to Anne to see her reaction as well. He was a bit surprised at her lack of reaction.
"Just so you know, she told me first thing this morning when she arrived via shuttle." Anne said.
"Why wait so long to tell me? Why get married now? Why not wait to you're a bit older? Why isn't he here with you right now?" a stunned Jason asked.
"I wanted to gauge your reaction. You have a lot of responsibility and if you were tired or stressed I didn't want a crazy reaction, sort of like the one you're having now." Cassidy said as she sat next to her father, "Look at us, who knows what will happen. I've found someone that I love. He loves me as much as I love him. Who knows what tomorrow will bring us? I want this."
"Have you given any thought to where you will stay?" Jason asked.
"I spoken to Dr. Keegan and asked to be placed on rotation in sickbay and with HYPERION being understaffed with officers there are a few of the larger officers rooms available." She answered.
"What about your sister Kayla?" Jason questioned.
"She's all for it. She plans to stay on HAVEN." Cassidy responded.
"How do you feel about this?" Jason asked his wife.
"Jason if this was before the attacks, I would have said that she's to young and should be start her career, but its not. All I know is that we raised our children correctly and if this is what she wants in this life now then I'm not against it." Anne said as she smiled towards Cassidy.
Jason was perplexed by the whole situation. He was a bit old fashioned and he also didn't want his daughters marrying into the service. Times had changed. He slowly realized the life he wanted for his children was gone and in its place would have to be something else. As Jason was going to speak his phone rang. After a moment he answered.
"Admiral, We just received a report of a explosion onboard GEMINON 1586. Councilman Blythe was injured. He's been evaced to JUNO." McKnight reported.
"I'll be right up." Tillman informed his XO.
Jason grabbed his shirt and proceeded to put it on and while watching his daughter. A moment later he told her that he wanted McMillan to ask him for his daughters' hand before congratulating them as he gave his wife a wink of the eye before leaving the quarters. The only thing Jason thought to himself as he made his way to CIC was that he only wanted what's best for his children, if they were able to find happiness now with the situation they were in he was not going to stand in the way.
"Admiral in CIC!" bellowed a marine station at the entrance.
"Sit-rep, XO!" Tillman asked.
"At, 1357 hours there was an explosion in the hanger bay airlock of GEMINON 1586. Three dead, eight injured, two critical including Councilman Blythe. Medics quickly stabilized him and he was transferred to JUNO. He's in surgery right now. No word on his condition." McKnight reported
"What about the other Council members?" Jason asked.
"The Colonial Marshall Service (CMS) reports that they're all secured including their families." Ensign McCall reported from the comm station.
"Prepare to send a team over to examine the scene. I want to know what hap..." Tillman began before he was interrupted.
"UNKNOWN TARGET JUST JUMPED INTO RANGE!" Dyson bellowed.
"Contact is transmitting Identification Codes! It's PROTEUS! McCall reported.
"Get PROTEUS Actual on colonial priority one channel! Tillman ordered as he grabbed a handset from the side of the plotting table.
"HYPERION Actual this is PROTEUS. Copy your request. Actual standing-by" The voice responded.
"Admiral, a little over a day ago a search team from TERTIUS found the what was left of the 56th and the 43rd fleets near the Armistice Line near the Sigma sector. Six destroyed battlestars and numerous support ships as well." Timlin reported.
"Which battlestars?" Tillman asked.
"ANDANIA, CHIRON, OPHION, PAEON, TYCHE and NEMESIS. We also have two battlestars unaccounted for. " Timlin stated.
"PROTEUS has begun transmitting data packets," McKnight reported
"Which ones?" Admiral Tillman inquired.
"POLYCAON of the 56th and GANYMEDES of the 43rd are missing as well as two Berzerk Class Escorts." Timlin began, "Commander Tillman has begun recovery operations focusing on vipers, raptors and munitions."
"PROTEUS Actual, job well done. Transmit jump coordinates and take position gamma within the fleet. HYPERION Actual out." Tillman finished.
"Wilco, HYPERION. PROTEUS out!" Timlin replied.
"Ensign McCall," Admiral Tillman began, "Get on the horn to JUNO and request that Commander Jones and Major Voight onboard HYPERION in twenty minutes and set condition two throughout the ship."
It wasn't long before Jones and Voight joined McKnight, Nix and Council Chairman Redmond in the wardroom.
"Commander Jones, in less than thirty minutes you will be in charge of the fleet." Tillman began rather bluntly. "TERTIUS has found the remnants of both the 43rd and 56th fleet. HYPERION and TESTRA (electronic vessel) will be joining TERTIUS and expedite salvage efforts. I will send ADELPHIA back as soon as possible to help protect the fleet."
"I understand." Jones acknowledged.
"Major Voight, you'll be fleet CAG. You'll need to make room for Captain Baker's training squadron. I 'm not taking them with me." Nix declared as Voight shook his head to confirm the order.
"There's more." Redmond continued, "I have reason to believe that the explosion on GEMINON 1586 was an assassination attempt on councilman Blythe."
"Pick someone to run the investigation and coordinate with Lt Walker on AULUS. You can discuss it further with Chairman Redmond as he will be heading back to JUNO with you." Tillman stated.
"When do you leave?" Jones asked.
"Less than one hour. Baker's squadron is in the tube and ready to escort you back to JUNO" McKnight said as he ordered CIC to launch the squadron in the tubes.
JUNO – (DAY 227 – 1723 HRS)
"Sir, HYPERION acknowledges that they are ready for jump! Brice stated.
"HYPERION Actual is waiting on colonial channel delta." Lt. Barnes announced.
"This is Juno Actual." Jones replied over the handset.
"Commander Jones, I hereby transfer command of the fleet to you. Battlestar HYPERION is leaving formation for recon and recovery mission."
HYPERION Actual, wilco transfer of fleet command! Juno Actual is now command of fleet. Safe journey HYPERION, JUNO Actual out!" Jones replied.
A moment later HYPERION and TESTRA disappeared off JUNO's dradis.