Chapter 4. The Storm wall
Freighter Bill Thurston 12. – Bridge.
"Captain" Marel Banners called out, "I just detected what appears to be a nuclear detonation over Virgon."
"Lords of Kobol." Spinning on her heels, she couldn't help but notice the cowed bridge crew, physically bracing themselves for her next outburst. "Can you confirm that?" she asked.
"Sorry Skipper, we're still too far out." answered the young navigator. "Com traffic just spiked though, I'll put it on the speakers." With the turn of a knob, the small bridge was suddenly filled with panicked voices, variously shrieking in horror, moaning in disbelief, or desperately calling for help.
Horrified, Rebecca braced herself. She sat a little taller in her seat, facing the speakers above her, as if daring them to continue their assault. Typing rapidly into her console, she tried to coax more information out of the ship's limited sensor arrays.
"My gods, they're everywhere!" the shrill voice of a terrified woman called out, catching the attention of the entire bridge crew. With rapt attention, not a word was spoken, not a breath was exhaled, as the entire crew stared at the small overhead speaker.
"What are they?!" a panicking man's voice called out.
"Noooo!" The woman screamed. "Did anyone see that?!" Rebecca could hear sobs clearly over the wireless. "I can't believe it, this can't be happening!"
A new voice surfaced, calm and somber, "I saw it. Whoever they are, they just destroyed Hagenus Station. Boskirk is burning. I see at least three Battlestars drifting and on fire."
The woman's voice returned, spiteful, "What do you mean whoever! It has to be Cylons, who else?" her transmission cut off suddenly, replaced with static.
The calm man's voice returned, though with urgency, and a hint of dread now. "They're going after civilians. I'm getting the hell out of here. I suggest anyone else who can do the same."
Rebecca slowly surveyed the bridge, the officers sat slumped at their stations. Shock and defeat shown on their faces as they we're assailed by the ghastly calls for help playing over the speakers. "Turn that shit off!" she barked defiantly.
Marel's head snapped at that, "Yes, Ma'am," he responded, switching the speakers off.
She turned to Parah, "Get on the horn, tell Reese to get the engines fired." She looked down at her console again, carefully scrolling through the data in front of her. With a renewed vigor, she walked to the plotting table at the aft end of the compartment.
Parah put the phone down, "Engines coming online, we should be ready to move in five." Choosing his words carefully, he tilted his head slightly towards his Captain, "Rebecca, if you're thinking of finding someplace a little less hot, I'd agree with you." He looked down at the console in front of him, before continuing "We should head to Troy, wait out this mess there," he stated in a tone which booked no argument.
Determinedly, Rebecca slowly shook her head. "Actually, I want to head in system, get a better picture of what's going on, and see if we can help." She looked directly at Parah, waiting for his dissent, knowing that he would lead any protest from her command crew.
"Are you out of your mind?" Parah exploded. He quickly surveyed the other members of the bridge; "We have orders to stay put, let the Fleet deal with this. That's their job, not ours."
Clenching her jaw momentarily, she called back, "No. We're not running." she stated. "But we need to see what's going on. If these reports are right, there won't be a fleet to protect us, and if they find us, may the Lords of Kobol have mercy. If these reports are right, we grab anyone alive that we can, and get the hell out of here!"
"And go where Rebecca?" he shot back.
She was diligently scrolling through the charts, trying to divine a safe harbor. She finally settled on the chart of the Helios Gamma System, jabbing her finger at her home planet, "Sagittaron!" she snarled. "It's nowhere near Caprica or Picon, it has support from Scorpia, and we're too damn poor to rate a first strike assignment by the Cylons." She glared across the bridge at Parah, "If these reports are true, we'll hole up there till things settle down."
Bristling, Parah emphatically shook his head, "This is a bad idea. For all we know, Sagittaron is gone too; you could be leading us from the frying pan into the fire!" He called out plaintively. "We need to stay in system until we know more, and we sure as hell don't need to take this slow un-armed cow into harm's way!"
"Parah, Virgon control has our position recorded; you think the Cylons can't get that data?" She waited as her Chief Mate considered that simple fact. "If we stay here the Cylons will find us. We need to leave this system, but I'm not leaving blind. We find out as much as we can, grab any survivors we can find, and then we get the hell out of here!" Fire burning in Rebecca's eyes, she glared at her X.O. Steeling herself with a deliberate and calm voice she called out to the Navigator; "Marel, calculate a jump to Sagittaron, just outside of the Archeron Asteroid belt. Parah, get your fat ass over here!"
Leaning over the illuminated table, she pulled up the charts for the local system. Virgon was directly in front of them, grabbing a grease pen, she began marking spots on the table where Colonial Defense Fleet ships were supposed to be. She picked up the phone attached to the table and pressed the activation switch. She held the phone in front of her; "Attention all hands, this is the Captain." She paused, now looking directly at Parah, "Virgon, and it appears most of the fleet have been attacked by Cylons. I know most of you have no love for the military, but when it comes down to it, we are all Colonials, and we need to help them. We could stay here and wait or we could run and hide, but we are not going to do that. The command crew and I have decided, instead, that we are going in system and try to lend a hand. The fleet is being decimated, and if we can save a single life, then we have to do that. That is all."
Odin C.I.C.
Commander Grayson slowly surveyed the C.I.C. one last time before settling his gaze on the Navigation Officer, bringing his hands together in front of him he cleared his throat before calmly calling out "Put this on the intercom, please." A soft chime indicated the intercom was online. "Mr. Wills, insert the FTL Key and initiate jump to Virgon."
"Aye sir, FTL Key inserted and activated, jump commencing in 5, 4, 3, 2, Mark." Shaking his head slightly to rid the effects of the jump, he quickly checked his monitor, "Commander, FTL Jump 313 complete, now reading position just outside of the Ouranos Asteroid Belt."
Cutting the ship wide com with a hand signal, he turned his attention to the command table. "Thank you, Lieutenant." Commander Grayson now looked to the young officer next to the Navigator at the helm station, "Lt. Martin, ship to station keeping, bring engines to full power."
"Aye sir, the Odin is at station keeping, engines coming to full power" the raspy voice of the solidly built helm officer replied. Checking her screen again, she quickly confirmed, "Engines and helm at your ready, Sir".
The Commander was looking at the overhead screens with an expectant air on his face. "DRADIS MULTIPLE CONTACTS!" called across the C.I.C. as the screens above exploded to life. Standing next to him, Colonel Petrakis gasped as she took in the data on the screens above them. The DRADIS displayed a horde of Cylon Basestars rushing towards them with Cylon Raiders sweeping in front, clearing all obstacles in their path. In their wake, the Colonial Fleet protecting Virgon drifted in ruins, many ships burning, most already wholly consumed, and all with Cylon Raiders swarming, killing any survivors that were missed. Behind all of this was Virgon, nuclear fires raging across the surface, while more Raiders swooped down, like locusts, destroying everything.
Refusing to outwardly react, Grayson ferociously stomped the notion to panic before it started. Training took over, orders sharp and staccato like rapidly firing out of him, the part of his brain designed for reflection sub-consciously bypassed for the moment. "Tactical! Ready flack batteries to engage Cylon Raiders. Designate closest Basestar as Hostile Alpha. Compute a firing solution and open fire with Armor Piercing Rounds as soon as you are in range for first four volleys! Switch to even mix Armor Piercing and High Explosive Rounds for successive volleys as necessary!" Snapping his head to the left he called out "Helm! Set course for Hostile Alpha, present minimum aspect, Flank Speed!" Turning his head back to the command table he called into the microphone clipped to his ear "L.S.O. launch all Vipers and Raptors immediately". He paused for a second, feeling the deck vibrate under his feet as the Odin altered course. "X.O. I need your key and authorization for the release of Nuclear Weapons."
Eyes open, but not seeing, the Colonel turned to the Commander. "Sir?"
"Colonel! I need you in the here and now." He hissed just loud enough to grab her attention. Nodding, her eyes focused on his now, they walked to the Tactical station together. After retrieving the launch keys from the locked compartment, both officers input their security codes before activating the system. "Major Barclay, load Ship to Ship Nuclear Missiles in Batteries 2-6, remove safeties, target Hostile Alpha. Prepare to fire on my command."
With a void of emotion, the dark skinned Tactical Officer turned his ashen-face to his Commander and somberly responded "Yes, Sir."
Escort Cruiser Odin, Port Flight Tube.
Moments before FTL Jump
Derek closed his eyes, centering his mind, body and breathing, while allowing his rage and adrenaline to build. So complete was his concentration he didn't notice the lamps along the launch tube switch from blue-white to red, nor did he acknowledge the sensation of the jump engines simultaneously compressing and stretching him as they passed tens of light years instantly.
"Green-Bean, this is shooter, I have control-stand by." The shooter's voice came thru Derek's helmet speakers. He rushed thru the checklist, his pitch just revealing the fear that he was feeling. "Nav-Con Green… Interval Check… Pressure Check Green. Viper 7521 ready for launch."
"Viper 7521 confirms board is green." Derek paused for a second, knowing that his voice would be relayed throughout the ship. "Green-Bean to Control, let's do this," he announced as calmly as possible.
"Roger that Green-Bean, Good hunting. Launch in 3, 2, Mark."
Time slowed for Derek as his Viper was catapulted down the tube. He seemed to be pressed further into his seat than ever before, he saw every lamp, every structural brace, he could even see much of the lettering along the length of the launch tube. Reality snapped back as his plane shot out of the port side of the ship. Already missiles and artillery shells were pouring from the Odin's guns towards an enemy Basestar directly ahead. He curled above and across the dorsum of the mighty warship, leading his comrades into the fight. "Green-Bean to Tactical, DRADIS shows 14 Cylon Raiders at 32 carom 45 coming our way, permission to engage."
One of the Junior Bridge Officers immediately responded "Roger that, Green-Bean, all Vipers are to engage hostile craft."
"Green-Bean to all Vipers, pair up with assigned wingmen, attack pattern Omega 30, just like the simulators. Let's go!" With Derek's wingman next to him, he watched as the ten vipers smoothly slid into an arrowhead formation. Behind him the next ten vipers were aligning into a similar formation below and on the port side of the ship. Explosions appeared to his right. With a lusty grin, he cheered as he saw the Basestar in front of him breaking up from the Odin's onslaught. In the next second, his triumph was replaced by primal fear as his eyes and then DRADIS registered hundreds of missiles heading back from the now burning Basestar. No time for thought, he screamed into his mic. "Green-Bean all Vipers! Incoming missiles. Scramble! Scramble! Scramble!" He mashed the throttles to full, the effect of the three engines squashing him into the back of his seat momentarily.
He felt his body relax as the acceleration stopped. Confused, he looked at his forward screens, they were dark. Grunting loudly in surprise, his head slammed hard against the canopy and then into his console, knocking him unconscious as his Viper swung violently underneath him.
Odin C.I.C.
Moments earlier
Commander Grayson watched with satisfaction as the first of the artillery shells and missiles slammed home into the Cylon Basestar before them. Already, fires along the axillary arms of their foe were readily apparent on the DRADIS screen above him. "Time to end this," he said quietly, his X.O. nodded her head in agreement. "Tactical, fire nuclear missiles, tubes 2 and 3 now!"
"Firing nuclear missiles, tubes 2 and 3, Aye Sir." the voice of Major Barclay reported back. On the DRADIS screen two red dots appeared quickly closing the distance with the Cylon Basestar. "Missiles to reach target in 12 seconds." A swarm of Cylon missiles headed towards the Odin's nuclear weapons. Screening the missiles, the Odin's artillery destroyed the majority of the Cylon's defensive fire. "Nuclear Missile 3 destroyed, Missile 2 to impact Hostile Alpha in 8 seconds," Major Barclay reported.
Grayson watched intently as the remaining nuclear missile suddenly split into eight signals. One signal for each of the individual warheads and decoys which had separated from the main body. He tensed as the Tactical Officer counted down the weapon's final moments.
"Contact in 3, 2, 1. Impact!" Major Barclay paused as he verified his monitor. "Warheads 1- 4 have struck Hostile Alpha!" Pumping his fist in the air he exclaimed, "Hostile Alpha breaking up! We got it sir!"
"Good Job people!" a satisfied Commander Grayson responded. Looking to his X.O, he started "Tactical, target…"
"Vampire! Vampire!" cut across the Commander's order from the Tactical Station.
Commander Grayson's head snapped back up toward the DRADIS. The screen was filled with white lines, each representing one or maybe ten enemy missiles headed right at them. Major Barclay's voice resurfaced, now filled with dread, calling out again "Tracking multiple missiles inbound, estimate 140, repeat One Four Zero missiles inbound!"
Colonel Petrakis voice rang out urgently, "All Guns Suppression Fire Now!" Grayson's eyes met hers, there was no fear, but she knew that it was useless. The Odin would not survive this. "Tactical, order all planes to evacuate the area now!"
A tinny and shrill voice responded, "Sir! Communications just went down sir!" Grayson looked towards the Com Officer, just as the lights went off in the C.I.C. Complete silence enveloped the ships nerve center.
"Report!" The Commander's voice boomed across the C.I.C. He was staggered by the first impact, grabbing the console in front for support, he held on as the second, third, tenth impacts shook the ship below him. The explosions were too strong, they came too fast, and there were too many. Something exploded above him. Burning knives of glass, plastic and metal dug into his scalp, neck, and back. Crewmen were crying out across the C.I.C. "May the gods avenge us!" he screamed as he was ripped from the command table. Crumbling as he smashed into the upper gallery, his last sensations were a blinding light and searing heat.
Fires were raging across the Odin's hull as the countless Cylon missiles slammed home. Within a few seconds of the barrage, large explosions from inside the ship caused it to shudder, ejecting braces, equipment and people into the void. Less than a minute after its arrival, the Odin began breaking up, the large alligator head completely shearing from the abdomen of the ship, the engine pods breaking off, rolling and spinning, crashing into each other.
Derek's Viper was without power and drifting out of control towards deep space. Believing him to be dead, a flight of three Cylon Raiders passed by on their way to the Odin. Swiftly angling around and through the burning debris, the Raiders circled the remains of their foe. Darting in and out of the wreckage, adding insult to injury; the sickle shaped craft mercilessly strafed every Viper, Raptor, and other suitably large section of the Odin.