HYPERION – ADMIRALS QUARTERS (DAY 240 – 1340 HRS)
Jason was sipping his drink as he walked around the room looking through reports on known humanoid cylons. "Not much here." He thought to himself. Jason didn't know what to expect. Why was this cylon much older than the other models in his line? What would he reveal? Where did they come from? His mind was racing with questions when he heard the knock on the hatch. Jason placed his glass in the open draw next to his sidearm and partially closed the draw as he sat down and hollered "Enter." The hatch open and Commanders Roberts and Keller entered followed by the elder cylon, Major Nix, Doctor Keegan, Captain Dyson and a marine. Jason looked at the cylon who was handcuffed and ordered the marine to remove the cuffs and then wait outside. Jason asked them to take a seat.
"What should we call you?" Jason asked the cylon.
"Michael." He responded.
"How long have you gone by that name?" Roberts asked.
"A long time. When I first came to the colonies I went by the name Dr. Simon Gallows Over the years I've gone by the name Michael Simons. But would prefer to be referred to as Michael." The elder cylon responded.
"Why are you older than the others and why did they try to terminate you?" Tillman asked.
"The short story?" he responded
"Well Michael, I need to know everything about you and the cylons. From what Commander Keller has told me, you are not on the same page as the cylons since you claim they tried to kill you and you are noticeably older than the others of your model." Jason asked.
"I was sent to study the female reproduction system and to collect data so we could figure out why humanoid cylons couldn't reproduce. After three years they deemed that it was a waste of time and order me to destroy my research and return. During that time something changed. Being around humans and watching them being able to created life made me realize the miracle of being alive. When I questioned the orders, they sent a "Doral" to terminate me. He nearly succeeded." Michael said as he pointed to the scar on his head. "After that attempt, I was in a coma for three months and when I awoke, most of my memories that were repressed came to the surface about who and what I really was meant to be." He replied
"During the initial attacks we captured a female cylon. In our interrogations, she mentioned a group known as the final five. Are you one of them?" Jason said directly.
Michael took a moment to think about a response knowing he would have to delve into colonial history, which could escalate into arguments about how humans viewed their evolution. "How well are you versed in ancient Colonial history?" Michael asked.
"I'm familiar with colonial history." Jason responded.
"What do you know of the thirteenth tribe?" The elder cylon asked.
"That they left Kobol some four thousand years ago looking searching for another home." Roberts responded.
"What if I were to tell you that the thirteenth tribe were a race of humanoid cylons that were created by man and eventually fled Kobol in search of a home of their own. Michael said as he stared into his glass of water.
"Impossible!" Dyson gasped.
"There are no records that the Kobolians ever created artificial life forms." Keegan stated.
"Isn't history always written by the victors? Your ancestors on Kobol made the same mistakes thousands of years ago as did the thirteenth tribe did when they created their own version of the cylons as did your people did fifty years ago." He replied
"What do you mean?" Roberts retorted.
"The thirteenth tribe knew of organic memory transfer. It originated on Kobol. That is how they procreated. After a time, they were able to have children and no longer needed to "download" and it was forgotten. Two thousand years went by and the descendants of the thirteenth tribe decided to create their own cylon machines. That did not end well. Like your ancestors, they treated their machines badly. A nuclear war erupted and in a single day ended all life on the planet. Except for a group of five scientists who had rediscovered "resurrection" technology. The five "downloaded" to a ship placed in orbit. They had decided to make their way back to Kobol and warn the humans not to make the same mistakes but it was too late Kobol was dead."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but that was two thousand years ago." Keegan asked.
"Yes, The humanoid cylons of that time did not have jump drive technology. They traveled at subluminal speeds." He answered.
"The five continued their search for man. They arrived in cylon held territory in the middle of the First Cylon War. The cylons were already trying to build organic bodies. The five offered to help them if they stopped the war." Michael said as he looked around the room.
"You said we made the mistake fifty years ago." Tillman asked.
"Graystone Industries." Roberts began, " They created the cylons."
"They didn't know it but they were on the verge of rediscovering the organic memory transfer when the war broke out. The first cylons say Graystone had created a digital version of it. But once the war started, he destroyed all of his research shortly before he disappeared. When the five arrived they convinced the cylons that they could give them organic bodies." Michael said as he took another sip of water.
"So your saying that is why the war stopped?" Roberts asked.
"Yes." Michael replied.
"You were created by the Five?" Tillman asked.
"Yes. There were eight of us. Cavil was the first. He helped the Five create the rest of us." Michael answered.
"Where are the Five?" Jason Asked.
"Dead. They were murdered by Cavil." He began. "After a time Cavil became jealous of all of us, especially Daniel. Some of my memories are still fragmented about the final days, but I do know that Cavil killed the five last."
"What do you mean fragmented?" Keegan inquired.
"Cavil learned how to repress our memories and change our perceptions while we download. He removed all knowledge of the Five from us. We basically became his robots. I think I'm in a second or third generation descendant of the original Simon. It must have taken him a few tries to completely block our memories." Michael said with disgust.
"There's no way to verify your story…" Jason started before being interrupted by Michael.
"You can get it from Cavil himself. The one you have on ARGOS is a primary clone." Michael began. "He created altered versions of himself. There is less than a handful at any given time. Get him agitated and use what I've told you."
"How would you know this?" Nix asked.
"Twenty years ago I ran in to another primary clone and he "volunteered" the information." Michael said knowing they all knew what he meant.
"What do you want?" Roberts asked Michael.
"I have developed an a appreciation for life. I would like to continue to help people." Michael answered.
"What about the other cylons we have in custody? What should we do about them?" Tillman asked as he wondered what Michael's response would be.
"Give them a chance to decide for themselves. We were not created by the Five to end humanity but to live with them and stop the cycle of destruction." He answered.
The meeting had continued for over four hours, but before Jason could ask another question the phone nest to his desk sounded. He answered and had a brief conversation with Major Jackson in CIC. Jason announced the meeting would have to continue later as Michael stood, walked to hatch and turned back to Jason to make a final statement.
"Over the years I've had the time to think about one question. Let me asked you something about yourselves. How and why was the human race originally created? Were not your ancestors once servants to your Gods?" He asked as he followed the marine back to his room.
"Well that was interesting." Keegan quipped.
"What do you make of his story?" Tillman asked knowing Roberts was well versed in colonial history.
"It's hard to believe. There is so little that survived from those times. I do remember the holoband being shutdown because the cylons found a way to manipulate it." Roberts said.
"Why stop the meeting? Keller asked.
"The search teams have returned. They've found POLYCAON and GANYMEDES." Jason began. "This meeting is highly confidential! What you have learned here today is to be kept to yourselves and is not to be discussed! All senior officers will convene in War Room in one hour. Dismissed." Jason finished as he asked Roberts to stay behind for a moment.
"Any thoughts?" Tillman asked.
"As I said earlier so little from that time survived. It would be interesting to see the cylons reactions if what he said was true." Roberts began. "If we did this, we would use the interrogation room with the other cylons in the next room."
"We'll have to discuss this later." Tillman said as he stood and moved towards the hatch.
"Jason, what are your plans for those two battlestars and Hartley?" Roberts asked.
"We now have well over thirty thousand civilians to protect. We need those ships. I plan on taking them by force if necessary."
TERTIUS (DAY 240 – 1800 HRS)
Braylen, who was feeling guilty for not being able to spend more time with his family due to the recovery efforts, spent a few hours with them enjoying an early dinner with his children, niece and nephew. Afterwards, Jana seeing that her husband was exhausted recommended that Braylen should perhaps get some rest somewhere quieter and suggested Admiral Jensen's quarters that was never repurposed. She left Cory in charge of the clean up as she escorted her husband out the door.
"When are we going to leave this area?" she asked.
"Soon, I'm guessing within a day or so. We've stripped down these ships, there's not much more we can take." He replied and the slowly walk hand in hand down the corridor.
"I hear we found more survivors. Do you know how many?" she asked.
"About fifteen thousand jammed into less than ten ships. Why?" He asked.
"I'm concerned about Cory and Dillon. They're the only children their age on the ship. Granted with the situation we're in we don't have many options but they need to be around people their own age once and a while." Jana explained as they stopped in front of Jensen's old quarters.
"Let me think about it. I'll figure something out." He said as he opened the door and they walked through.
"Jana looked around the room and then looked at her husband and mentioned the fact that this was the first time they had been alone in nearly a month as she closed the hatch behind her.
HYPERION – WAR ROOM (DAY 240 – 2045 HRS)
"Admiral on deck!" bellowed Dyson.
"What's the sit-rep from the recovery site?" Admiral Tillman asked.
"TERTIUS reported that the recovery efforts are nearly complete. They have secured and processed over twenty-five additional vipers, six raptors, 2 stealthstars and a refueling tanker. JUNO and HAVEN returned over six hours ago and joined the recovery efforts." Major Jackson reported.
"What does that bring the numbers up to fleet wide? Tillman asked.
"Over 250 Mark VI ands VII, 87 Mark II's, 4 Stealthstars, almost military 60 Raptors and 6 refueling birds that are operational. We have close to fifty vipers and raptors that are offline and need serious work." Jackson replied.
"Last count puts us able to fly almost three hundred with qualified pilots." Nix stated.
"What about materials and munitions recovery?" Roberts asked.
"We recovered enough armament to fully restock the fleet including the other two battlestars if we can capture them. They've also recovered over two dozen nuclear missiles. Colonel Tillman even has them stripping out missile launchers and as many of the launch bays on the starboard flight pod of PAEON as possible. Lieutenant Walker has a manifest of all recovered supplies so far and is in the process of making a list to disperse it throughout the fleet." Dyson answered as he handed a copy of the manifest to the Admiral.
"HYPERION's modifications?" Tillman inquired as he looked through the pages.
"The four additional large turrets installed between her existing turrets on her mid-section are operational. We decided not to install the small aft turrets near the engineering section due to safety concerns. The four located on the fore section still need a week. We're fabricating parts needed to complete the turret loading system that were removed at some point. We were able to button up the plating around them though. We installed eight-point defense turrets topside. Four starboard and port, they run single file parallel to the main turrets on the fore section. They are functional." Rhodes reported.
"The deck crews have finished removing the wall and ceiling partitions installed when the flight pod was reconfigured after she went into service. The upper tier storage bays are up and running. They can hold forty vipers. We've already started moving recovered vipers in those bays. Between both flight pods, we can easily handle eight viper squadrons. All vipers are locked down and secured." MCPO Perry reported.
"What's the status of the cylon prisoners?" Jason asked.
"We have six secured in Cargo Hold Eight and Michael is under guard in the medical section. The other two are still secured on ARGOS" McKnight answered.
"I want the one known as Cavil brought here very quietly and under heavy guard, sedate him if you have too. Keep him away from the others. Put him in the main brig." Tillman ordered to Dyson
"What about Commander Keller's fleet?" Roberts asked.
"All civilian ships are operational and our teams report back that there are no signs of any cylon devices. CARPUS has coupled with TORO. Captain Pyne reports that they're operational but recommends they run at about sixty percent of capacity until repairs are complete on TORO which should take a couple of weeks." Captain Dyson said looking over recent communiqués from the inspection teams.
"Once these survivors are integrated with our fleet, it's going to drop our food reserves to bare minimum until we get HELIA up and running. We have three damage control teams on her now but its going to be a long process. Of the ten domes, only two are operational. They think they can get a third operational in a few weeks. Forty percent of her window panels are shattered. We need to fabricate alternative panels. An initial estimate is six to nine months before the rest of the damaged domes are air tight and operational." Dyson announced.
"Major Canton, have the civilian ships merge with our fleet at the recovery site. Travel restrictions are to be kept in place until we return. I want you to accompany them back and convey our current situation to Commander Jones, my brother and the civilian government in person. Afterwards, please inform Chairman Redmond to select two council members and have them report to PROTEUS by 0800 hours. Tell him that we have something they need to see." Tillman ordered.
"Yes, I understand." Canton responded as he headed off.
What do we know about POLYCAON and GANYMEDES?" Tillman inquired.
"POLYCAON has damage to her aft section as well as one of her flight pods is heavily damaged. It looks like they've shut most of her down. No repair work is being done. It's hard to tell how functional she is. Only large shuttles are flying in or out from the surface of the asteroid they're hanging above. We saw two tanker birds go from POLYCAON to GANYMEDES." Nix reported as they looked at recon pictures.
"Maybe Keller is right. Hartley is using POLYCAON to refine tylium." Roberts conjectured.
"GANYMEDES looks operational. They have a CAP running from the ships to the surface and the surrounding area. No more than four vipers have been out at one time. Commander Keller thinks they might have almost a dozen vipers and a handful of raptors available but is unsure about the number of pilots. We only have two pictures of the mining area. It looks like crewmembers are extracting the materials. One heavy transport which is housing the workers, another for the material and a single viper."
"Hartley is not an experienced field commander. Let's use that against him! I want him alive!" Jason began, "I want you to start in on a plan in the morning to take the two battlestars and rescue the workers on the asteroid."
"Shouldn't we start in on this now?" Keller asked.
"We need to start in on this fresh. It's been a long day. Everyone could use some rest. Call in anyone you need. Dismissed." Jason directed as he gave this assignment to Keller and his senior officers. Afterwards Roberts approached him as he continued to study the pictures in front of him.
TERTIUS (DAY 241)
Braylen was still on the sofa in Jensen's office when he grasped that his wife had left him at some point during the night. He had turned to side and saw the clock on the wall and realized it was 0900 hours; he had left orders for a wake-up call for 0500, looked over at the desk he noticed that the sound-phone had been disconnected. He knew who had done it. As Braylen reached over desk to retrieve the cord he noticed a few dusty folders that were behind the desk and grabbed them as well. Braylen looked at the folders and stopped at the one marked ODESSA SHIPYARD. He had not heard that name in years and only in stories told to him by his father when he was a child. It was a small shipyard used to secretly repair battlestars used in the Ghost Fleet Offensive during the first cylon war. As he flipped through the folder he came to realize that Jensen suspected that it was still in use by the Admiralty as a surplus depot. Braylen reconnected the sound-phone and called down to the hanger bay and instructed them to prep his shuttle. Afterwards, he grabbed the folder and headed to CIC.
"Where's Kester?" asked Braylen as he entered CIC.
"Down in the Cargo bay." Lt. Carter replied.
"Tell him to be in the hanger by 1100 hours. We need to see my brother. Also, inform Commander Jones that I'll be leaving and that he is in charge of the fleet. I need to change before heading over to HYPERION."
HYPERION – WAR ROOM (DAY 241 – 1200 Hrs)
Admiral Tillman had just finished informing Chairman Redmond and the two council members on the discovery of the two battlestars and the cylon captives held on board. Redmond, Ralls and Crimmons were still in shock.
"How can we be sure?" Crimmons asked.
"It was suggested that I might be able to get it out of Cavil. Right now he is sitting in the interrogation room. We've had him down there for a few hours. We're going to put on a little show and see if we can get it out of him. Along with some of my senior staff you three will be in the observation room with the other six cylons." Roberts answered.
"What's to gain with having the other cylons there?" Ralls demanded.
"Knowledge. According to Michael, they don't know true reason why they might were created. What if we could put a question of doubt in their minds? What would they do?" Tillman responded.
"You're hoping to flip them." Ralls surmised and asked "To what point?"
"I'm not sure." Tillman responded as he stood. "We'll begin after I get an update from CIC." He finished as he exited.
HYPERION – INTERROGATION (DAY 241 – 1245 Hrs)
Cavil had been sitting in the room for almost two hours and was clearly agitated. He had demanded to be unbound from the table and was complaining about the warm temperature of the room and his chair to no avail. In the viewing room next-door Commander Roberts was amused when he found out that it was Major Jackson's idea to twist one of the leveling screws on Cavil's chair to make it unbalanced. The six cylon prisoners were escorted in the room and told to sit down. They demanded to know what was going on and Roberts told them they were about to get a history lesson. Shortly afterwards, the three council members and the rest of Tillman's senior staff members were escorted in to the room. They watched Tillman enter the room and proceed to watch him carefully interrogate Cavil about the creation of the humanoid cylons. The banter went back and forth for almost an hour when Tillman caught Cavil with a slip of the tongue about the seven not knowing who the five were.
"What do you mean it's better that they not remember the Five? Are you inferring that you did?" Tillman pressed.
"That's not what I said!" Cavil barked.
"Yes, it is! I think you know more! Tillman said as he motioned to the guard who in turned opened the hatch to let the elder cylon enter. Cavil recognized him instantly.
"So you still live. I was hoping you would turn up after the nuclear attacks on the colonies but I figured it would be in a tank of goop." Cavil yapped.
"Glad to disappoint you." Michael replied calmly
"I see you been talking to the humans. Nice scar by the way." Cavil snickered as the other cylons were still staring at the elder Simon model.
"Yes, I've told them. Thanks to you, I can remember almost everything. How the Five were descendants of the Thirteenth tribe of Kobol and created us to bridge the peace with the humans. How you then murdered them and wiped our memories of them from us and restarted the war as a personal vendetta against the five." Michael said as he slowly circled Cavil. "Who gave you the right to determine Sharon, Leoben or anyone else's fate? What about Daniel? Were you so jealous of him that you had to destroyed his entire line?" he shouted.
"I see you do remember some things. I told them it was a mistake to create us. They gave us emotions. We were as flawed as the humans! But all they were concerned with has not making the same errors as their ancestors. How do you think it worked out?" Cavil said as he looked towards Tillman.
"Almost everything, but thanks again for confirming the basics for everyone watching. Now they now as well." Michael quipped as he pointed to the small mirror on the wall."
Cavil now came to the realization not that only were there humans watching him but also the other cylons. He flew into a rage spewing death threats to all as he tried to break his bonds. As Michael jumped back from the table he told Tillman and the guards not to engage Cavil fearing that he would kill himself and try to download. SgtMaj. Coe entered the room and clocked him in the jaw with the butt of his rifle eventually taking the fight out of Cavil. Tillman ordered the guards to take Cavil back to his cell and be placed on a suicide watch. After Cavil was escorted out Tillman and Michael made their way to the monitoring room.
"We have many questions. May we talk with Michael? " Asked the cylon known as Rebecca.
Jason told the cylon prisoners they could have one or two as he silently acknowledge his brother who was standing in the back of the room. Jason waited a few minutes and told the six cylons he would give them more time to speak later and ordered them back to the holding cells. After they were escorted out Jason made his way to his brother.
"Why are you here? I wasn't expecting you." He asked.
"Remember the stories dad told us of the Ghost Fleet Offensive during the first war? How they used a minor yards to repair ships once thought destroyed." Braylen asked.
"Yes, there were two of them. They were used to store ships that were mothballed after the war. I think they were shuttered and scrapped years ago." Jason responded.
"I'm not so sure. I found this folder in Jensen's office. It's communiqués between Jensen and Admiral Greene weeks before the attacks. Greene suspected that the Admiralty kept a reserved yard off the books. I think that the Odessa Shipyard was what they were talking about." Braylen started. "He asked Jensen about two battlestars that were stricken from the books years ago. Greene found documents stating that one of those battlestar were sold to Jenco for scrap. Jensen denied it."
"Where are we going with this?" Jason asked.
"Two days before the attacks Jensen dispatched a ship to the area know as sector twelve during the first war to poke around. That ship is a mobile repair barge converted out of a Queen liner. That ship alone has the resources to help this fleet. I need to see if they are out there before we leave this system for good." Braylen said as he stood in front of his brother who was flipping through the folder.
"I can't spare anyone right now. We are in the middle of planning the tactical assault of two battlestars deep in this asteroid field. We know where those ships are and we need all of our resources here." Jason informed his brother to his displeasure.
"Jason, if there's a chance they're out alive…" Braylen began before getting cut off.
"I understand where you're coming from and afterwards if we can I will let you look for them! But I need you here and now!" Jason said as they were approached by his XO.
"We have a plan but it could take a few days to initiate it!" McKnight said.