I do not own Battlestar Galactica
Chapter 17 – Face to Face
A Raptor accompanied by three Mark 8 Vipers glided from the hanger of the Telmaya and flew gracefully towards the loose formation of ships that the aforementioned Battlestar was facing.
The small formation of small ships approached another large warship this one named Galactica, they slowly entered the large hanger bay on the ship's port side. Inside the Galactica, the ship's crew was buzzing with anticipation, the arrival of another fleet about the size of their own with new warships to help relieve the burden placed on Galactica and Colossus to defend the fleet. The possibility of loved ones being amongst their numbers, all these thoughts running through their heads as they rushed through the corridors to meet the Commander of the new Battlestar who was coming aboard to meet their own commanding officer
Commander Adama, accompanied by Colonel Tigh and President Roslin calmly walked through the corridors surrounded by a marine squad watching the disciplined crew rush about like frenzied children. Colonel Tigh barked out for everyone to calm down but his command was ignored by those within its range, Laura Roslin was smiling as she saw the smiles on their faces and optimism lightened her heart after weeks of seeing nothing but gloom and depression.
Commander Adama however paid little attention to the events occurring around him as his thoughts were focused on what potential issues the new arrivals could bring. First a Battlestar that no-one had ever heard of and if they'd be willing to work with them chiefly.
All these thoughts were put aside though as Captain Kelly over the PA system announced that the raptor baring the officers from Telmaya were arriving. The crew on the flight deck all lined up in formation to accept them. President Roslin stood at the Commander's side and while still smiling herself took notice of his serious expression
"Commander I would have thought you'd be happier about this. Another fleet, more supplies, and more warships to protect us why are you so stone faced?" she asked him
He turned to her and explained "The ship leading the new fleet is not on any list of known Battlestars and we have no idea if they will or are able to help us and what they will want from us. I think it best till I have answers that we keep our guard up" Roslin sobered at what he'd said but remained smiling as she clung to optimism
The Raptor was lowered into the hanger on the lift and settled into place. The crew stood at attention at Colonel Tigh's instruction as the hatch on the raptor opened to allow its passengers to disembark. First out were the marines, the crew were shocked at their age as most of them couldn't be older than eighteen and that shock grew greater as the pilot stepped out wearing the rank of captain and was no older than the marines as was the young woman who followed the captain baring the rank of colonel, but as they waited for the commanding officer who would surely be older than his crew.
Well he was older but only a couple of years, he was tall and strongly built, standing at nearly six foot tall and his dark hair cut short. He stood tall and proud and despite his age looked every bit the Commander that his officer pins showed him to be. He stood looking at the faces of the assembled crew of the ship he was standing on and slowly with precise steps stepped off the raptor and onto the deck. He walked over to Commander Adama who didn't let his face show any surprise at the age of his counterpart.
Neither man saluted the other; the first to salute would be seen as the subordinate to the other, Trakiss merely held out his hand
"Commander Adama" he said with no emotion
Adama took his hand and shook it; both men grasping each other's hand firmly to show no weakness "Commander Trakiss" who let a small grin appear on his face
"Then let ours fleets come together in joy as the reunification of our people begins" he said loudly so the assembled crew could and a cheer rose at the comment.
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After that the crew had stood down and started to interact with their counterparts from Telmaya, Adama, Trakiss and Roslin however had decided to go to talk in private in Commander Adama's quarters over a bottle of Ambrosia. The Commander looked questioningly at Trakiss who replied with a withering stare and said
"I can take a drink Commander" so Adama poured him a glass and Trakiss took a sip without reacting
"Well Commander if perhaps you could tell us how someone younger than the Commander's own son could rise to control not one but three battlestars?" Roslin asked, Seth found her comment patronising and decided to respond in kind
"Perhaps I'll explain after you explain how a secretary in charge of education rose to become President?" Seth asked her in the same patronising tone. She looked taken aback and answered after she had regained her composure
"I was the last person alive after the Cylons attacked" she said
"Well then, now you've explained so will I. During the fall of the colonies we were hit early by the Cylons, fires' burning everywhere people dying it was just chaos. But we managed to escape by making a blind jump" Seth said. Adama speculated
"That's taking a risk" and Seth nodded
"I know but there was no time to set co-ordinates and Raiders were bearing down on us. We hid on the outskirts of the system while he undertook repairs. We lost all our officers in the Cylon attack but before he died the Commodore Willis gave me command and promoted me to Commander. I've been in charge ever since, I gathered as many civilians ships as I could as well as a few military ones and then left the systems hoping to find a new home world"
"Wait a minute, Commodore Willis? He was the Head of the Colonial Military Academy and the only ship he commanded was Aristotle. The Academy's training ship" Adama exclaimed at the name
"That's right. Telmaya used to be Aristotle; we changed the name after the attack to suit her new role. We even managed to refit her with some help from the civilians using parts we were carrying at the time to make her a full battlestar" Seth told him. Adama felt respect for this young man and also the rest of the former cadets on that ship. They'd managed so much when they weren't even fully trained.
"Well I must say well done Commander" Adama told his opposite, making sure to refer to him as an equal so to not alienate him "You and your crew have come a long way"
"As have yours Commander, although I am puzzled about Colossus. Wasn't that ship destroyed?" Seth asked him referring to the battlestar that had not too long ago emerged from a portal they had yet to classify
"That's a long story; perhaps we should exchange logs sometime" Adama told him and Seth nodded
"Well Commander Trakiss perhaps I could ask you the disposition of the civilians in your fleet? I was hoping we could exchange supplies" Roslin said drawing the attention of the two men back to her
"If you want to exchange supplies you'll have to make an appeal to the civilian assembly" Seth told her
Roslin asked "What is the Civilian Assembly?"
"It's a congress of elected representatives from each ship in the fleet who are co-ordinated by an elected chairperson. Any civilian affair is handled by them, they're even operating a small police force" Seth told her
"Well surly they'll accept my position as president under the articles of colonisation" Roslin said with reassurance but Seth raised an eyebrow at the comment
"They're a legitimate government formed with our current situation in mind. I doubt they'' just drop everything we've built for you" Seth said with an edge of threat in his voice. He would of course let the civilians decide but he doubted they would simply just let Roslin take over
"Well we'll discuss that another time" Adama interrupted, keen to stop a brewing confrontation before it started. The fleet had had enough of that over what had had happened over Kobol and him dismantling the Civilian Government not to long ago
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Meanwhile on Colonial One a priest called Estella was looking through a very old copy of the writing of Pythia. The pilot of the ship came up to her and asked
"What are you doing?" she didn't look up but did answer
"Looking for a set of writings that I believe foretold what has happened, most books of the writings of Pythia do not include them but this one might" the pilot looked surprised
"What do you mean what's happened?" he asked but she didn't answer this time but found the passages she was looking through and said "There"
"What is it?" he asked
She looked up and said "A set of visions of the future written by Pythia just before her death. They nullify all others even the one of the dying leader" she told him and looked at the ancient script written in the book "Writings that will change everything"
"For better or for worse?" he asked her, not being a religious man before but he had started too since the attack.
"It depends, they are not completely clear but they must be believed and hopefully the cycle of death and exodus will be broken" she told him
"They are called the Telmaya Prophesies" she told him and his eyes widened
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