Planet Designated P3H-652, Refugee Camp, 0830 hours.
It had been months since Major Adama had a good night's sleep on the Galactica, especially when sleeping in a cabin with ten other pilots with two to each bunk. The Major just woke up to a loud noise as he sat up hurriedly and looked to his left. Frowning, he saw that it was Skulls' snoring on the other cot next to his that woke him up. Looking out the window that was attached to the plastic walls of the refugee unit, he saw that it was still dark but his own body clock told him that it was time to wake up. The truth was that even without Skull incessant snoring, the Major knew that he would be waking up soon.. especially since his body was already used to waking up at a certain time so that he could get ready for his day.
Deciding against getting more sleep, he looked at the occupants of the other two cots, spaced evenly apart from each other, as they slept. He then looked around the unit once again after he had put his bare feet on the plastic floor. He recalled Dr Burke telling his that they weren't sure how many people would be included in their delegation, so her organization had ten units brought to the planet with each unit being able to house four people. As they walked towards the camp last night, the Major and the others saw a close group of what seemed to be a basic house with four walls that Dr. Burke said was sturdy enough to stand against high winds, a door, some windows and a roof.
Once they entered the camp, the Major and the others had checked the units while Dr. Burke explained the units had the basic necessities they would need; a roof that would protect them from the elements, solar panels on the roof for electricity that would power the lights, netting on the front doors which would keep out the insects that usually came out at night. She told them that showers and basic restrooms were located close by and that her organization would be helping to set up something more permanent once certain things have been settled.
As the Major got up from his cot, he stretched his arms over his head and yawned before turning around to make sure that the others weren't awake. In his green undershirt and boxers, the Major reached for his trousers and put them on before he walked over to the door. Unzipping the netting that prevented insects from coming in, he then opened the door to the smell of fresh air as a light breeze went through his hair. He then heard boots click together as the Colonial Marines who were standing guard outside his unit stood at attention.
"Marines" said the Major as he turned around and zipped up the netting again before closing the door, "did you get some sleep?"
"Yes, sir" said one of them, "we relieved Sergeant Daniels and Ryder two hours ago."
"Good" said the Major as he looked into the distance at the trees, and then looked up at the sky and smiled when he saw two moons, "I thought it was all a dream."
"Us as well, sir" said one of the Marines, "do you think these people are the Thirteenth Tribe?"
"We'll see" said the Major as he looked at both Marines, "I'll be going to the head. Watch over the others."
"Yes, sir" said the Marines as they watched him walk off.
The Major walked towards a long building at one end of the camp past the other units. He then walked past the unit that the female officers, including Racetrack, had taken as their own. He came out of that building ten minutes later after having freshened up before deciding to take a look around his surroundings. He walked back to his unit and told the Marines of his plans. However, despite their insistence that one of them follow him…. Major Adama told them that he'll be safe; that if these people had any hostile intent towards them, then they would have done something already.
"Very well, sir" said one of the Marines.
"I'll head towards the main camp" said the Major as he started to walked down the trail that Dr. Burke and the others had walked them down on when they were heading towards the refugee camp last night. AS he was walking down the trail, he saw two of the Earth officers in full gear as they made their own rounds of the camp followed by another two who were heading towards the rear of the refugee camp. He recalled Colonel Dixon telling him, with Dr. Burke translating, that he'll have his officers doing rounds of the refugee camp as an extra layer of security. Despite the grumblings of Zarek, the Major had agreed with the Colonel's idea.
Soon, Major Adama started jogging down the trail as he took in the fresh air. After months of breathing recycled air from the Galactica, the Major could feel every cell in his body reinvigorated as he continued to breathe and jog. It was a few minutes later when he reached the main camp where he saw some of the Earth officers already up and about. He knew not knowing the language was problematic as he walked into the camp and headed towards the Mess tent with nods from some of the officers that he had seen last night walking past him. Entering the Mess tent, he smiled as a familiar smell wafted into his nostrils. Walking to a table at one end of the tent, Major Adama looked at the food laid out and then at the man behind the table who was looking at him questioningly.
"Major?" said Dr. Burke as she walked behind him in an ordinary black shirt and trousers and tapped on his shoulder, "you're up early."
"Ye.. yes" said the Major as he smiled at the linguist, "I usually get up early since I have to handle the briefings for the pilots on the Galactica. I guess I haven't really gotten used to all this."
"I understand" said Dr. Burke as she grabbed a paper plate and handed one to Major Adama, "hungry?"
"Yes" said the Major nodding his head as he turned to the table behind him, "I guess all the excitement from yesterday dampened our hunger. I wouldn't be surprised if the others wake up hungry soon."
"Come on" said Dr. Burke as she led the Major to one end of the table and asked the man to give them some scrambled eggs, sausage and biscuits. Dr. Burke then led Major Adama to a table near the entrance to the Mess tent where they put their plates down and left again to take some hot coffee. They then sat down across from one another as the Major just looked at the food and smiled.
"It's been months since the fleet has had decent food" said the Major as he grabbed a fork and pushed the yellow coloured food on his plate, "these are eggs, right?"
"Uh huh" said Dr. Burke as she pointed at her plate, "scrambled eggs, sausages and biscuits; kind of like baked bread that's flaky."
"We haven't had these on Caprica" said Major Adama as he held up a biscuit half and took a small bite.
"Well?" asked Dr. Burke as she adjusted her glasses, "what do you think?"
"Not bad" said the Major as he took another bite before taking a forkful of some eggs and then a bite off a sausage. He then looked at Dr. Burke who told him to hold on while she went to grab something. Turning around, he saw her heading back to the table they had gotten the food from earlier before she walked back carrying a small object that seemed to be carrying a reddish coloured liquid.
"Here" said Dr. Burke as she opened the top and poured the liquid over the biscuits before she did the same to hers, and placed the round object on the table, "syrup for the biscuits, you'll like it."
"Ah" said the Major as he took a bite of the food and smiled, "not bad."
"See" replied Dr. Burke as she started to eat her food, "have you slept well?"
"As well as could be" said the Major as he put some eggs into his mouth, "it's been a while since we've gotten some decent sleep. I still remember we were running from the Cylons for five straight; it was a few days after the fall of the Colonies. They were attacking us every thirty-three minutes like clockwork…. We were running on very little sleep.. we were frustrated… tired… alone. But every thirty three minutes they'd come, and we would jump away."
"Your ships are still out there" said Dr. Burke matter of factly as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Yes" said the Major quietly, "we found out why they were following us. There may have been something on a passenger ship, they were tracking it and… anyway, they stopped."
Dr. Burke watched the look on the Major's face as he started at the table while he told the story but stopped before he sighed and started to eat his food again. She knew that there was more to what he wanted to say, but figured it would be best when the counselling team came by to help the survivors. The both of them ate their food in relative quiet when she noticed the Major stop his fork midway before putting it down again.
"Dr. Burke" said Major Adama, "my father and the President told me and some of the others that we won't be allowed to Earth. Is that true?"
"Sorry, Major" said Dr. Burke when the Major interrupted her and asked her to call him Lee.
"As long as you call me Winnie" said Dr. Burke as the Major nodded his head, "and to answer your question, I'm afraid it is true. But the details will be given to you and your government's representatives later today. But I've read the report that MR. Woolsey and General O'Neill submitted, the reasons are the same."
"Will you be helping the Cylons?" asked Major Adama as Dr. Burke swallowed their biscuit she was chewing and frowned at him.
"That's up to the military as well" said Dr. Burke, "but let me ask you this; their society has been annihilated, just like yours have…. Would you help each other survive if it came to that?"
"No" said Major Adama, "after everything that happened, after they annihilated the Colonies… no way. Fifty billion people died in the attack, millions more could suffer from radiation sickness… that is if there are millions who are still alive and hiding somewhere. Personally, I'm glad that the same thing is happening to them… it's poetic."
"I see" said Dr. Burke, "we can't imagine what it's like to lose fifty billion people…."
"Exactly" said Major Adama as he leaned back on his seat and looked at Dr. Burke, "you can't imagine….. no one can imagine that kind of a loss in the space of a day."
"You're right" said Dr. Burke as she took a sip of her coffee as Major Adama looked away. The both of them sat in the Mess tent in silence as more and more Earth officers started to come into the tent to have their breakfast. It was a few minutes later that the Major saw Dr. Burke touch her ear and title her head to the side slightly.
"Winnie?" said the Major as she held her hand up, indicating that the Major need to hold on for just a few moments.
"Yes" said Dr. Burke as she spoke into her headset while the Major looked on, "he's with me now. We're almost done with breakfast… ok. Yeah, we're on our way."
"Lee" said Dr. Burke, "Major Rosenberg and Colonel Dixon would like to see you in the medical facility."
"Maybe I should go change first" said the Major as he and Dr. Burke stood up.
"Better not" replied the linguist, "Colonel Dixon needs to talk to you urgently."
"Ok" said the Major nodding his head as he following Dr. Burke out of the tent and towards the medical facility. Once they reached the facility, Major Adama held the door open for Dr. Burke before the both of them walked into the large room. Walking towards the table in the middle, they saw Colonel Dixon talking to Willow and Hailey, while Faith and Jon were reading something. As the two of them got closer, Colonel Dixon looked up while Hailey and Willow turned towards Dr. Burke and the Major who stopped at the table while Faith and Jon put down the papers they were reading.
"Colonel?" said Dr. Burke, who suspected that they were going to reveal everything to Major Adama.
"Yea" said the Colonel as he walked around Willow and Hailey towards the Major, "Major Adama, you said you are the military leader in charge?"
"Yes" said the Major, "what's going on? Dr. Burke told me that you needed to talk to me."
"Yea" said the Colonel, "we've completed testing the blood, and none of your people have the Ori Plague."
"That's good" said the Major, "my people will be relieved to know that. But, shouldn't the Vice-President be here as well?"
"That's the thing" said Hailey as she stood next to the Colonel with Willow, "what can you tell us about the Vice-President? What kind of work did he do on the Colonies?"
"Balter?" said the Major, "he's the smartest person in the fleet. He's a bit of a pain, arrogant as hell, self-serving; but he has helped the fleet out of trouble. He's even tried to build a working Cylon detector which failed since it never detected the Sharon who tried to kill my father on the Galactica."
"Listen" said Colonel Dixon as he scratched his head and he turned around, pointing to a screen in the corner, "while running tests on his blood for the Ori Plague, we found…."
"Nanites" said Major Adama as he looked at three nanites swimming in the magnified blood, "but.. but how?"
"Does he deal with machines?" asked Dr. Burke once the Major turned around and face them.
"No" said Major Adama, "at least… I mean… I don't know. By the gods, he's the vice-president of the Colonies."
"We checked his blood three times" said Willow while Dr. Burke translated as she looked at the shocked face on Major Adama, "we can tell you that he's not a Cylon, he doesn't have near the amount of nanites that were in Sharon's blood. But the fact that he has them is…"
"I'll kill him" said Major Adama as he turned around, only to have Dr. Burke stand in front of him.
"Lee" said Dr. Burke as she looked at the anger in the Major's eyes, "there's no evidence that he is a Cylon. He has nanites, but we need to know how… and why he has them. It could be a very simple reason but he needs to be questioned."
"We will be doing the questioning" said the Major as he turned around and looked at Colonel Dixon and the others, "we will question him."
"That's your right, Major" said the Colonel while Dr. Burke translated, "but right now, your people are under our protection… which means that the Vice-President is protected as well from your own people. As long as you're here, there will be absolutely no torture. IS that clear?"
"Yes" said the Major, "now I need to go and make an arrest."
"I'll have some of our people go with you" said the Colonel, "it's just to make sure nothing untoward happens to the Vice…."
"Balter" said the Major as he looked at the screen that had the nanites swimming in the blood, "I doubt the President will want him to be her Vice-President anymore, since…. Dear, gods."
"Lee?" asked Dr. Burke as she looked at Major Adama's horrified face, "what's wrong?"
"Zarek" said the Major in shock, "if we arrest Balter for these nanites, he'll lose all credibility and Zarek will demand Balter be removed so that he can take over the Vice-Presidency."
"That's your internal political stuff" said Jon, "we're telling you this so you know what's going on. We'll be keeping an eye on him, but it's up to you if you want to hold him in one of the refugee units for questioning."
"But like I said" said Colonel Dixon, "no torture. I'll have my people accompany you if you do decide to arrest him. They won't interfere, but they will if the man's life is in danger from your own people."
"Will you grant him asylum if he asks?" asked the Major.
"Don't do to him what you did to Miss Valerii" said the Colonel, "but I still have to ask my superiors."
The truth was that he already talked to General Landry last night who told the Colonel that as long as the man wasn't tortured by the Colonials, that there was no reason for an asylum claim. The General said that Balter fell under the jurisdiction of the Colonials on this one.
"Frak" said the Major as he looked around while rubbing his face, "this is the ultimate frak up, how did he get nanites into his blood?"
"One of the questions you need to ask him" said Willow.
"I'll isolate him" said the Major, "tell him that he's infected and that… no, he's too smart for that. He'll see right through it. Frak!"
It was then that the Major had an idea, he asked Colonel Dixon for copies of Balter's medical files and the report on the nanites. He said that he'll show them to Dr. Cottle on the Galactica when he returns after meeting with the Earth delegation.
"That won't work either" said the Major as everyone looked one while Dr. Burke translated, "the Quorum will think that the President and my Father knew about this if we tell them once we head back to the Galactica. They'll lose credibility and we'll blow our chance at finding a home because of the extremists in the Quorum."
"Lee" said Dr. Burke as she stepped towards the Major, "what do you want to do?"
"There's no choice" said Major Adama as he looked at the woman before turning around to look at Colonel Dixon, "I'll have to arrest him for this nanite thing. For our safety until we're sure how he got them into his body."
"I'll have my people go with you" said the Colonel as he nodded at Hailey, Jon, and Faith who left with the Major and Dr. Burke. The Colonel then radioed Riley to tell him that back-up was needed at the camp. Once everything was done, the Colonel turned towards Willow who had just received a piece of paper from one of the scientists that had a yellow highlighter mark that ran across a name.
"Major?" asked the Colonel as he nodded at the piece of paper.
"The results of the ATA gene test, sir" said Willow as she looked through the paper until she came to the highlighted name, "looks like one of the Colonials have the Ancient gene."
"Don't tell me it's the now former Vice-President?" asked the Colonel.
"No, sir" said Willow as she looked up, "it's the woman pilot who came here with them… Lt. Edmondson. She's the one with the gene."
University of Chicago, Earth, two days ago; 0920 hours.
It had been nearly two days since Dr. Sarah Gardner, former host to the Goa'uld known as Osiris and until two days ago a professor of Archaeology at the University of Chicago was asked by General O'Neill personally to help the SGC in a first contact situation.
"Me, General?" asked the blonde as she gave the silver haired man a cup of warm coffee before sitting across from him in her office which was cluttered with books on Ancient Egypt, "what happened to Daniel? Don't tell me he's sick… again."
"No" said General O'Neill as he put his cup in the table between then and shifted uncomfortably on his chair.
Sarah knew immediately that something was very wrong. The last time that she talked to Daniel was a little more than three months ago, she had wanted the man to guest lecture a class of hers on Ancient Egypt; and she was glad that he had agreed. She knew that he was going through the Stargate on new adventures, and while the General had offered the blonde that role as well… the memories from Osiris prevented her from doing so. To Sarah, going through the Gate brought about memories of the cruel things that Osiris, and the Goa'uld, had done to the humans scattered throughout the galaxy; but now, the look that General O'Neill had on his face told her that something terrible had happened.
"We've encountered another enemy" said the General, "worse than the Goa'uld, and…. well, Daniel.."
"Oh God" said Sarah in shock as she stood up and covered her mouth, "don't tell me he…"
"All we know is that he's been taken" said the General as he looked up at the worried woman, "this enemy, the Ori; they want him alive."
"I know he's not allowed to tell me what's going on out there" said Sarah as she sat back down, "but… this Ori, are they that much worse?"
"They can beat the Goa'uld with one hand tied behind their back" said the General as he handed her a thick folder, "you've already been approved by the President to know about everything that's going on, and since you've signed the updated NDA's; that folder will bring you up to speed."
"Daniel told me about Anya" said Sarah as she took the folder from the man, and put it on the table, "how is she taking it?"
"She and a friend of hers is on another planet searching for something" said the General, "it's all in the folder; and I mean everything about the Ori. But…"
"But?" said Sarah.
"We've encountered two civilizations that suffered from its own holocaust" said the General as he handed Sarah the second folder, "the first one's for getting caught up on the Ori and the current status of the Goa'uld, but we really need you for the second folder."
"Ummm" said Sarah as she opened the folder with her mind still worried about Daniel and if he was alright. As she read the report, she kept on reminding herself that Daniel would be alright… that he's always been alright. Shaking her head, she then read the front page of the report once again before looking up at the General in surprise, "so these humanoid and mechanical robots destroyed the lives of billions of people, and these robots in turn are being destroyed by the Ori?"
"That's the general gist of things" said the General, "they've asked for help."
"Fifty billion people" said Sarah as she put down the file and leaned back on her chair, "wow… that number is… wow."
"I know this is a shock to you" said the General, "a translation team's been sent to the planet that we've given the Colonial's coordinates to, and we need another team to be sent to the other planet where we expect the Cylons to go to."
"Wow" sad Sarah as she leaned forward and looked at the file again. She then turned a page and looked up in shock at the General, "one of them looks just like an Air Force officer?"
"Yep" said General O'Neill, "don't ask me how that's possible… one of the eggheads at the SGC said something about genetic diversity, and then something about DNA and stuff before I fell asleep on the phone. Anyway, we checked our officer, Major Lauren Satterfield and she's completely human."
"Amazing" said Sarah softly as she continued to read the file, "Twelve Colonies of Kobol, Cylons… Kobol…. I can tell you that Osiris never heard of them before. Neither did any of the Goa'uld for that matter. If they did, then these people would be considered a threat."
"We have a source" said the General referring to Willow, "this source said that some Goa'uld could have taken humans as slaves from the Mediterranean region and brought them to a planet."
"That is the M.O of the Goa'uld" said Sarah nodding her head, "don't forget General, I still have Osiris' memories… even the horrible ones."
"Well, according to this source; a group of Goa'uld led by Zeus…"
"Zeus" said Sarah with a sigh as she rubbed her forehead while recalling some of Osiris' memories, "Osiris met him before; a minor Goa'uld under his command. Had some delusions of grandeur about the evolution of humans. He and some of his fellow minor Goa'uld believed that humans could be brought to a certain level of technological prowess. That once they reached a certain level of technology, they would go to war against each other like some sort of sick game; he and the others believed that it was the natural.. default setting of humanity. He and his kind wanted to see what would happen if they could pit one group of humans against another…. Nearly destroying each other in the process. And then, helping them to rebuild before working against them from the shadows; goading them to destroy one another. They wanted to see if humans would relive the same cycle over and over again… even if they knew the consequences. They wanted to see how humans would evolve; would the humans become more violent as time went on… or would they become more docile."
"Did Osiris approve?" asked the General as Sarah shook her head.
"The Goa'uld wanted slaves and Jaffa" said Sarah, "they wanted territory for themselves, even if they had to go to war against each other. They needed as many Jaffa as possible. Zeus' and his fellow minor Goa'uld's idea of taking these humans to another planet in a game of evolution and survival of the fittest took away from the goals of securing more territory. To the system lords, these were needless deaths… they should have become Jaffa so that they could fight for their so called 'god'. So no, Osiris and the others didn't approve. If Ra knew about this, then he would have been pissed. He would have seemed them as a threat."
"Looks like they did it anyway" said the General, "our source says that the Goa'uld got bored, and left them alone. But they still followed a period of tech advancement, and then war… then rinse and repeat."
"Yes" said Sarah as she looked through the rest of the report. She then looked back up at the General, put the file back on the table over the much thicker file about the Ori and just looked at the General, "so, why does the SGC want me specifically?"
"The Colonials and Cylons speak a form of Ancient Greek" said the General as Sarah looked at the man, "and Daniel said that you are one of the best."
"How about Daniel's protégé, this Dawn Summers?" asked Sarah, "I haven't met her, but Daniel's extremely proud of her."
"She's taken some personal leave" replied the General, "which is why I'm here."
"Ah" replied Sarah as she nodded her head and looked at the table.
"I know you've refused to go through the Stargate" said the General as the archaeologist looked back up at General O'Neill, "but we're still trying to vet more people who can speak this dialect of Ancient Greek. A team under Dr. Winnie Burke has been sent to the Colonial planet."
"Winnie" said Sarah nodding her head, "from Cambridge University… met her a year after the Osiris mess at a conference. She's a good person."
"Daniel recommended her" said the General, "joined the SGC last year. Before this whole Colonial and Cylon mess."
"So she and a team are taking care of the Colonials I take it?" said Sarah as General O'Neill nodded his head, "who else will be going with me?"
"Out of the thirty or so members of Daniel's translation team" said the General as he handed her a piece of paper with a list of names names on it, "only ten are fluent in Ancient Greek. General Landry, the commander of the SGC, has six of them along with Dr. Burke on the Colonial planet with the other four in reserve. They can be yours if you agree to this mission."
"I see" said Sarah as she closed the folder and put it back down on the table.
"I know you asked to be left alone" said the General softly, "that you don't want to go through the Gate, but in such short notice… we wouldn't be asking you if it wasn't urgent. It will just be for a few days, we're almost done vetting three professors from New York and Los Angeles; and there's one more person I'm waiting to hear from."
"I see" said Sarah as she rubbed her chin, "General, you have the pick of any other archaeologist in this department. So really, why me?"
"You were highly recommended by Daniel" said the General, "and… look. I get this feeling that we have to be very delicate with the Colonials as far as the existence of the wider galaxy, and their place in it. They've been under the assumption that they're the only humans in the galaxy, they have their own religion…"
"Resembling the Ancient Greeks" said Sarah nodding at the top file, "at least from what I skimmed through in the file."
"Yea" replied the General, "telling them the truth will be a hard sell, a very hard sell. For the Cylon's however…."
"Since they already are, technically speaking, artificial beings… aliens like the Goa'ud" said Sarah as she understood the General's need for her, "they may be more receptive towards the truth, and you'd like me as proof."
"That's one" said the General, "the main reason we need you is because you are an extremely skilled person. You've been out there…."
"Not under my own will though."
"Yea" replied the General, "but you still know what's out there, you were a host to a snake… no offense."
"None taken" replied Sarah smiling as she looked at the General sitting across from her.
"You'll be sent with Teal'c, Colonel Cameron Mitchell, and SG-2" said the General, "they'll be in reverse engineered armour that Anubis had some thing's called Kulls wear into battle. It's nearly impervious against energy and kinetic weapons… basically it'll take a missile to destroy it. Anyway, they'll be guarding you and your team."
"Teal'c" said Sarah as she thought back to the time she was Osiris, "he's the one that basically started the Jaffa rebellion?"
"Yep" replied the General, "he'll be there as a member of the SGC, not the Free Jaffa Nation."
"I see" said Sarah, "how about the diplomatic party? I mean, you intend to start diplomatic talks?"
"This is more of a humanitarian aid, refugee thing first" said the General, "but you'll have some diplomat's from the IOA coming by once the Cylons accept our offer."
"Alright" said Sarah nodding her head, "which is?"
"The same as the Colonials" replied the General, "they get to rebuild their society with help from us until they are self sufficient, they are not to know each other's gate addresses, they'll be given limited access to particular world's that will allow them to visit for supplies, and of course; they don't get to know the address for Earth. They'll be told that the Earth gate has an iris and a shield that would prevent anyone from materializing at the SGC… basically if they try to come through, they'll die."
"Alright" said Sarah nodding her head, "when do I leave?"
Orbit of Planet Designated PT5-267, 0915 hours.
Over an Earth sized planet with three large continents and several smaller ones appeared seven flashes of light. The Cylon Baseships that survived the attack by the Colonials and the Ori had finally appeared above the coordinates that the Earth ships had given the humanoid Cylons. In the control room of the lead ship stood Natalie as she looked at the Cylon version of a Colonial DRADIS and smiled. She then looked down at the water before putting her hand into the basin and closing her eyes, connecting her consciousness to the dataflow and getting information about their destination from their hybrid.
"Natalie!" shouted an excited Boomer as she ran from another console towards the dark blonde woman, "we've made it…. The final jump. We're all here."
"Not all of us" said Natalie as she opened her eyes and looked at the Number Eight, "most of the others, including all of the Doral's, went with Cavil on the suicide mission. From our previous total of a hundred and forty nine thousand, we're down to only fifty thousand in these seven ships. Not counting the numerous others that are still out there hiding from the Ori; that bastard wants to take our other brothers and sisters and go on a suicide mission back to the Colonies."
"I know" said Boomer as she walked up to Natalie and lay a hand on her shoulder, "we have your line, including Caprica Six with us on another ship…. We have some of every line with us except for the Cavil's and the Doral's. All of them agreed to go back to the Colonies."
"I don't know what they're thinking" said Natalie when a D'Anna came running from another room and asked them to activate the communications systems.
"Unknown Vessels, my name is Dr. Sarah Gardner translating for Colonel Cameron Mitchell. Do you copy?"
"Yes" said Natalie as she watched the other models in the room converge on her location as she talked to Sarah, "this is Natalie Faust of the Cylon remnant, we were given these coordinates by one of the Earth vessels."
"Miss Faust" said Sarah as Natalie looked at everyone, "you should be receiving a set of coordinates."
Natalie looked at Leoben who had run to another basin and put his hand into the water to activate a screen. The screen showed a set of numbers as the humanoid Cylon smiled to himself and then looked back at Natalie and nodded his head.
"Yes" said Natalie, "we have received coordinates."
"We are unsure of the ways of Cylon governance; are you able to speak for your people?"
Natalie frowned when she heard that questioned. She knew that even among the Cylons who had come with her, there were those who were on the fence in regards to this being the right thing to do; putting their lives in the hands of those who could very well destroy them. Others indicated that they had questioned her leadership, especially in not allowing the other Cylons that had gone back to the Colonies to fight the Ori a way back to this planet. Natalie had reminded everyone that the planet was a safe haven, that if any of the others were captured by the Ori, they could reveal the location of this world.
For right now, however, Natalie put her hands into the water in the basin and closed her eyes. She connected to the Cylon datastream that went through every one of the seven ships in orbit and asked them one question.
"Do you trust me to speak on behalf of all of you?"
"Yes" came the resounding reply from each and every Cylon, mostly because they were still in shock that they were really given coordinates to a planet instead of something far more nefarious like a Colonial trap.
'Although it could still be a trap' thought Natalie to herself before she answered Sarah and told that she speaks for the Cylons that are in orbit.
"Very well" replied Sarah, "Colonel Mitchell would like for you and a small delegation to come to those coordinates, unarmed."
"My companions and I will be accompanied by four centurions" said Natalie as she looked at the Cylon's in front of her, "they are our guardians and…."
"Miss Faust" said Sarah, "Colonel Mitchell is telling me that he read the report on what your Centurions could do. Like it or not, they are weapons. And for this initial encounter we would prefer to meet with your people unarmed. Forgive me for saying this, we simply don't trust you… yet."
"Miss Gardner" said Boomer, "My name is Sharon Valerii, callsign Boomer… you have to understand that we are humanity's children… all of us, including the Centurions. We fight for them, they are the ones who have been enslaved by mankind for decades and…"
"Miss Valerii… Boomer" said Sarah, "I'm afraid that you are not our creations. You're the creations of the Colonials. Yes, we are humans as well but that does not mean that we created your race. But we have heard about what your people did to the Colonials… and while we will help you settle on this planet, that doesn't mean that we trust you."
Frowning, Natalie looked at the desperate looks of the Cylons in front of her. They had lost everything, their home.. the Hub… and now, they could lose their one chance to start again if they blow it. It was the last part of what Sarah said that had stuck to her; that they were created by the Colonials, and while they were human… the Cylons were not the creations of these particular humans.
'Maybe that's key' thought Natalie to herself as she turned around and looked at the Centurions who were at the edges of the walls looking at her. She nodded her head before the Centurions walked towards her while some looked at each other as the red light slowly swept from one side to another.
"I need for you to trust me" said Natalie as the Centurions stopped only a step away as they looked at the humanoid Cylon, "there are only five thousand of you left on these seven ships, I am aware of that….. and this is the best hope we have for all of us to survive. I need you and your brothers to stay on board. I think… I know… I know we can trust these people. Stay here and watch over the rest of our people. Be our guardians."
Natalie saw the lead centurion tilt its head to the side before looking at its comrades as they wirelessly spoke to each other, and the others on the seven ships. They then nodded at Natalie before they turned around and walked back to where they were standing earlier.
"Thank you" said Natalie as she turned back to the basin and told Sarah that they'll be coming down in a ship, "please give us twenty minutes."
"Very well" said Sarah, "see you on the surface, Gardner out."
"Boomer, Leoben, D' Anna, with me" said Natalie as she looked at the models in front of her, "we'll form the delegation that goes to the surface. I want to make sure that we're not armed."
"Is that wise?" asked Leoben.
"Miss Gardner said that they don't trust us, yet" said Natalie, "I'm hoping that us going in unarmed would build a level of trust."
"And if they kill us?" asked D'Anna.
Natalie put her hand into the basin and connected with the data flow again, "Caprica Six, if you don't hear from us in thirty minutes after we reach the surface; take the fleet and jump out of here… just go…. Is that clear?"
"Yes" said Caprica Six on another Basestar, "by your command."
"Alright" said Natalie as she took her hand out of the water and looked at the delegation, "let's go meet our neighbours."
As the five Cylon models, each representing a certain line of the Number Twos's, Three's, Fours, Sixes and Eights, got into the heavy raider; they were wondering how this first contact would go. They had never, outside of the Colonies at least, met human's… their idea was that all humans were warlike, prejudiced and destructive.
'These people' thought Natalie to herself as Boomer took the pilot's seat in the Heavy Raider before the small vessel lifted off the floor of the ship and flew out into open space. Everyone of the other Cylons were looking out the side slit windows of the ship as they looked at the planet while Natalie was deep in thought, 'these people are willing to at least talk. But then again, they're still human and this could be just a trap. No choice now, we have no idea about this sector of space… it is so far away from the Colonies that….. Damn it, we're in completely alien territory here. I just hope that God takes pity on us.'
It took a few seconds for the Heavy Raider to fly through the atmosphere of the planet as it flew towards the supplied coordinates. As the ship flew through the clouds, the occupants of the ship looked out of the slit as they saw green everywhere as they flew hundreds of feet over the rolling hills or the area around them. As they continued to fly towards the destination, they saw a camp made up of six large tent like structures, and about a kilometer away was a stone ring that stood upright out of a pedestal. Flying over the ring before coming around, the group also looked out into the distance at mountains and numerous rivers and nearby lakes.
"What's that?" asked Leoben as he pointed to a blip on the scanner.
"Hold on" said Boomer as she flew the ship towards the blip which was about ten minutes away on a hill overlooking a plain of green grass and trees everywhere.
"Structures on the surface" said Natalie, "looks like some sort of homes."
"Refugee settlement" said D'Anna as she looked at everyone, "that would be my guess."
"Maybe these humans.. if they are human anyway" said Simon, one of the number Four's who stayed with Natalie's group, "maybe they're really willing to help us?"
"It's time to see" said Natalie as she tapped on Boomer's shoulder, "land the Heavy Raider at the coordinates."
Surface of Planet Designated PT5-267, 0940 hours.
Once the ship had landed at the coordinates, D'Anna and Leoben gathered everyone one of the models around in the middle of the ship before opening the door. The blonde D'Anna wanted that they hold a prayer so that they be kept safe, and that if anything did happen to them.. that they're souls with move onto God's hands. However, it was Simon who was the most hesitant in holding hands in prayer as he stepped back and looked on nervously.
"I know you don't believe" said Natalie as she reached out with a hand at the dark skinned man, "this is really just to comfort us at a time when we're facing an uncertain future. Even if you don't believe in God, it helps to just touch and hold on to someone else."
"Just hold on to us, Simon" said D'Anna as she held out her hand, "like Natalie said, even if you don't believe… we still need someone to hold on to so that we don't lose ourselves. We're here for each other, whether you believe in God or not."
Nodding his head, Simon held both Natalie and D'Anna's hands before taking a step forward. He watched as Leoben led the other in prayer while Simon closed his eyes and hoped that they really had a future outside the doors of the heavy raider. Once they finished their prayer, Natalie smiled and nodded at Boomer while she adjusted her black top and slacks. As the rear entrance of the Heavy Raider opened, Natalie and the others saw a curly haired, blonde woman in a dark grey suit standing on grass while flanked by two males in black armour. Cautiously walking down the ramp and onto the grass, Natalie took a few more steps forward and introduced herself.
"Hello" said Natalie as she looked at the dark haired man, and then at the shorter haired dark-skinned man who had a gold tattoo on his forehead. Curious about the meaning of the tattoo, Natalie pushed that thought for later before she looked at the blonde woman, "Dr. Sarah Gardner?"
"Yes" said Sarah as motioned towards the two males next to her, "my two companions are Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell, and Teal'c."
"My name is Natalie Faust; my companions are D'Anna Biers, Simon, Leoben Connoy and…."
"Sharon Valerii"
Surprised Natalie and Boomer looked at each other before turning back to look at Sarah who told her that she read a report on the other Sharon Valerii; the one who was tortured on the Pegasus.
"She's alive?" asked Boomer surprised as she looked at an equally surprised Natalie before looking at Sarah again, "is the baby alright?"
"The baby is alive and well" said Sarah, "she's in one of our outposts and…."
"Could we see her?" asked Leoben as Natalie looked back at him and frowned. She wanted to hold off on those kinds of questions until later, but it seemed that the Number Two with her spoke out excitedly. Turning back to Sarah, she got the answer that she expected to hear.
"Sorry" said Sarah, "we can't take you to her for matters of security. Because of her pregnancy, it's been determined by the doctor's that she won't be able to travel either. But she is safe and sound, and the baby is healthy."
"It's a miracle" said D'Anna as she stepped forward and stood next to Natalie.
"Please, come with us" said Sarah as she motioned towards the camp in the distance, "we'd like to conduct a physical examination to make sure that you don't receive any virus' or any sicknesses from us."
"You are helping the Colonials as well?" asked Simon as the small group followed Sarah with Colonel Mitchell walking next to her, and with Teal'c taking the rear.
"Yes" said Sarah before she translated for the sake of Colonel Mitchell and Teal'c.
"But you folk's won't be told their location" said the Colonel as he looked back at the five humanoid Cylons while Sarah translated, "and they won't know your location either, at least until the both of your people agree not to kill each other."
"I see" said Natalie after Sarah translated what the Colonel said, "but why you helping us?"
"The Ori have been wiping out your civilization" said Teal'c as the five humanoid Cylons looked back at the Jaffa, "while we do not look favourably on your genocide of the Colonial home worlds, we cannot stand by and watch a sentient race be needlessly annihilated by the Ori, or the Colonials."
"But if we knew about what you had planned for the Colonies earlier" said Colonel Mitchell as the Cylons looked back at him, "we would have done everything to stop you; and that's a promise. Some of our allies don't take too kindly on the genocide of innocents."
"They enslaved our race" said Simon, "they broke a forty year armistice agreement by sending a ship over the line to spy on us. We defended ourselves, because we knew that the humans…"
"The Colonials" said Natalie, "it was the Colonials."
"The Colonials" said Simon correcting himself, "we knew that they were hoping for a war, we knew that if they were so willing to send a spy craft through the line.. that they would push for war and come after us. We deliberated and decided to attack first. We wanted peace…. They wanted war."
"To create peace, you went to war" said Colonel Mitchell shaking his head, "how very human of you."
"Maybe we were wrong. We let one or two voices be the guiding light of our crusade again the Colonies" said Natalie quietly, "we had no idea of the threat that existed outside our corner of the galaxy. But the hatred ran strong between the Cylons and Colonials for decades, it's something not too easily extinguished. But maybe if we had known about the Ori, maybe we could have joined forces against a common threat."
"Yes" said Teal'c, "your people have made a grave error. I do understand the need to fight back against oppressors, it is what I have for most of my life and with the help of the Tau'ri I have…."
"The first people?" asked Natalie as she looked confused at Sarah, and then at Teal'c and back to Sarah again.
Sarah knew that there was no word in Ancient Greek for the word 'Tau'ri', so she had translated the Goa'uld word into English, and then translated the English into Ancient Greek.
"Yes" said Sarah, "we were going to discuss this after your medical examinations; but perhaps it's better if we get this out of the way."
"So you're not the Thirteenth Tribe?" asked Boomer confused, "then why did you respond when we called you the Thirteenth when we asked for help?"
"Couldn't really correct you when we were protecting you from the Colonials" said Colonel Mitchell, "and all of us from the Ori."
"Anyway" said Sarah after she translated what the Colonel had said, "we aren't the Thirteenth Tribe; our enemies and allies call us the 'First People' or 'People of the First World'."
"Then you aren't the Thirteenth Tribe of humans" said Natalie as she looked at Sarah and the others, "you're not from Earth?"
"We are" said Colonel Mitchell as he corrected Natalie while Sarah translated his response, "we are from Earth."
"I am from a planet called Chulak" said Teal'c as the Cylons looked at him in surprise when he said that he was from another planet, "Colonel Mitchell and Sarah Gardner are indeed from Earth, the planet where beings of this form evolved."
"No" said Natalie shaking her head, "Kobol is the…."
"I'm afraid not" said Sarah, "I am a Professor of Archaeology in one of Earth's institutions of higher learning, and we've uncovered evidence of early humans that have existed on Earth for millions of years prior to the present day."
"Then how…." Said D'Anna as she turned and looked at the shocked looks on her companions before looking at Sarah once again, "this… this is a joke?"
"No" said Sarah, "if you'd come with us, we'll explain everything to you. Actually, I have read the reports that Major Satterfield sent on her conversations with the other Sharon Valerii; and I'm intrigued about machines that believe in a single God. I just recently found that out so, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you about that? As I'm sure other anthropologists and theologians would as well."
"O… Ok" said a stunned Natalie as she was still processing the fact that what they had know about humans may have been wrong, that humanity didn't evolve on Kobol… but on Earth. And they had the evidence to back up that claim.
"Are you certain of this?" asked Natalie as she followed Sarah while Simon and D'Anna looked back at Teal'c as they continued walking.
"I'm not saying that there's not another Earth out there that this Thirteenth Tribe couldn't have gone to" said Sarah s she glanced over her shoulder at Natalie before slowing down her pace deliberately so that she could walk next to the tall blonde Cylon while Colonel Mitchell took point, "what I'm saying is that from what we've learnt about Colonial history from Miss Valerii, Kobol was populated by humans a little more than four thousand years ago. Am I right?"
"According to the Colonial scriptures" said a still shocked Natalie as she nodded her head.
"We have evidence, that we could provide to you to examine, that we've had civilization existing on my Earth for the past ten thousand years. Even much, much longer than that."
"That would go a long way in supporting what you say" said Simon as they came up to the camp where they saw five more people in the black armour walking around, along with five others in lab coats and four men in casual wear.
"Why are you telling us all of this though?" asked Boomer confused, "we could just take over this planet and hold you hostage. Or we could just kill you and use the information you gave us against you?"
"Be that as it may" said Teal'c as the Cylon's looked back at him, "you will be unsuccessful. The Tau'ri possess ways that would be unpleasant to your people if such an event did occur."
"'Sides" said the Colonel once they were only a few minutes away from the camp, "it would be a bit rude to insult the people helping you, don't you think?"
"Don't pay them any mind" said Natalie as they approached a tent that had a large red cross on the canopy, "we've been… let's just say that we know how the Colonial's feel."
"Lashing out" said Sarah as Natalie nodded her head.
Sarah then stopped one they were at the entrance of the medical tent before turning around and telling the humanoid Cylons that they'll be undergoing a physical and medical examination, before receiving any required vaccinations; the same as Sharon. They were then told they would be free to eat before discussing anything else.
"We would like to talk before we do anything else" said Natalie as she looked at Sarah.
"Very well" said Sarah, "but physical's first. And then we talk. Agreed?"
"Yes" said Natalie while she and the other Cylon's nodded their heads as the doctors in the medical tent led the Cylons inside.
TBC