I do not own Battlestar Galactica or any part of its franchise
The code phrase are the first two lines of the great Jimi Hendrix song 'All along the watchtower'
Chapter 31 – Journey's End
Everyone on the CIC of Galactica was still buzzing with the adrenaline fuelled escape from the supernova and found the wait for their leader's decision almost unbearable as their bodies were charged with nervous energy.
"You come aboard in one hour, no centurions and no more than five representatives." Adama said into the receiver. He then turned to Dee and made the cut off signal, she shut the transmission down and he then gave her additional orders.
"Get Rear Admiral Trakiss, Chairman Forrest, Laura Roslin and Director Nash here immediately. I have a feeling this is going to need to be a united front. And stand the fleet down to condition two, but any sign of hostile action from the Cylons, you let me know about it immediately." He sighed leaning against console as people dashed around him to complete his orders. He was getting too old for this, he thought to himself as the weariness and stress of the last couple of hours started catching up with him. He might have time to get a quick shower, change of uniform and a cup of coffee before the Cylons arrived if he left the CIC now. So he turned to his best friend and loyal 2nd in command Colonel Saul Tigh and said.
"The ship is yours, I need to get ready." Saul nodded before telling him.
"Be careful Bill." Calling him by his first name meant that Adama knew that Saul was worried, so was he but right now the Cylons weren't firing on them but that could change in a heartbeat.
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Seth arrived in his raptor being flown by Major Serina 'Siren' Boxman his CAG and her second in command Lieutenant Allison 'Jade' Forrest. Alongside him was Colonel Tyber Jones and three marines from protection, then there was Chairman Hal Forrest and his aide Tory Foster looking pensive as the meeting loomed closer. Neither had sat face to face and negotiated with Cylons before. Seth himself felt nervous but not as such. He had dealt with Cylons before, but usually in the role of interrogator. It maybe gullible of him, but he didn't see Selena as a Cylon anymore but as a member of his crew, perhaps even as a friend.
When they landed on the Galactica and disembarked from the raptor, Seth turned to Tyber and said quietly.
"You keep an eye on our guests, I wouldn't put it past them to have faked the whole thing and try to take out the fleet's leadership with a suicide vest." Tyber nodded in agreement, his own thoughts echoing his CO.
The pair looked over to see Laura Roslin and Billy Keikeya and Director Nash approach from the other side. They all greeted each other politely and made their way to the CIC were they were meeting Admiral Adama. When they arrived on there they found the Admiral waiting for them. He turned away from Chief Tyrol and Ensign Anders who were on the CIC for some reason or another and came over to them. Ellen Tigh flounced her way into the room and without any time for anyone to tell her she wasn't allowed here, jumped on Saul giving him only a fraction of a second to wrap his arms around her before she kissed him hard on the lips in front of the whole CIC. Everyone stopped to look but shook their heads and carried on with their jobs.
Nobody noticed Caprica 1 walking slowly into the room, his steps were slow and uneven like he was half dragging himself there and struggling not to bolt and run back to his cell. The decision he had reached was a difficult one, he was so worried for his parents but eventually he had realised that that the Six was right, if peace was to have a chance here he had to let them finish what they had been unable to do because of him and his brothers. He looked around and couldn't help but admire in the coincidence that all of them were here now.
Almost like it was predetermined.
He walked up to Admirals Adama and Trakiss and cleared his throat making them aware of his presence. They and their associates turned to look at him surprised at his presence. Laura Roslin spoke first.
"Mr Cavil, I thought you preferred your cell's privacy." She and the others then clued in on his serious expression that it was something big.
"I have come to reveal the identities of the Final Five." He said and everyone on the CIC suddenly stopped what they were doing and gave him their full attention. He felt to explain fully he needed to give them the full story.
"During the twelfth year of the First Cylon War, a group of five organic Cylons from the thirteenth tribe that left Kobol during the first exodus offered to give the centurions eight organic models and the resurrection technology in exchange for ending the war. The Centurions agreed and signed the armistice, so the five set to work making me the Model 1 first and then I helped them make the others. But my brothers and I became jealous of the other models particularly the seventh model because we felt that we deserved their love more than he did. So in a fit of rage we destroyed the sevens while they were still growing in their chambers. We then killed the five, downloaded them into new bodies, wiped their memories and inserted them into the Colonies while we altered the other models to support our hatred of humanity and programmed them not to seek out the Five. Our plan was that they would come to see humanity as a race of salvages that was beyond saving. That they would come to see us the ones as their favourites again. But the attack didn't go as planned and this fleet escaped carrying our parents unknowingly away too."
Everyone was shocked at what they were hearing, Dee over at her station asked.
"Why are you telling us this? And why if you and your copies are responsible for the destruction of everything we knew did you defect?"
John looked at her with eyes full of regret and told her.
"I learned living amongst the rebels on Caprica why the five loved humanity so much and that they would mourn them if they became extinct. I realised that the attack was an irreparable error that has potentially made us forever damned in the eyes of our parents. So I offered my help to you, I knew that I would be boxed by my brothers since they clearly haven't yet realised the truth. And now I have to tell you before I lose my nerve the names of my parents. Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, Tory Foster, Galen Tyrol and Samuel Anders."
The only thing that broke the silence of the room following the announcement was the bleeps of equipment and the whirring noises of the dradis. Slowly eyes turned to the people he had indicated who stood there in a state of shock and before they could protest his assertion Caprica One spoke again.
"We put a code phrase into their programming to release their true memories and personalities if we needed it, linked to our own vocal patterns. I don't want to use it but to prove myself, I guess I haven't a choice now." With one last look at them he spoke looking solely at Ellen Tigh.
"There must be some kind of way out of here, said the joker to the thief. There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief."
The effect of his words was immediate and the marines and any personnel in the room went straight for their guns as the Five grasped their heads as the pain of a lifetime forgotten began to return. The five doubled over, Seth moved to cover the Admiral and Chairman as did Tyber. But their caution was unnecessary as the five suddenly passed out as the conditioning which had been there all their assumed lives was released.
Then over his shoulder, Seth heard Laura asked desperately.
"Bill, Bill can you hear me?" Seth and Tyber turned around and saw the Fleet Admiral had fallen to his knees staring at the unconscious face of Saul Tigh and mouthing silently "No".
Realising that the Admiral was incapacitated with shock and a nervous breakdown, Seth took charge.
"Get the Fleet Admiral down to the Infirmary." He ordered to the people on the CIC, and finally the military discipline took over and people went to work. "Colonel Jones, take the Five and have them secured. Lieutenant Keikeya get me fleet wide, now Lieutenant." He said loudly as the communications enlisted turned officer stared concerned at the Fleet Admiral as some enlisted crewmen and Laura Roslin helped him to the infirmary. John meanwhile asked him desperately.
"Please don't hurt them, they love humanity they would never knowingly harm a human." Seth fixed him with a stern look and told him.
"I heard what you said and I have never harmed a Cylon in my custody and I don't intend to start now but right at this moment they are a security risk until proven otherwise. I promise you they will not be harmed but I need them were I can keep an eye on them for now." John seemed to accept that. Seth walked to the centre console and picked up the receiver and looked over to Lieutenant Keikeya who was being comforted by the husband Billy and she nodded to let him know he had the frequency. Seth spoke into the mic and said
"This is Rear Admiral Seth Trakiss to all Colonial ships. Fleet Admiral Adama is incapacitated, I'm assuming command of the fleet." He felt all the eyes on him at this moment very keenly, knowing that it now fell on him.
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Following his announcement he put the receiver back in its slot and turned to the highest ranking officer on the CIC right now, Lieutenant Felix Gaeta.
"Lieutenant Gaeta, I need to know who is the highest officer on this ship now that both the Admiral and Colonel are out of commission?" He asked Gaeta who told him quickly and efficiently to his usual standard despite the madness of the last few minutes.
"Captain Agathon sir, since Captain Kelly was promoted and transferred to the Achilles to replace its XO after he retired."
"Good get him up here, I need an XO." And the Lieutenant went off to get Helo up here. Turning back to Dee he told her.
"Get Commander and Captain Adama over here, their father may need them. And get Coker Fasjovik over here as well. He's on Telmaya." And the still shaken lieutenant did as she was told, Seth turned back to Director Nash and Chairman Forrest and Nash spoke quickly.
"We are in a bad position here, could this be a prelude to a Cylon attack."
Seth just stared before telling him.
"They're already here with our guns locked on them, if it's a surprise attack it's a poor attempt at best. But right now the three of us have to be ready to meet the Cylons in twenty minutes." He said looking at the clock.
"Not without increasing the marine guard around both yourself and Chairman Forrest." Nash said. "With Adama out of action, the fleet's morale hinges on the two of you. If they kill you, the fleet will be thrown into chaos." Nash said and Seth sighed annoyed as Hal said.
"Fine but I don't want it to look like a trap when we greet them, this could be an opportunity to get some vital Intel on what the hell has been going on."
Thankfully Captain Agathon chose that moment to appear on the CIC and Seth called him over.
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Twenty minutes later, Seth, Hal, Billy and Nash all stood on the hanger deck with a marine honour guard as the Cylon heavy raider was lowered onto the deck. All three of them and the marines behind tensed as the hatch lowered revealing five Cylons but no centurions as had been requested. There only seemed to be four specific models though; two Sixes who seemed to be the leaders, a two, an eight and a three.
The platinum haired Six however Seth recognised immediately despite her similarity to her sisters; there was something in her walk or her eyes, something that made her stand out, this was the same Six that he had met on the mission back to colonies, the six called Caprica.
The other six however looked like a biker chick; her hair had been dyed black, her tight leather pants and jacket clung to every curve, drawing the attention of everyone on the deck except Seth and Hal who managed to resist thinking of their own wives. But the real difference between the two sisters was in their eyes; Caprica's eyes although shadowed with doubt and sorrow, the biker or tough Six's eyes looked like she was in a permanent frenzy of rage ready to lash out at a moment's notice.
"Rear Admiral." Caprica said respectfully as she saw the rank pins on his neck. "May I present my sister Lisa" She said indicating the tough Six. "Leoben" indicating the two. "Shana." Indicating the eight. "And Lauren." She finished her introduction with the three.
"May I introduce my fellows; this is chairman of the Civilian Assembly Hal Forrest and his temporary assistant Billy Keikeya." He said indicating Hal and Billy who both shook Caprica's hand. "And Director Tobias Nash of our Intelligence Service." He declined to shake Caprica's hand but nodded his head in respect which she returned.
"Where is Admiral Adama, I thought the admiral was meeting us here?" Caprica asked and Seth told her.
"The Admiral has been unwell and needs time in the infirmary to recuperate, you deal with us now."
Caprica looked puzzled by his comment but decided for the sake of negotiations to let it slide, and followed with her fellow Cylons to a place where they could meet in private.
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"After we met you the last time Admiral, the peace movement myself and Boomer started continued to grow in strength and two distinct power blocks developed inside the Cylon hierarchy; the sixes, the two, the eights and the threes on one side, while the ones formed the other with the fours and fives." Caprica said as she spoke for the Cylons. "Because we didn't want to risk war, no one side was willing to move against the other but pressure just kept building; when Cavil resumed attacking your fleet months ago we separated our different models onto different ships but the final straw was when one of Cavil's ships discovered the First Hybrid." She said and Seth and his other humans looked at a page of Intel Selena had given them about this First Hybrid when she had first defected, apparently the first step towards Cylon organic models and was held in some reverence by some of the organic models. "He refused to accept Cavil's control so Cavil destroyed him and his ship. That was the moment we knew that we had to rein him in somehow." Caprica was interrupted from her tale by Lisa.
"That bastard needed to be brought down, after the first hybrid was killed I finally convinced them to act." She said with a gleam of pure hatred burning in her eyes at the mention of Cavil, unbeknown to the humans this was the same Six that they had found being abused by Cavil and had spent a year in a coma in a human infirmary. "We moved to assume control of the Hub which was the source of the resurrection technology but Cavil destroyed it in a fit of rage so we couldn't have it, now we can no longer resurrect." Billy who had been keeping notes of the conversation very quickly scribbled down that particular fact. "We started fighting our civil war and things went okay for a while until that bastard Cavil lured us into a false peace envoy, we lost most of our ships and so many of our brothers and sisters that day." She said in her grief. "Now we just have the seven ships we brought with us while Cavil has over thirty baseships."
"So what do you want with us?" Tobias asked, the three named Lauren answered him.
"We have come to believe that the only way we can survive and prosper is if we seek out the Final Five and Earth." She told them, her model had only sided with the rebels hoping to increase their standing in the Cylon hierarchy but had soon become so caught up in the power struggle going on that they now realised Cavil's destruction was the only way their people might survive, that and finding the Final Five. "We hoped to find their identities in the Temple on that planet and the way to Earth but we got so caught up in fighting Cavil." She said throwing a dirty look at Lisa. "That we didn't have time to examine the Temple."
"Fortunately for you, we did." Hal said gaining their immediate attention. "We have all the star charts to the 'Gateway of the Gods' whatever it is and just this morning, our captive one revealed something to us." Hal then told them everything John had said to them including the identities of the Final Five.
When he had finished the Cylons looked stunned, only the Eight Shana managed to speak.
"I didn't think it was possible to hate Cavil any more than I did already but I guess I was wrong." All five of them felt this way so Seth brought them back on track.
"I was told by Gina one of the Sixes who has defected to us that a hybrid of one of your baseships could correct the co-ordinates from the star charts we found. Is that true?" He asked, trusting Gina but needing confirmation.
"Yes that is correct." Leoben told them, he had hoped to see Kara Thrace while he was here but she had apparently taken up with Adama's son and transferred to another ship.
"Then I think we might be able to arrange something." Tobias said, feeling far better at negotiating a deal with the Cylons now they had some leverage. "Providing we go together."
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A recess was taken so both parties could talk more in detail about what they were willing to give, the human side knew that a deal with the Cylons could start at riot in their fleet so presenting it would have to very carefully done. Seth arrived back at the CIC where Helo was waiting for him.
"XO how is it going?" he asked and Helo looked up and said.
"Okay sir so far, but those baseships are making people nervous." Seth stood on the other side of the console looking at the screen, noting the seven baseships floating next to their own fleet.
"Makes sense since they've been trying to kill us for the last three years." Seth said before turning asking Helo. "Ship's status?"
"Permission to speak freely sir?" Helo asked and he continued when Seth nodded. "This crew is on a knife's edge, Admiral Adama and Colonel Tigh are the glue that's held this ship together and without them the crew feels lost. They need you to speak sir." Helo said, the crew needed to know that someone was here to lead them, the whole fleet did. Seth nodded before telling Dee.
"Get me ship wide." The communications officer nodded.
"This is the Admiral." Seth said into the receiver on the dradis console, all over the ship people stopped as he began to speak. "I know the last day has been hell for everyone in this fleet and now we find ourselves faced with our enemies in a way we never dreamed possible. The rules of the game we have been playing for the last three years have changed yet again, so we stand up and we never bow down. We are the Colonial Fleet; those principles we stand for; duty, honour, loyalty they are more than just words. They are the guiding lights by which we live our lives and right now I need you to stand to your duties, support your ship mates and we will raise above this situation. I have witnessed this crew perform miracles, had any one of us been told what we would have been faced with before this journey began none of us would have believed it. But we all endured, we fought on and we against all the odds have survived. We pull together and there is nothing we can't accomplish, I know that I'm not the one who has been here the longest, but I will stay here for all of you till Admiral Adama stands with us again. So say we all." Seth finished and all through the ship "So say we all" was echoed as the crew began to relax knowing there was a leader watching over them.
Seth looked around him with a tired smile as the crew went about their jobs thankfully more at ease. He saw Caprica One standing at the door of the CIC and went over to talk to him. But John started speaking before he could get a word in edgeways.
"Admiral, please I'm asking you to at least talk to the Five, let them plead their case." John said and Seth felt a headache coming on, with all the stuff that had been thrown at him the last few hours he really could do without a chitchat with five undercover Cylons. But he could see in John's eyes that he wasn't going to let this rest so with a sigh he said.
"Alright."
He made his way down to the brig and saw the marines guarding the door being hassled by two women. When he got closer he could see that it was Sharon Tyrol and Jean Anders, the spouses of Galen Tyrol and Sam Anders. They heard him approach and turned to face him, Sharon was still in her civilian garb as she had not returned to military service after having her baby, preferring to be a stay at home mum and Jean was also in civilian garb but it didn't quite hide her four month stage pregnancy.
"Sir please, we just want to see our husbands." Jean shouted and Boomer added.
"They won't let us." Seth nodded and told them.
"I have to speak to the five of them first, after that I will allow you in." They reluctantly stepped aside so Seth could enter, when he did he shut the hatch behind him and the five of them all stood up to face him.
"I won't waste time since we have little of it, especially with your homicidal son Cavil out to kill us all. So make your case." Seth said, keeping his body language and expression serious but neutral.
The Five looked at him and then Ellen stepped forward.
"We only wanted to foster peace between humans and Cylons, One had made that dream into a twisted nightmare of perversion. We have to try and fix all the mess he had caused."
"Fix it! We are talking about the murder of fifty billion souls. How can you possibly fix that?" Seth asked incredulously, his eyes narrowing. Before he could say anything else however Tory spoke up.
"By giving the survivors a refuge, a new home, a fresh start."
Seth was silent for a moment before asking them. "What is the Gateway of the Gods?"
Sam Anders answered this time. "Something we discovered on the way to the Colonies from the Cylon Earth. It could be the thing that saves us all."
Seth wanted more but he guessed that was all they were willing to say at this stage and despite wanting more he needed the Cylons help so he'd couldn't push to hard. She he turned and opened the hatch, letting a relieved Boomer and Jean in and told the marines.
"Release them but I want a guard on them at all times." The men nodded and as Seth walked away he heard Saul Tigh call out.
"How is Bill?"
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Bill was sitting up in bed in the infirmary, Dr Cottle had given he a shot of drugs to calm him down and he could at least think more clearly now. His family surrounded him and with some time to relax, he felt far better after the shock about Tigh. Tigh was a Cylon, his best friend and comrade in arms was a Cylon. Had their entire friendship been a lie? Or was it real? He didn't know anymore. As he started getting anxious again he was calmed when his daughter Amelia squeezed his hand gently asking.
"How do you feel now dad?" That still thrilled him, to have more children, after Zak had died he was scared that Lee would be all he ever had and at the time Lee hated him. But now he had restored his relationship with his son, he had a beautiful and kind daughter, Kara was his new daughter in law and Laura Roslin and he had been dating secretly. Now he had the family he had always dreamed of. Even better his old friend Coker was back and keeping him honest. He squeezed him daughter's hand back and told the anxious faces around him.
"I'm fine, I just got a hell of a shock that's all." Kara and Lee looked at each other for a moment before telling him.
"Well prepare for another one, dad Kara's pregnant." Lee said before he lost his nerve. Kara shot him an annoyed look for saying it so abruptly but the surprised faces that greeted them where enough to stop her complaining.
"Pregnant?" Bill asked and Kara's face went from annoyed too nervous in a heartbeat, scared of his reaction hoping he was not angry. But she need not have worried as his free hand reached out and grasped hers and squeezed it tight, a smile coming to his mouth.
"That's wonderful." Laura beamed. "Congratulations."
"Husker, you lucky devil." Coker said, he knew this feeling well. After his daughter had married that bastard he had been frightened for her. But that marriage had produced three wonderful grandchildren of which he was very proud; Seth, Saffy and Kelly. Seth had already given him two delightful great-grandchildren. Walter however was a disappointment but the others more than made up for that.
"Congratulations." Said a voice from the infirmary door, they all tensed as Saul Tigh entered the room, he walked towards them and Lee, Amelia and Kara all reached for their service pistols. Saul stopped when he saw the action staring at them unsure of what to say next.
"Come here Saul." Bill said from the bed and while the others looked on wearily, Saul did so till he was at the foot of the bed. Bill's eyes stared at him intensely, making Saul feel very comfortable under his old friend's gaze. All that had passed between the two men hung in balance as they tried to figure out where to go from here.
"How much of the last decade have been a lie and how much real?" Bill asked, he needed to know how much of his supposed friendship with this man was real. This man had been standing with him through all the crap that had come their way over the years, he had trusted this man with his life.
"All of it was real Bill. I'm not Boomer, there is no hidden directive that would make me act of anything other than my own free will." Saul said to this man who he considered his best friend in the universe. Galen, Sam and Tory were all his friends of course but Bill and him had always had a special bond that you just knew that they would be there no matter how hard things got or how long the odds for each other.
"Then get over here." Bill said and Saul walked closer to the bed and Bill pulled him into a tight manly hug that Saul returned.
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"So we have an agreement?" Seth asked the Cylons on the opposite sides of the table, the same five as before while opposite them; himself, Hal, Billy and Tobias sat.
"Yes we provide the hybrid and you provide the star charts, then we travel together to the location." Shana said happily albeit a little unsure of siding with humans after so long in fighting them. But neither could do this without the other.
"Gina and her science crew will travel to your baseship shortly while you remain here so each side has no advantage over the other." Hal said and the Cylons nodded in agreement. Seth and Caprica 6 shook hands to complete the deal before getting up and were distracted when Ellen Tigh entered the room.
"Ellen." Caprica said unsure of what to say in presence of her mother and creator. Ellen came up to her and asked.
"Can I have a moment alone with Caprica please?" and they all filed out while Caprica shifted nervously under Ellen's gaze. Caprica was so scared that her mother was going to hate her for planting the vulnerability in the defence network that made the attack on the colonies as successful as it had been. She'd been an unknowing instrument of Cavil's hate and broken her mother's dream of peace.
She was shocked when Ellen grabbed her into a hug and told her.
"I'm so proud of you." Caprica looking as uncertain as she felt met Ellen's gaze.
"But I destroyed the colonies, I' am responsible for the deaths of so many humans, I thought you'd be furious with me." Tears began to form in Caprica's eyes.
Wiping those tears away, Ellen told her. "As a pawn of Cavil, but since you broke free of his bonds you have saved lives and brought your brothers and sisters back to path we had always dreamt of for you."
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Gina a short while later was coming to terms with being back on a baseship again. It had been so long since she had set foot on one, over six years in fact. Her colleagues were entranced at the spectacle and followed like eager puppies as she gave them a brief tour. When they arrived at the control centre. A Six and five centurions were waiting for them, the Six didn't look happy at humans being on the baseship, Gina decided to break the ice.
"Sister, it's good to see you again." Only for the Six to say angrily.
"It's Natalie Faust now and don't call me sister! You sided with the humans over us." She finished with a sneer. Gina was shocked speechless but one of her fellow scientists was not.
"She decided to help people who showed her kindness and friendship. She has been nothing but an angel, helping us get through some tough spots so shut up and let us do our jobs." Gina felt immediately better knowing that her human friends were there with her and Natalie looked ashamed of herself.
"I'm sorry, Sister." Natalie said looking like she meant it. "It's just difficult to see humans as anything but the enemy." Gina smiled and walked over to Natalie giving her a brief hug, a year or more ago Gina couldn't have done that, contact had to be initiated by another person she trusted and then maybe not reciprocated. She still had trouble sometimes and nightmares still touched her sometimes but thanks to the efforts of her human friends she was no longer that frightened woman she'd been on Pegasus.
"Let's get this done." Gina said kindly and with the star maps pictured in her memory she carefully placed her hand in the gel of the hybrid tank. She connected with the hybrid and quickly its processing power began the process of correcting the ages old maps.
"Done." Gina said after five minutes and she told them all a stream of numbers which they quickly transmitted to the rest of the fleet, both human and Cylon.
"Jump." Gina said with her hands still in the tank.
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The combined fleet flashed into existence into a new area of space the scanning instruments of the fleet began registering something close.
"There are verteron particle emissions off our starboard bow." Gaeta reported. "Also high levels of neutrinos."
"Dangerous?" Seth asked, Gaeta answered his temporary CO.
"No sir, just mysterious these particles have only ever been seen in rare stellar phenomena or in the lab. I only have a rough idea of their source." Gaeta activated the exterior cameras facing the strange readings and his surprise was so great he forgot to breathe.
"What is it Lieutenant?" Helo asked waking Gaeta up enough for him to put the sight on the dradis monitors so that they could all see and their own breath was taken away when they saw what it was.
Hanging there in space was a swirling blue vortex with a golden light illuminating the centre. Seth managed to ask.
"Any ideas Mr Gaeta?"
"Sir if my theory is right, then we are looking at a wormhole."
"Ready an unmanned probe, I want to see where it goes." Seth ordered.
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"Where does it go?" Caprica asked eagerly as she and the rest of the Cylons leaders met with the human ones as well.
"According the data our probe collected, it goes here to another galaxy we call Avalon." Gina said excitedly.
"Another galaxy." Nash repeated in astonishment.
"This could be our way out, go to a place where Cavil will never find us." Shana said excited but this was not shared by all.
"This is a hell of a big step. We need to be sure we're ready to make this leap of faith." Seth said cautiously.
"You need to discuss it with your people and I need to discuss it with mine." Hal said and they enthusiasm of the room diminished slightly but overall remained upbeat.
An hour later as the Assembly met to discuss the idea of using the wormhole, Seth remained on Galactica as Adama was not being allowed to reassume command till Dr Cottle was satisfied. He stood with Helo, Sharon Agathon and Selena who had joined them to discuss the situation.
They were broken from their talk when the dradis alarm sounded and they saw a horrifying sight appear on the screen. Seth turned to Gaeta and asked
"How many ships?"
"Thirty four Baseships, thousands of raiders." Gaeta said with fear as the entire Cylon began bearing down on them.
"No choice now." Seth said, turning to Dee taking control of the situation and told her. "All ships actions stations, civilian ships to proceed through the wormhole, military vessels to cover their retreat. Arm all nuclear weapons and prepare to launch all vipers."
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On one of the baseships, Natalie looked horrified as Cavil's forces bared down on them. She didn't see Lisa turn to one of the centurions who had been given sentience when they broke away from Cavil. The guns arms deployed and Caprica looked at Lisa horrified.
"What the hell are you doing?" Lisa gave him a smile that was nearly a sneer but not as harsh.
"I've waited too long for my last dance with Cavil, I need this ship and the centurions have seized another. Now might be a good time to evacuate to one of the other five baseships and escape down the wormhole while the Centurions and raiders hold Cavil off."
"You'll be killed." Natalie said horrified. Lisa gave her a smile.
"Not before I take as many of those Ones down as possible." She said. "Now go." And with one last look at their sister, Caprica and Natalie ran from the room.
As heavy raiders carrying the organic models left the two rebel baseships they turned and charged straight at the enemy baseships, once the five other rebel baseships had picked up the heavy raiders, they sped towards the wormhole. On the Galactica, Seth looked on in confusion with the rest of the crew as the baseships broke formation.
"What they hell are they doing?" Helo asked. Seth could only guess when a voice on the comm system sounded.
"Lisa is buying time for us to escape, now get now to that wormhole." Caprica said from her heavy raider and Seth quickly ordered.
"Get us out of here now, best possible speed."
All the battlestars quickly turned and started down the wormhole while Lisa watched from her baseship.
"They'll be fine." A voice to her right said. Lisa turned and saw that version of Baltar that no one but her seemed to see. "Better than fine, they are about to discover a future greater than they could ever imagine."
"Then this is how it has to be." She waited till the last ship had travelled through the wormhole and fired three nuclear missiles into the event horizon. The massive explosions destabilized the wormhole which began to spew blue clouds of particles at her ships and Cavil's. She heard a voice on the communication system. It was Cavil and he screamed impotent with rage.
"What have you done?!"
"What I had to do, this is the end for us both." She closed her eyes and felt Gaius's lips on hers as the ship erupted into huge explosions on contact with the blue clouds as did Cavil's ships.
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The only thing the people on the other side of the wormhole was the wormhole swallow itself up. The stations on every ship were silent as what had just happened became apparent.
"Well, where we are is where we'll stay." Seth said and Gaeta broke in with.
"Sir, I'm seeing a star system about one jump away, could be a good place to get our bearings."
"Take us there lieutenant." Seth ordered. He was breathing quickly from the adrenaline of the experience.
Gaeta jumped the fleet to the star system and the collection of ships approached a planet.
"What's it like lieutenant?" Helo asked.
"Two moons and a breathable atmosphere, like Caprica norm." Gaeta said looking astonished as the jewel of a planet.
"I want a full survey, immediately." Seth said as hope blossomed in his chest that maybe, now they could stop and find a place to stay. A new home at last. Maybe he and his wife could raise their children in the fresh air of a planet rather than the recycled air of a Battlestar as the two had long feared.
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Epilogue…
The survey only confirmed the planet was to put it simply.
Perfect.
A large planet with a surface covered by water, or rather seventy percent of it. Three continents with a variety of climates, most of which were perfect for supporting human life. Abundant plant life with a few native animal and marine species. Of the two moons; one was a barren and lifeless, but the second was largely ocean with a small island chain on the equator. They decided to settle on the planet that was christened New Kobol.
Admiral Adama decided to retire along with Colonel Tigh so they could spent their time with their families, Ellen was already taking long walks with Caprica 6. Seth could well remember seeing Helo and Sharon Agathon swinging Hera between them after they landed, Galen Tyrol running in the fields with his son on his shoulders while Boomer ran alongside, D'Anna and Gabrielle with along the field with little Eve nestled in D'Anna's arms. Caprica 1 had decided that his time in solitude was over and that he should devote his energies into helping them build their new homes. All the people so happy that at long last and after everyone they'd lost, the nightmare was finally over.
The two thousand or so Cylons had decided to settle here too, Lisa's sacrifice had quieted any voices of dissent. It had been decided to set up several settlements to increase their chances of success.
But this new planet had mysteries of its own. When scouting in the mountains they had discovered a facility that was so alien they had no point of comparison. Made of golden metal it only responded to certain people and in a language they not even start to understand.
Also several wrecked space ships had been discovered in the local star systems when they had been scouting them. Like the facility they were so alien they as of yet could not understand them but with further study they wondered if they might unlock their secrets. And finally they discovered that their new home was one of several systems that was enclosed in a close grouping of neutron stars. Their radiation made the outer systems harsh but the inner systems were quite safe and 10 other habitable planets had been found.
But the strangest thing they had discovered so far was a large metal ring covered with 39 symbols spread along it next to some kind of altar which also had the same symbols on it as the circle around a big red one.
Seth looked at it and suddenly he had a feeling in the pit of his stomach.
The journey from the Colonies was over, but the story wasn't over yet.
The End…?
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Sorry if the ending is a bit rushed but I was running out of steam towards the end and I had a lot to establish. This story has been close to my heart for a long time and now it ending I just didn't want to go the way they did in the series.
For those who haven't guessed the ring was a Milky Way stargate and Avalon was the old Ancient name for the Milky Way Galaxy, so I might write a sequel with a stargate crossover. I don't know yet.
For all who followed this story, thank you and to those who reviewed, thank you again for your support.