New Tollana, several hundred light years from the Colonial border; 2300 hours.
The Tollan were one of the most advanced races of humans to have lived in the galaxy. Their technology had far outstripped that of Earth, and was at the same level of the Nox. However, their superior technology made them arrogant, so arrogant that they declined on intervening in any matters of the galaxy. Their ion cannons, one of their greatest technological creations were so powerful, and so coveted by those from Earth, that ultimately their reliance on their technology; their incapability of thinking that their weapons could one day fail against the Goa'uld, was their downfall.
When the Goa'uld ships appeared over Tollana with shields that Anubis created using ascended knowledge, they were stunned when the Ion canons did not work. For the first time in hundreds of years, the Tollan were vulnerable and so, to prevent the complete and utter annihilation of their world, the Tollan Curia, except for the one called Omok who was promptly murdered agreed that they would build a weapon; a bomb that had the capability to phase through any matter for Anubis' lackey, the Goa'uld known as Tanith.
Feeling that they did not have a choice, the Curia intended to launch a phased naquada bomb through the Earth Stargate. The device would phase through the Iris, and destroy Stargate command, at the same time taking most of Colorado Springs with it. To prevent their own destruction, they were willing to destroy the SGC; the same people who had already tried to help them once before, and had tried to again this time by promising help against Tanith.
However, the Tollan leader Travell lost all hope and tried to get rid of SG-1 so that her people could survive. It took Narim, another Tollan, to destroy the bombs while SG-1 escaped through the Stargate. He knew that what they were doing was wrong, and in him destroying the bombs, it let to the bombardment of the planet from orbit.
Narim narrowly escaped the collapse of the Tollan Stargate; having told his friend, then Major Carter that he couldn't make it. It was then that the line cut and an area close to him exploded. In a daze, he slowly got up and ran to one of the escape shuttle that was heading off world. Getting into one of the shuttles, he watched as the Tollan vessels ships slowly took off. As they exited orbit, he could see that several ships were being destroyed by two Ha'tak class vessels while another two vessels bomaberded the planet below. He could only look on in sorrow as his home was destroyed before the ship he was on entered hyperspace. He knew that the humans of Earth were now, more than ever, truly alone against the Goa'uld.
Years had passed since the destruction of Tollana and while the survivors would never know it, the Tau'ri would regularly send ships to Tollana to search for survivors, but would find none. Narim and the others had made it to another colony and made it their home world, calling it New Tollana. However, knowing that they had made numerous mistakes in their previous dealings with the rest of the galaxy in not intervening when they should have, they continued the same policy. Narim was declared a Hero by ,most of the Tollan people in destroying the bombs that were demanded by Tanith; they did not want the legacy of the Tollan to be the destruction of another world, especially when the world is question were also the allies of the Nox, and the Asgard. However, there were some in the Curia and among the people that demanded a return to the Tollan's policy of isolationism. They felt that contact with the Tau'ri had brought the Goa'uld to them, even though the current High Councillor of the Curia Narim protected that the Goa'uld would have come whether they met the Tau'ri or not.
"The Goa'uld destroy advanced races so that they do not become a threat to them" said Narim during the creation of the latest incarnation of the Curia on New Tollana, "that is by we created this new technology where we can hide entire life-signs from a planet. The same technology we are using right now protects us, but all we do is hide behind it in fear."
It had become one of the yearly appeals by Narim and some of the other Curia councillors to plead the re-opening of the Stargate; a Stargate that was buried once they had reached this new Colony so that the Goa'uld or the human's of Earth would never find them.
"We do not know what is out there" said Narim as he stood in front of the rest of the Curia, "but we owe it to ourselves to find out. Our technology is great, greater than that of Earth. But look at them, they still survive while we, we who knew that we have the best weapons in the galaxy, were nearly wiped out by the Goa'uld."
"Your foolishness will bring the Goa'uld back to this world" said a female Chancellor.
"Our technology prevents other Goa'uld ships from identifying life signs on the surface of this planet" said another Curia member, "and we have two ships defending this planet with the same technology. Our other ships are on a supply run to our other four colonies in this star system. I think we are well defended to open the Stargate once again."
"I propose that we contact Stargate Command of Earth" said Narim as the councillors started to mumble among themselves, "they warned us about our folly and we did not listen then; although now our cannons are capable of changing frequencies after every cycle, we owe it to Stargate Command to…"
"They are still primitive" said Carine, another Councillor, and Narim's wife, "you know our policy on this, Narim."
"A policy that should have been fixed after we settled on this world" said Narim, "that's a policy that…."
"I say…." Said Carine as she looked at her husband and closed her eyes, "I say we do not contact Stargate Command, and…."
"The people of Earth are very industrious" said Narim, "we have no idea what is going on out in the galaxy…. How do we not know if the people of Earth; or at least Stargate Command has advanced to the point of interstellar travel?"
"Could we not ask the Nox?" asked another Councillor as Carine leaned back as she looked away from her husband's stare, the woman didn't have a problem with contacting Earth; she was just worried that her husband still hadn't gotten over his crush on one Major Sam Carter.
"Then we would have to tell them why we are settled on another world" said Narim as he spoke to the Curia, "and are you willing to tell that that the Goa'uld destroyed Tollana because we did the right thing by not sending a bomb to Earth? That we wanted to send a bomb through to Earth? A fact that two of you on this Curia agreed to?"
"We were fighting for our people" said one of the councillor's who stood up.
"By murdering another" said Narim as he looked at the bearded man, "do you believe that the Nox will look on us with understanding? They are pacifists, and we… we would defend our home but when it came down to it being us versus the Goa'uld… we did not improve on our technology. Instead we sentenced another planet to burn. And there was no guarantee that Tanith would not have destroyed Tollana even if we did everything we asked."
It was just then that two members of Tollan security walked up behind Narim and tapped on his shoulder. He then apologized to the Curia and covered the microphone in front of him before he spoke to the two men. Carine noticed her husband's eyes going wide as he then turned around and told the Curia to turn on their monitors in front of them.
"Two ships of an unknown designation just appeared over New Tollana" said Narim as the monitor in front of him turned on and showed two strange ships just hanging in space, "we have tried to hail them but received no response."
"Arm the Ion Cannons" said another Curia member when suddenly there was a hiss and a voice came through the speakers. It sounded like the voice of a man, a very tired man.
"Krytor Kryptor Kryptor" said the voice as Narim and the others just looked at each other confused as they didn't recognize the language. It was Carine who said that the translators should be activated so that it could run through the language and translate it into something that they could understand, "I am Commander Melik of the civilian transport ship Asura, we.. we are from Canceron… please help. We have been months without food. And drinking what we can…. please. Our jump drives have been burnt out… we…"
"Anything?" asked Narim as he looked at Carine who nodded her head, indicating that the translation matrix had a fix. Narim took a deep breath and spoke into the microphone while some of the other members of the Curia shook their heads at the interference, "attention unknown vessels. I am Narim, High Councillor of the planet New Tollana. You have entered our space… please identify yourselves, and your intent or else you will be fired upon."
"High Councillor" said Melik, "I am Commander Melik of the Asura… please do not fire. I said that we are in need of aid… severe aid. We are from Canceron.. I never realized that there would be anyone so far out of the Colonies."
"Colonies?" asked Carine as she looked at her husband who shrugged his shoulders while looking confused as the rest of them.
"Melik" said Narim, "we are unaware of any government entity known as the Colonies. Please state…"
"Help" said Melik, "this is a civilian transport carrying… I am carrying elderly, women and children. Please help. We have been jumping away from a war that claimed the Colonies. Billions of people lost in the war with the Cylons… please. I beg for help. Our military took our jump drives but we managed to sabotage ours so that they would not take it…. But there are fourteen more ships left that need aid. I suspect that they would be coffins now… but I am carrying human lives in need of aid. We ran out of food and…. and we have taken to drink… to drink… help us. We have sick women, sick children… we have already lost some lives. All we ask is for help."
"Stand by" said Narim as he looked at the Curia.
"Well?" asked Narim, "do we leave them out there to die?"
"They will want more" said another woman, "they will want us to fight this war."
"Or we can contact Stargate Command for help" said Narim as some of the Curia mumbled among themselves while Carine just looked at her husband.
"Very well" said another councillor, "we will give them medical aid, but they cannot stay here, nor will we help them fight their war. Contact Stargate Command and have them make arrangements to receive these refugees."
"Thank you" said Narim as he nodded his head when Carine slowly got off her chair and walked out of the room.
Colonel Carter's Residence, 2330 hours.
Colonel Carter was beat, she had been spending a few hours while Willow and the rest of the others were away on designing a simulation on how to power Merlin's Phase Shifting device so that the entire planet could be defended. Once the simulation was activated, the computer told her that there would be another twelve hours before she got any results. IN the meantime, she packed up everything after having seen Daniel and the others off before she hurried through the hallways and walked into the elevator. As the doors closed, she looked at her watched and tapped her foot on the floor of the small metal box.
Once she entered her car, the Colonel stated the engines and drove out of there in a hurry; she knew that the simulation would still be there when she got back tomorrow, and had told Walter that if anything happened to the simulation.. that she should be called immediately. It took about ten minutes for the Colonel to reach her house and rush up the driveway after locking her car. She opened the three deadbolt locks with her keys before opening the door and walking into the bright hallway. Smiling, the Colonel placed her coat on the rack near the door and walked into the living room where the lights were already dimmed; and General Carter was lying on the couch and holding on to Debra in his arms.
Grinning at her daughter, the Colonel brushed her fingers against her soft cheeks before giving her a kiss on the top of her head. The Colonel then got a blanket from the hall closet and placed it over her father.
"Sam?" asked the General as the young blonde turned and walked towards the hallway. Instead, she turned around again and tip toed towards her father and smiled at him as Debra started to move. She opened her mouth and seemed as if she was ready to cry, but she quickly closed it and went back to sleep.
"Hey dad" whispered the Colonel, "sorry to wake you up."
"No" said the General, "everything alright?"
"Willow got back" said the Colonel as General Carter nodded his head, "she went to Sunnydale with Faith, and the others are on Eden."
"Oh" replied General Carter, "really?"
"Yea" said the Colonel as she reached for Debra as the General sat up. She held Debra close to her as she sat down on the armchair that faced her father. The Colonel sat down, and before long.. Debra started to move her head and open her eyes. She looked into the Colonel's blue eyes and gave a little laugh before she yawned and lay her head on the blonde woman's shoulder. The Colonel brushed her cheek gently against Debra's as the General got up and stretched a little. She then told him that he should be going to bed, that he has an early day tomorrow since he needed to finish some paperwork at the mountain, before heading off to Washington, D.C.
"How about Debra?" asked the General.
"I'm running a simulation on Merlin's device" said the Colonel as she rubbed Debra's back, "I want to spend some time with my little munchkin before heading back to the mountain. Don't want Debra there in case we get phased into a parallel dimension."
"Yea" said the General, "better not."
"I'll leave her with Mrs. Dixon" said the Colonel, "but in the meantime, I'll put her in the crib in my room. You, young man.. need to sleep."
"Right" said the General as he kissed the Colonel's forehead before walking back to his room. IN the meantime, Colonel Carter got off the couch and walked around with Debra sleeping on her shoulder.
"Debbie" said the Colonel softly as she walked towards the window, "there was a song that your grandmother used to sing to me, no matter what.. she'll always sing to me."
The Colonel felt Debra moving her mouth and smiled before she rubbed Debra's back and walked around the living room.
"Twinkle, Twinkle little star" said the Colonel as she smiled as she felt the baby breathing on her neck before she walked towards her room, singing the song softly and slowly until she was able to place Debra in the crib that was located in her room.
Control Room, SGC, the next day; 1300 hours.
Walter was running the regular scheduled diagnostics on the Stargate dialling computer when the chevrons started to light up, indicating an incoming wormhole. He then hurriedly placed his palm on the scanner next to him as the Iris and the Gate shield activated before he pressed another button that activated the klaxons that blared through the entire base.
"Unscheduled off world activation" shouted the technician as the last chevron lit up, and the familiar sound of a wormhole formation was heard, followed by the familiar blue light that was reflected on the back wall of the Gate room.
"Walter?" said General Landry as he and Colonel Carter had come down to the control room. They had been discussing the results of the blonde officer's simulations when the klaxons went off, so they hurried down to the control room to check up on what could be happening now, hopeful it wasn't another world ending scenario since they already had the Ori to deal with.
"We're not getting a signal, sir" said Walter as he shook his head. Then, all of a sudden, there was a hiss on the speakers followed by a voice that was clearly breaking up.
"… lan…. Llor….. rim" said the voice as everyone looked at each other confused.
"Walter" said Colonel Carter after the General gave her permission to intervene, "I'll scrub the background noise, while you place an electronic filter…. It's going to be a bit of trial and error here."
"Yes, ma'am" said Walter as the Colonel looked back at General Landry and nodded her head.
"My name is General Hank Landry of Stargate Command" said the General as Colonel Carter and Walter continued to work, "your first message was unable to come through, please repeat yourself."
"…. Councillor…. Rim…., … tings…. It has been… ime" said the voice as Colonel Carter recognized the voice and looked at a very surprised Walter who recognized the voice as well.
"Sir" said the Colonel as she went to work faster, along with Walter, "please try it again."
"Councillor" said the General, "you just came through, please try again."
"Of course, General Landry" said the voice that no one thought they would hear again, "I am High Councillor Narim of the Tollan."
"The Tollan?" asked a surprised General Landry at the control room became silent as the General and Colonel Carter looked at each other. The General then asked Narim what happened to the Tollan, that Stargate Command had thought that everyone died.
"No, General" said Narim, "we lost our Stargate on Tollana, and upon that loss… we lost the connection to Earth. Many of us did make it off the planet and onto one of our colonies. I am calling you from our new home world, New Tollana. I apologize for having been unable to contact your people.. the Tollan Curia is still…. Still as inflexible as always."
The General could only look on at Colonel Carter and Walter in disbelief that they had been sending ships regularly to Tollana to search for survivors, but instead they had been alive on one of their colonies.. colonies that they had not revealed to Earth. However, the General didn't want to start off a new potential relationship between Earth and New Tollana with words of anger about wasted resources.
"High Councillor" said the General, "if it would be agreeable with you, we would like to meet on a neutral planet; or we could come down to New Tollana and get reacquainted."
"I am sorry, General" said Narim, "one of the conditions of sending this message was that no one from Stargate Command be allowed to come to New Tollana, however… we agree with meeting on a neutral planet. Can we not come to Earth?"
The General closed his eyes and steeled himself. He had hoped that Narim wouldn't ask this particular question, but the fact was that there was no way to make sure that it really was Narim that they were talking to; and with all the enemies out there that would destroy the SGC, he didn't want to risk another enemy coming through the Stargate.
"I am sorry, Narim" said General Landry as he told the man about the recent enemies that are plaguing the galaxy. The General also told him that everyone had thought that Narim was dead, and that with the replicator invasion of a few years ago.. they had to be cautious in case he was one.
'Even though we destroyed each and every one of them' thought the General to himself as the other line stayed quiet, 'you could be one from another galaxy, maybe one of the replicators from Pegasus trying to get in.'
"I see" said Narim finally, bringing the General out of his train of thought, "very well, however we would like to suggest a planet with medical facilities."
The General and Colonel Carter looked at each other as Narim continued to explain that they had encountered a ship carrying refugees from something called the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. He continued talking, while the General and Colonel Carter looked at each other in surprise again, about how a robotic race known as the Cylons destroyed their world and how their own military salvaged their ships for parts. He ended by saying that the ship had a total of about one hundred and fifty men, women and children and that little over half had died due to various reasons.
"Narim, this is Colonel Sam Carter, what happened to the ones who had passed away?"
"Samantha" said Narim as she recognized the happiness in his voice, "how are you?"
"I'm well, Narim" said the Colonel as everyone looked at her, "umm… the dead refugees?"
"Oh, we have kept them in our morgue" said Narim, "their bodies have been decontaminated and have been scheduled to be burned to prevent the spreading of any disease that they may carry."
"I see" said Colonel Carter after she had a quick word with General Landry who agreed that they should be made aware of the latest developments about the Cylons and the Colonials. After having talked with her commander, the Colonel turned back to face the microphone, "Narim, I'm sending you a Stargate address. It's a refugee facility that was set up the first time we met the Colonials; and I can tell you that things have changed for the Colonials, and the Cylons. Please have the refugees sent there; we already have housing units set up, plus translators and medical teams. We'll send a diplomatic delegation to meet with you and any member of your government who'd like to meet."
"Very well" said Narim as Walter told both the Colonel and the General that the Stargate address for the Colonial refugees had already been sent, "we have received the Stargate address. Will yourself and SG-1 be there?"
"I'm afraid SG-1 is on assignment" said the Colonel, "in the meantime, we'll be informing the team stationed at the planet to standby to receive refugees. And we'll prepare a diplomatic team to meet with you and the members of the New Tollana government."
"Very well" said Narim.
"High Councillor" said General Landry, "please proceed with sending the refugees in two hours."
"Very well, General" said Narim, "we look forward to our meeting."
Once the Stargate had been deactivated, everyone just looked quietly as each other over what had just happened. It wants long before the General ordered everyone back to work before telling Colonel Carter that SG-1 was to be recalled to Earth once another team had taken over their duties.
"I'll have Miss Lehane recalled back to the SGC" said General Landry, "while Major Rosenberg and MISs Summers make the most of their days off. Have another medical team stand by to go with you and your team through the Gate, Colonel."
"Yes, sir" said Colonel Carter as she stood up before following the General up the stairs to the briefing room floor, "which means I have to ask Mrs. Dixon to watch for a bit longer."
"I'm sorry about that, Colonel" said the General as Colonel Carter shook her head, "but Narim is familiar with you, Daniel and Teal'c. He hasn't met the rest of the team as yet. I'll let General O'Neill know what's going on.. I wouldn't be surprised if he wants to go through the Gate to meet with the man."
"Yes, sir" said the Colonel.
"In the meantime" said the Colonel, "I'll brief SG-1 when they come in. Once we've gotten all the units together, then you'll leave for the Colonial refugee planet. In the meantime, I suggest you spend some time with your daughter."
"Thank you, sir" said Colonel Carter as she hurried out of the briefing while the General looked on as she walked away. It was a few seconds later, just as she had gone out of sight that the General heard footsteps stop, before the same footsteps came running back towards him.
"Sorry, Sir" said Colonel Carter as she stood up straight, "permission to be dismissed?"
"Granted, Colonel" said the General.
The General saw her nod at him before she ran out as fast as she could. Once he couldn't hear the Colonel's footsteps anymore, the General gave a smile before he walked into his office to give General O'Neill a call about what had just happened.
'The Tollan have returned' thought General Landry to himself as he closed the door behind him.
Angel's and Cordelia's Office, BPRI, 1305 hours.
It was about forty minutes earlier that Willow and Faith talked to Angel and Cordelia about what they had told Joyce and the others yesterday. At the same time, Buffy and Dawn were talking to Giles who was packing for him trip through the Stargate to Eden about the brunette being Hera, and everything she had seen while she was ascended.
In Angel's office, Willow looked at Faith before the both of them looked at Cordelia and Angel with a grin as she told them about Hera, and then what she had seen in the other reality. She ended by telling him that in the other reality, not only did Cordelia have visions from the Powers that Be.. but Angel also had a son.
"Are you serious?" asked Angel as he looked at Willow and Faith, and then at Cordelia before looking back at Willow again, "how?"
"I'm guessing the usual way?" asked Faith as the redhead coughed.
"I know that" said Angel, "but I mean…."
"I thought vampires couldn't have kids?" asked Cordelia as she looked at Angel.
"They can't" replied the vampire as he looked at Cordelia, "I'm sorry, but… there's no way."
"Angel, Cordelia" said Willow as she noticed the look of sadness on Cordelia's face, "I don't know how that Angel had a son; I mean I was concentrating on getting back to really ask… but it did get me thinking about one thing though."
"Ok" said Angel confused.
"How was the first vampire created?" asked Willow.
"According to Giles, the first vampire was an Old One" said Angel as he leaned forward, "before he was pushed back from this dimension, he bit into a mortal and passed his essence into him. Creating the first 'modern', I guess that's what you can call them, vampire. That new vampire was still stronger than us…"
"The Turok-han?" asked Faith, "the same ones that Red told us about?"
"They are part of that line" said Angel.
"Ok" said Willow, "so a vampire bites a human, taking them to the verge of death. And then, the vampire feeds the nearly dead human their blood which… if you think about it.. contains the essence of the demon that was the original vampire."
"The demon takes over the body" said Angel, "killing the human and pushing out the soul. You re-ensouled me remember?"
"But that's just it" said Willow as she leaned forward, "what if the soul's always there?"
"What do you mean?" asked Cordelia.
"What I mean is" said Willow as Faith also looked at her, wondering where her wife was going with this, "what if the soul never leaves the body? What if the essence of the demon pushes it back… maybe that's why the Kalderesh called your soul a curse?"
"Huh?" asked all three of them together.
"What if the spell that they, and I, did wasn't something that gave you a soul" said Willow, "what if it just pushed back the demon so that your own soul could take over. You never lost your soul… but your body's already been affected by the demon."
"Willow" said Angel, "what are you saying?"
"What if" said Willow, "and.. I gotta tell you that it's just an idea. I don't want you to get your hopes up or anything until I can ask someone whose an expert on this to confirm, but what if a strand of your DNA.. or a lock of your hair could be used to create a cloned human body. A body that could be engineered to maintain your strength but not the weaknesses? Without the demon inside the cloned body. And then…"
"No" said Angel as Willow leaned back, while Faith looked at her wife; not saying anything.
"Angel" said Cordelia, "it sounds like a good idea. At least it's an option to explore."
"Willow" said Angel as he looked at the redhead, "the real reason that Angelus was known as the Scourge of Europe was because the demon that possessed me used what was already there; the want, the greed, the discarding of rules.. destruction. There's no way to know what a cloned body could do. Yeah, you may succeed… but how would you know that the body isn't a pure demon just pretending to be me. Angelus did the same thing, if you remember?"
Willow recalled the time at Sunnydale High when she, or any of the others, realised that Angel had become Angelus. The day that she, and then Dawn was almost fed upon by the deadly vampire.
"Yeah" said Willow who looked at Angel, and then at Faith who gave her a small smile.
"Angel" said Cordelia.
"It's playing with fire" said Angel as he looked at Cordelia, and then at Willow, "imagine a demon in human form. The clone would eat normal food, but still crave blood. All that with the power of Angelus… can you imagine the destruction that could happen before anyone defeats it? What if the clone is worse than Angelus? He'll know the location of the Potentials, the codes to the BPRI.. everything."
"Epic destruction" said Faith as she looked at Willow, "he's right, Red."
"Your heart is in the right place" said Angel as he looked at Willow, "but this is dangerous. Too dangerous."
"Think Tara has something magical?" asked Faith as she looked at Angel and Cordelia when suddenly the Slayer's hone started to vibrate. Taking out her cell, Faith answered and connected the call. Willow watched the expression of her wife's face change to surprise and shock before deactivating her phone.
"Faith?" asked Willow as she put the phone back in her pocket.
"Ummm…" said Faith as she got up, "I.. I gotta go back to the SGC."
"Faith?" asked Cordelia as she noticed the look of shock on the Slayer's face, "what's going on?"
"Yeah, Faith?" asked Willow.
"That was Big-K" said Faith, "he wanted you to stay here and enjoy your time off, in the meantime… SG-1's going to the Colonial Planet to meet some refugees that are being sent there by the Tollan."
"The Tollan?" asked a shocked Willow as Faith nodded her head.
"Isn't that the people who were wiped out?" asked Angel.
"Yeah" said Faith, "apparently they moved to a new colony; and are up to their old isolationist tricks again."
"I'll go too" said Willow.
"Red" said Faith, "spend time with your sister today. The General wants you back by tomorrow though, that's when you'll be meeting us there."
"Oh" said Willow as Faith stepped back and took out her phone again.
"See you there tomorrow" said Faith before she called the SGC and told Walter to tell Prometheus Station to beam her to the SGC. It wasn't long before the dark haired Slayer gave a small wave to the redhead as she vanished in a flash of light.
Battlestar Galactica, six days earlier; four days after meeting between Earth and the Colonial Delegation on P3H-652; 2300 hours (twelve days to election day.)
A small crowd was gathered in Galactica's primary hanger bay as the Raptor that Skulls and Racetrack had used to return to the planet with the human's from Earth. The President, the new Vice-President Hunt; who used to be the Quorum delegate for Caprica, Lt. Gaeta, Commander Adama, Major Adama and Thrace, and some of the knuckledraggers on the hanger deck were all awaiting news from both the pilots. They watched as the Raptor stopped, before both Racetrack and Skulls got off their seats and headed to the back. It was a few seconds later that the rear hatch opened to reveal the both of them, with race track carrying something in her hand.
"Racetrack, Skulls" said Commander Adama as the two officers gave him a salute before asking permission to come on board. Once they had been granted permission, they stepped onto the deck as the President welcomed the both of them back.
"Sir, ma'am" said Racetrack as she looked at Commander Adama and the President respectively before holding up the metallic box she was holding on to, "we… we need to talk."
It was the facial expressions on their faces that told the Commander that there was something very wrong, and that the news that the two of them brought with them was something that they either had never expected, or it was something that the two officers knew they would not like.
"Very well" said Commander Adama as he turned to look at his son and Starbuck, "everyone to my quarters. Chief Tyrol, have your team get back to work."
"Yes, sir" said the Chief as he gave orders to his team, a team that he shared with the other Chief of the deck from the now missing Pegasus. After he gave orders to his people, the Chief turned around and watched an anguished expression on Racetrack when she thought that no-one was looking; and it was then that he knew that whatever information they had retrieved from the humans claiming to be from Earth was very bad. HE suspected it would be bad enough that very soon, people would be taking sides… one faction with President Roslin and another faction with Zarek and Porter, 'a civil war'.
Commander Adam's Quarter's, 2319 hours.
The Commander, and the people behind him walked quietly through the large corridor of the Galactica as they headed to his quarters. He and the President knew that this was a risky mission made without the knowledge, and the permission of the Quorum. However, it was the Commander who reminded the President that it was a military matter, and with all military matters; especially with gathering intelligence, it was his prerogative. Now as he walked next to the President, he could sense that she was glancing at him, hopeful that whatever information that the two officers was able to retrieve would help their case. She then glanced behind her as she looked at the metallic box that Racetrack was carrying, a box that had a symbol etched on the cover; the same symbol that had been on the woman known as Dawn.
Roslin had already discussed with Commander Adama and her advisors that it would be necessary to settle on that planet, especially when Earth was off-limits to them. She knew, and the Commander agreed, that they would be under the protection of an advanced civilization; even if they had forgotten their past.
"We can teach them about the gods" was what President Roslin had told the group when they were planning for this mission, "we can gather intelligence as Commander Adama has stated, we can try to gauge their thought processes about where they see themselves in the galaxy. And then, we can slowly show them the way. While still maintaining our own culture… because that woman that the delegation that went down to the planet talked to is right; that if we do go to Earth, we will lose everything that we are… everything that makes us.. well, us. If we stay on the planet, we can start with slowly showing the ones who are already on the planet the error of their ways, and then in turn they could go back to Earth and spread the stories of the gods."
"And successful or not" said the Commander as he looked at the President, "we'll have a place to call home."
Now, as the group headed into the Commander's quarters, the Marines stationed outside closed the hatch as the Commander asked everyone to take a seat. Once the delegation had returned from the initial meeting with the Earth officials, the President ordered the examination of the jaw bone that had been given to them by the Earth humans. She didn't believe at first that the bone could be, as the report she read on the encounter between both Earth and the Colonial delegation stated, at least four thousand years. She asked Dr. Cottle, and any other scientist they could find to examine the bone. They were told that they could have whatever they need, if available, to find out the age of the material. However, she was told that the best case scenario would be at least two weeks for any definite result to come from testing.
'After the election' thought the President to herself as, in the present, she sat down on the couch in the Commander's quarters and looked at Racetrack and Skulls, 'which is why we needed to have them go back to the planet. Maybe they have something else we could use, Zarek and Sarah are already gaining steam according to Billy and Tory.. we need something that would stop them.'
"Racetrack, Skulls" said the Commander as he took a seat behind his desk, "please, go on with your report."
And they did.
As the both of them talked, the more the looks on the group in the room turned from hope, to shock; and in Starbuck's case, anger.
"So wait" said an incensed Starbuck as Racetrack stopped talking, "you're telling us that Earth, this planet that a mysterious source claims that is where the Thirteenth Tribe went to has been nuked? And oh wait, the Thirteenth Tribe are actually fraking Cylons?! Are you serious?"
"Kara" said Apollo.
"No, Lee" said Starbuck as she looked at her friend, and then at the President, "so everything… the Arrow of Apollo, the tomb of Athena… are you kidding me? All of that was for nothing?"
"Starbuck" said the Commander as the young woman closed her eyes and took in a deep breath before taking a seat. The Commander looked at the defeated President as she leaned back and tried to hold back tears, while the new Vice-President could only look down at the floor. The Commander then looked at Lt. Gaeta who was still in shock while Apollo was rubbing his forehead. The Commander turned to Skulls and Racetrack and asked if the Earth, the other humans claiming to be from Earth had any proof.
"Yes, sir" said Racetrack as she opened the case and showed them the irradiated soil samples, while Skulls showed the commander the tablet that had all the information on it, including the examination of the bones that were dubbed in ancient Greek. They told the group that they were also provided with the coordinates for that planet if they really wished to see that they were not being lied to. That the soil sample really did come from that planet, and that the age of the soil… and some of the bones they found on the planet fit with what was claimed by the Colonial delegations own accounts before they left the planet and returned to the fleet. Skulls and Racetrack then handed out the medical file on the finding on the bones, before saying that Dr. Burke wanted the Colonial medical professionals to take a look at it so that they could confirm the findings.
"Ye.. yes" said the President as she leaned forward and brought her hand over her mouth, "send everything we have to the scientists. I want all the information on the evidence they gave us, and then…. And then if everything's been confirmed. I want two Raptors sent to the planet for confirmation, before that.. I will notify the Quorum on the latest information… but I need the results of the soil tests first. Lt. Gaeta, if you please?"
"Of course, Madam President" said Lt. Gaeta as he picked up the case and the other evidence as Commander Adama was looking at a video on the tablet of a dark haired man, speaking in their dubbed language. The lieutenant walked towards the Commander and saw the man looking into the camera as he stood over a humanoid skeleton, a skeleton that if the Earth humans were right; it was really the skeletons of a race of humanoid Cylons. The earliest models that predated the Twelve Colonies of Kobol; the Thirteenth Tribe that they were looking for.
"Get the results in as soon as possible" said the Commander as he looked up from the tablet and placed the device on his table, "I want this shown to the entire quorum as well."
"Testing for the soil sample shouldn't be too long" said Lt. Gaeta, "but, even though I hate to say this, having Dr. Balter's help would make the process much faster for everyone. Without him, testing could take four days; with him we could maybe half that."
"Fine" said President Roslin as she looked at the Commander and nodded her head.
"Apollo, Starbuck" said the Commander, "I want one of you with a detachment of Marines on him at all times, understood?"
"Yes, sir" said both Apollo, and a still shocked Starbuck.
"It's twelve days to the election, Madam President" said Vice-President Hunt as he looked at the tired face of President Roslin.
"Maybe we could use these finding to our advantage" said the President as she closed her eyes, "we will need to get to that planet, and focus on an area untouched by the ones claiming to be from this other Earth. If we get the same findings in terms of the soil samples, and bones finds… then we can be pretty certain that they're telling us the truth, and that continuing on as we are would be suicide. That should bring most of the people to the side of reason."
"And to a new home" said Apollo softly.
"So say we all" said the Commander as he looked up while the others nodded, all except for Starbuck.
"So say we all" said the young blonde woman softly as she looked up, and at the Commander, "when do we leave, sir?"
"Right after the President informs the Quorum of the latest findings" said the Commander, "talk to Dr. Cottle, and have him select the best people for the job. Understood?"
"Yes, sir" said Starbuck as she sat up, "I guess we hope that we can go home, huh?"
"Yes" replied the President as she knew that the toughest fight begins now. That if the Sagittarian's and the Gemenese decide to continue on to Earth despite the evidence against it, then the President will break up the fleet.. that there was no choice. It would come down to the needs of a selfish few, against the benefit of the majority; and the majority of the fleet would move on with the Galactica. She'll leave the others to their own fate. However, that all hinges on if she actually wins the election.
'Gods forgive us if that happens' though the red haired woman to herself.
TBC.