BATTLESTAR HYPERION – CIC (DAY 238 – 2245 HRS)
It had been over ten days since Tillman sent his stealth raptors on their mission during that time; the salvage teams had recovered and processed almost three-dozen raptors, over eighty vipers and a few other smaller ships. When space was becoming an issue on the port hanger bay, the deck crew had to reassemble the battlestar's hanger rack system that had been in storage for almost twenty years. Over eighteen scavenger teams had almost completely stripped the wrecked hulks of heavy ordnance, small arms, medical supplies, food, clothing, and any piece of useful equipment possible. It was at the same time Braylen Tillman made a suggestion to Jason about beefing up the battlestar's offensive and defensive capabilities by installing additional anti-ship gun turrets along her spine and forward bow like the ships of her class had in the first war. Jason had considered this before. He knew that the turret's loading systems were still in place, but were capped off after she went in service. He did not think it practical at the time only having four that were in storage. But, after seeing the devastation of the two fleets floating in front of them, he changed his mind. Construction crews were able to install six turrets along the ship's spine that were recovered from NEMESIS and TYCHE. These would be online within a week. They had now moved the rigging to the bow and were working on installing the last two that were in HYPERION'S storage hold. It was a daunting task and the effects were starting to take its toll on the crews. They knew it had to be done but it wasn't liked. One of the knuckle draggers referred it to "Fishing in the Dead Sea" and it stuck. Jason knew he was pushing his crews and had to give them a reprieve, so he ordered all crews stand down for six hours. They had just returned to work when the dradis warning sounded.
"DRADIS CONTACT! TWENTY THOUSAND METERS PORT!" Dyson bellowed!
"ALL HANDS SET CONDITION ONE IS SET THROUGH OUT THE SHIP!" McKnight announced.
"Getting Colonial identification code over wireless! It's Raptor 5402!" McCall announced.
"Get them on a secured channel and pipe it this console!" Tillman ordered.
"Flapper, sit-rep!" Tillman asked!
"Sir, we found two ARGOS and GALLIOTT!" Brock reported.
"What about GANYMEDES and POLYCOAN?" Tillman inquired.
"No sign of them," Powers hesitated.
"Where's Tico?" Tillman asked.
"He's about a klick aft of their position." Beck responded.
"Get your bird on the deck and get up to CIC!" Tillman ordered over the wireless as he turned to his XO and ordered condition two throughout the ship.
"ATTENTION ALL HANDS, STAND DOWN TO CONDITION TWO!" McKnight announced.
"Pull all data from the raptor and get it up here immediately." He began. "Open a secured line to TERTIUS. I need to speak to my brother."
Braylen was in his quarters on his ship when his phone rang. Jason informed his brother that they had located a group of survivors that included the two of the escort ships assigned to the 56th and 43rd fleet and he would be transferring command of the salvage operation to him while he was away. Jason suggested that he should focus on recovering as many vipers as possible and if need be, call in the rest of the fleet to help.
The senior staff was assembled near Command and Control Station by the time Lieutenant Brock and his ECO reached CIC. They were already looking over the data from the raptor.
"Talk to me Flapper!" the Admiral ordered.
"Sir, in addition to the two berserk class escorts we found One Fleet Tug, One Rescue and Salvage Ship, and One Replenishment Tylier with at least a half dozen or so civilian ships located deep in a planetary debris field. The two destroyers are book ending the fleet. It looks like they are trying to provide cover. From what we were able to see ARGOS has some moderate damage mid-ship ventral area." Brock reported.
"What about the other ships? What are they?" McKnight asked.
"Mostly liners or commercial vessels. But, one is an Theta class mining ship!" Brock responded.
"Just think if she's fully operational…we could dock her with CARPUS. What a boost to the fleet it would be." Roberts stated
"What about a CAP?" Dyson asked.
"We were onsite for almost forty minutes and one set of Mark VII's. Two of the civilian ships are powered down. The others must be trying to conserve what little resources they have. " Beck answered.
"Commanding officers?" Tillman questioned.
"According to fleet records GALLIOTT is Commander Dack Freeman and Jocelyn Keller commands ARGOS." Dyson reported.
"Jocelyn "Heels" Keller? McKnight inquired.
"Do you know her?" Roberts inquired.
"Yes, we were assigned to the YORKSHIRE about ten years ago." McKnight said as he found himself thinking about his past.
"Was there a personal relationship XO?" Roberts asked after seeing the look on McKnight's face.
Tillman pulled McKnight aside before he could answer and asked him out of earshot of the others. "Jim, we don't know what we'll find over there. We also don't know what state of mind they are in. I need to figure out what type reaction she'll have good or bad. So I need to know if she might be receptive to seeing you or open fire on us after hearing your voice."
McKnight nodded and knew what Jason meant even before finishing. "We didn't part on the best of terms. I don't think she'll fire when we jump in, but her finger will be on the button." He finished as they return to the others.
"What's the status of the of the construction crews topside?" Jason asked
"Rhodes reports that the bow turrets are locked down in place. The hull around the turrets is still exposed. No plating installed." McCall relayed.
"Tell him to get his crews inside and focus on getting the new mid-ship turrets online!" McKnight instructed.
"Alright, we're going right now. Captain Dyson plot us a jump within six thousand meters of the reported position of the ARGOS and begin jump prep!" Tillman ordered.
"ATTENTION ALL HANDS! MAKE READY FOR COMBAT JUMP! CONDITION ONE IS SET THROUGH OUT THE SHIP!" Major Canton relayed throughout the ship.
"Omega and Eagle squadrons are in the tubes and ready for launch! Echo and Wetbacks are standing by." McKnight responded.
"All batteries are manned and ready." Dyson announced.
"I want all birds launched and scattered within that fleet!" Tillman began, "Jody, I want a you to broadcast our colonial ID and a challenge to all military ship upon arrival!"
"Board shows green! Ready for jump!" Commander Roberts announced to Admiral Tillman as he nodded his head.
"ATTENTION ALL HANDS COMBAT JUMP in 4…3…2...1...NOW!"
In an instant HYPERION was transported within the planetary debris field and immediately started to launch her vipers.
"They're spinning up their FTL drives. One of the Escorts is taking a defensive position in front of the others." Dyson reported!
"ATTENTION COLONIAL SHIPS, THIS IS COLONIAL BATTLESTAR HYPERION. YOU ARE ORDERED TO STAND DOWN!" McCall ordered over the wireless.
"Sir, We're getting radiological alarm! They got a nuke!" Dyson reported from his tactical station.
"Warn them that we will fire!" Tillman ordered
"ATTENTION, THIS IS COLONIAL BATTLESTAR HYPERION. YOU ARE ORDERED TO STAND DOWN! WE ARE TRANSMITTING COLONIAL ID. IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND WE WILL OPEN FIRE!" McCall ordered over the wireless.
"This is ARGOS, please retransmit recognition codes to verify." The voice responded.
After another moment without a word, the radiological alarm on HYPERION went silent and in the background over the wireless they heard ARGOS order the other ships to hold the jump.
"Battlestar HYPERION, ARGOS actual is requesting to speak to your actual." The voice requested.
"This is the actual." Jason responded.
"This is Commander Jocelyn Keller to whom am I speaking with?" the female voice asked.
"Commander, I am Jason Tillman, commanding officer of the HYPERION. What is your status?" he asked as he chose his words knowing that they would have no idea about his field promotion by the late Admiral Greene.
Our status is that we're barely operational. Last reports had the HYPERION on a deep space survey mission. How did you find us?" Keller asked.
"Commander, we will have time to go over everything. What is your status?" Tillman asked.
There was a short pause before Keller responded. "We are in need of a medical supplies and food. Most of my medical staff was killed some time ago. All the other ships are in tough shape."
"Commander, I'm sending a Medical shuttle staffed with a triage team along with a raptor to pick you up. We have a lot to discuss. In the meantime I will contact Commander Freeman as well." Jason said looked at those around the CIC.
"Commander Freeman and most of his staff were K.I.A. during the initial attacks. GALLIOTT is mostly manned by my staff and civilians." Keller replied somberly over the wireless.
"I understand. Our team will launch within fifteen minutes. Please inform the rest of your ships that we will contact them once you deem it safe." Jason replied as his mood had changed.
Jason stood silent at the plotting table taking in his conversation with the commander of the ARGOS. After a moment he asked the senior staff for their opinions.
" I would be leery of them. She sounded spent." Canton offered.
"Where are the battlestars? Why didn't she give a sit-rep?" Dyson posed.
"What shape would you be in given the limited resources available?" Roberts countered.
"Jim, you know her. You served with her. What do you think?" Jason inquired
"A battlestar that was on a deep space assignment appears out of the blue. She doesn't know anything about us so she's searching through her records and probably doesn't recognize any names. She has her back up against the wall and she's on edge, it makes her dangerous. I think she needs to see a familiar face." McKnight replied.
"So would I, in her shoes I'd have my finger on that nuke as long as possible." Tillman began, "Jim, I want you on that raptor. She knows you even if she's pissed. You're that familiar face."
"Yes sir." McKnight responded as he bolted for the hatch.
Admiral Tillman turned to the rest of the staff around the plotting table and announced that he going as well. "I need to earn her trust as well!" he began. "Commander John Roberts is in command while I'm away, dismissed." John acknowledged Jason order and moved to the Dradis monitor as Jason exited CIC.
"Inform the launch bay that Admiral Tillman is on his way." Major Canton instructed Ensign McCall.
Commander Roberts turned to Captain Dyson and told him to start to recall one viper squadron every twenty minutes until only a CAP and a set of alert vipers was left around HYPERION and that Omega leader was to escort the shuttle and raptor to ARGOS. By the time both ships cleared the flight pod the viper escort greeted them. Tillman made his way up front to the copilot seat, put on a headset, and opened a secure channel.
"Tico/Dodger. What did you see?" He asked as the stealth raptor that was still hidden nearby.
"I counted eight non-military ships guarded by the two destroyers and the other military vessels. Wireless is traffic minimal, mostly requesting supplies and help. They also have a botanical cruiser but its shot up pretty well." Tico responded.
"What about the mining ship?" Jason asked.
"I can't tell there been little if no activity coming from it." Tico replied.
"Maintain position and await further instructions." Tillman instructed as the raptor and shuttle were on final approach for ARGOS landing bay.
"So, how much do we tell her?" McKnight asked.
"Not, much right now. We need to find out about POLYCOAN and GANYMEDES. If she's forthcoming about them I'll read her in. For all we know, this could be another Helena Cain situation." Tillman replied.
The raptor and shuttle made their way through the dimly lighted flight deck and landed on the designated areas assigned by the destroyer's LCO. Once down, two large bay doors closed, one forward and one mid-ship. It wasn't long before the compartment was pressurized. Jason watched as one by one the bulkhead doors opened and armed crewmembers made their way towards the two ships.
"Well, I guess its show time!" Lieutenant Dooley mused as he started to open the raptor door.
Commander McKnight was the first to exit followed by Dooley and his ECO Ensign Alex Joyce. McKnight only took a few steps before he stopped and waited.
"Jim McKnight?" the woman's voice cracked.
"Command Keller." He replied sternly as he started towards his former flame. The two stood face to face as the hatred that over took their romance was gone. McKnight could see the relief in her eyes. They each saluted but before they could speak they gave each other a hug as a round of muted applause began.
"I though you were in command of one of a Guardian Class?" she asked.
"I was but that was a while ago. A lot has happened since the cylon attacks." He replied.
"How are you onboard HYPERION? What about Commander Tillman? I know that he was given command of HYPERION during her survey mission." She asked.
"Admiral Tillman will debrief you shortly." He started to say before he was cutoff.
"ADMIRAL?" she questioned.
"Yes, Admiral Tillman. Admiral Greene gave him a field promotion shortly before he died of radiation poisoning after the attacks." He replied knowing that Jocelyn had interned under Greene during the academy. "He's kept us alive and safe. He's a good tactician in battle as well. I respect and follow his orders without question or hesitation."
"ATTENTION ALL HANDS! ADMIRAL ON DECK!" Joyce bellowed as Tillman deplaned. Slowly everyone stood at attention as the Admiral made his way to McKnight.
Keller looked at McKnight with surprise as he nodded; she raised her hand to salute the commanding officer before her. "Jocelyn Keller commanding officer of the colonial destroyer ARGOS."
Jason returned her salute and then extended his hand and shook hers.
"I'm glad we found you commander. How can we help?" he asked.
"We have sick, wounded, hungry and understaffed." She said as she tried to make a quick assessment of him.
"With your permission, I have two medical teams with food rations and fruit on the shuttle." Jason replied as he nodded to Dooley, who in turn, gave the signal for the shuttle crew to open up.
"Commander, I'm sure we both have a lot of questions…" Tillman began. "I'm hoping Commander McKnight put in a good word on my behalf. But I need to know what happened."
"I understand." She replied as she saw the look of relief on most of her crew in the hanger bay. I can debrief you as walk to the brig. I need to show you and Commander McKnight something.
"Good enough, Lieutenant Dooley please coordinate with the XO and make sure everything get distributed and find out what else they need." Tillman ordered as they left. Two marines from the shuttle as an escort for joined the Admiral.
"Shortly after the war games concluded, Commander Pressman of the battlestar PAEON had decided to throw a victory party for the senior staffs of the 43rd battlegroup onboard his battlestar. He also invited Commander Massie, which I think was just to rub his nose in the victory. Each of the 56th sent senior officers to staff the rest of the 43rd as they celebrated. Sometime after the party began there was reported explosion and fire in PAEON's port hangers and then a massive decompressions through out the ship. Most if not all of her crew were killed instantly. Within moments four cylon baseships jumped in and began their attacks launching wave after wave of raiders. CHIRON and OPHION and most of the support ships were disabled rather quickly and were basically target practice for the cylons." She said as they made their way through the ship.
"Continue please…" Jason said softly.
"One of our tactics during the war games was to disengage our computer networks. Before going over to PAEON Commander Massie ordered the 56th to keep their networks offline and to run training drills as punishment for losing the war games. It was the only thing that kept us alive. TYCHE and NEMESIS were able to buy POLYCAON and GANYMEDES and the rest of us time even after their vipers were disabled. Commander Shannon of TYCHE ordered the rest of the ships to jump out of the battle. We only stayed at that location for a short time. Commander Hedison relayed another set of coordinates to the surviving ships and we came here."
What happened to the two battlestars and were did you find the civilians? Tillman asked.
"A few hours after the jump, Commander Garret Hartley was found to be the senior surviving officer and took command of GANYMEDES." Jocelyn began before being interrupted by McKnight.
"Hartley? He's a pencil pusher on Picon with no field experience!" McKnight howled.
"He was part of Admiral Corman's inner circle that included Commander Pressman who commanded the 43rd battlegroup and its lone surviving battlestar." She replied.
"GANYMEDES." McKnight replied.
"Yes. GANYMEDES lost the entire senior staff. But POLYCOAN was in worse shape losing a good majority of her crew and pilots. Most of her crew was augmenting the 43rd's battlestars during the attacks. I sent most of my crew to GALLIOTT. We were all running with skeleton crews. A few days later we jumped to the Aeolus asteroid belt around Helios Delta and found those civilians survivors. After a few months we discovered that cylons had taken human form and were spread throughout the civilian ships. We even found one on GANYMEDES. Hartley was furious and executed that one immediately. Little did we know that they could download and give away our position in a relatively short amount of time! Two baseships jumped in within one hour and destroyed two liners and most of the remaining viper protection before we could anything! Hartley was paranoid and blamed Hedison for the incident. For almost three weeks we hid in various areas of Helios Delta running from the cylons. During this time Hartley focused on keeping GANYMEDES staffed and ignored the rest of the fleet's needs which was getting under our skin. Two weeks ago the cylons found us and hit us hard. POLYCOAN lost most of her pilots in that battle. We were suspicious when Hartley summoned Commander Hedison to GANYMEDES but before she left, she sent us three captured cylons and half dozen pilots and ordered me to take the fleet and hide if something happened to her. When the shuttle returned to her battlestar it was actually full of two squadrons of marines sent to take over POLYCOAN. Shortly afterwards when it was announced that Commander Hedison resigned her commission we jumped back here. We know they are looking for us but can't find us." Commander Keller relayed as they continued through the ship.
"Why didn't you raid the hulks of the 43rd and 56th fleet for supplies? Tillman asked.
"During the first few days after the attack we sent a couple raptors back…they never returned. Hartley deemed the area unsafe and ordered us not to send anything else back there. We just don't have the manpower. Why?" She replied.
"We found the hulks a little over ten days ago. No sign of cylon activity." McKnight responded.
"What about Commander Hedison?" Jason asked.
"We don't know. When Hartley announced that he was sending representatives to each ship, I made the call to jump based on commander Hedison's warning! I also made the call to jump back to this debris field hoping to mine for fuel." she replied as the reached the outer hatch to the makeshift brig that was guarded by two marines.
"Commander, what is your survivor count and current resources?" the Admiral asked.
"Our fuel, food and water reserves are depleted. We do not have the resources to repair the botanical cruiser. We have over fifteen thousand survivors among ten operational ships you see here. Two had to be abandoned due to no fuel and the third melted its primary electrical buss. She replied as the marines opened the hatch. She answered as the hatch they just step through was locked from behind.
"How many cylon do you have? McKnight asked.
"We have nine cylons under heavy guard, let me introduce you to seven of our them. I recommend that if you decide to interact with them you watch what you say. They're sneaky." She retorted as she banged on the inner hatch.
"We know we've dealt with a few of them ourselves." Jason responded.
Tillman and McKnight followed Keller into the room and took in what he saw. In the brig were seven cylon prisoners. Separated into three cramped holding cells they contained five females and two males. Jason did not recognize one of the males and focused on him and the dried blood in his cell. They locked eyes and stood silent of a few minutes. Jason watched as the cylon finally stood and approached the front of the cell.
"Well, it looks like the stories of other survivors are true." He announced as he turned and looked at the other cylons told the other cylons that the initial attacks were more flawed than first anticipated if all these humans survived.
"If you let us go now, I promise your deaths will be quick. I have a lot of pull with our main fleet and they should be arriving soon." The male cylon said.
"Really? That should be something to see." Tillman responded.
"Let, me introduce myself. My name is John Cavil and you are?" The old looking cylon asked.
"My name is Jason." Tillman responded.
"And your last name is?" Cavil responded with a hint of impatience that Tillman was able to pick up on.
"I think that's all you need to know for now." He responded
"Really? Are we going to be this way? Just beating around the bush?" Cavil moaned as he rolled his eyes and returned to the bunk.
"Why are you in the cell by yourself? "Tillman asked.
"Apparently I don't play well with others." He responded with his back turned as he lay down causing Tillman to turn to Keller.
"When the news of your arrival circulated, he proceeded to try and rip the throat out of his cellmate." Keller answered as she motioned them to leave.
"And he should be downloading right now and be able to tell the basestars about you and this should be all over very soon." John responded as Tillman and the other exited.
Once the outer door was locked Keller told the Admiral that the cylon that Cavil tried to murder was still alive as they proceeded to the sickbay. As they walked Tillman suggested that the move the other surviving cylons to HYPERION where it would be easier to separate them and limit the flow of information. Keller agreed. As they entered the sickbay Jason was shocked again at what he saw but it wasn't the cylon who was the patient but the much older version of the known cylon version of the Simon clone treating him,