Planet Designated P0G-619, AKA The Organic Furling Drone Planet; 1000 hours.
Racetrack stood next to Major Thompson as the both of them watched the Raptor piloted by Apollo fly off into the distance. She then glanced at the Major when he gave a quiet whistle before he looked at the Colonial officer and smiled.
"That's a nice ship" said the man as Racetrack nodded her head and gave him a smile. The man then asked the young woman to follow him to the Stargate which was located in a cave about twenty minutes away from the camp. Just before he left, he told one of the scientists that the rest of his team, as well as SG-20, will remain as protection while he accompanied Racetrack through the Gate.
Once the scientist nodded her head, Major Thompson led Racetrack out of the camp.
"I'm sorry" said the Major as he looked at Racetrack, who looked back at him confused, "I never properly introduced myself. I'm Major Dylan Thompson, U.S. Air Force."
"Lieutenant Margaret Edmondson, um….. Colonial Fleet…. Umm…. My call-sign is Racetrack."
"Racetrack, huh?" said the Major, "nice call-sign."
"Thank you" replied Racetrack as she looked at the man next to her before she looked forwards and towards the area they were walking. However, no matter what she did, or where she looked, Racetrack couldn't ignore the destruction all around her, "Do your scientists have any idea what happened here?"
"Best guess?" asked the Major as Racetrack nodded her head, "the people…"
"Cylons, you mean" said Racetrack as she interrupted him.
"The Cylons" said the Major when he noticed the hint of anger in Racetrack's voice. He wanted to correct her that the ones who lived on the planet showed every characteristic of human beings, except for the nanites in their bones, but he remembered what Racetrack and her people had been through so he remained quiet, "they must have made their own A.I. We've seen the heads of metallic robots… and well, there was a nuclear war as you can see from your surroundings."
"Serves them right, I guess" said Racetrack as she looked around before looking back at Major Thompson, "poetic justice. Cylons getting annihilated by their own creations."
"Just like humans getting annihilated by their own creations" said Major Thompson as Racetrack snapped her head towards the man, "we've even made movies about having machines rise up against human beings.. even involved some time travel. Gotta say though, the first two were good… the next two pretty much sucked."
"You people made movies about this?" asked Racetrack as she stopped and glared at Major Thompson, "what happened to my people wasn't a movie just so you know. Billions were killed, the Cylons came and killed everyone we loved and…"
"So did these people here, they were killed by their own creation it looks like" said Major Thompson calmly as he looked at Racetrack and then looked around his surroundings, before looking back at Racetrack again, "I'm sorry about the movie reference. I was just trying to lighten the mood but your people aren't the only ones that suffered throughout the ages. This entire planet was wiped out.. you may see them as machines but we've found bones of children and babies.. and before you say that they're just machines… we've got evidence that these people were capable of sexual reproduction. That makes them as alive as you or me if you take sex as the definition of creating life."
Racetrack only stared at the Major before she turned and started walking faster towards the cave that was still some distance away. Major Thompson walked over to her side as they walked together in relative quiet, until it was the Major who broke the silence.
"Did you lose a lot of people in the attacks?"
"My entire family were on a trip to Picon" said Racetrack as she folded her arms over her chest, "they were vacationing at the waterfront when the attacks happened. I was scheduled to meet them in a few days but… but then the Cylons attacked. They destroyed the Twelve Worlds, killing my family… millions of families in the process."
"I am sorry" said the Major, "I know that one of our ships have been to Caprica a few months ago."
Racetrack looked at Major Thompson as he made that revelation. She looked at him as he told her that the ship conducted scans of the surface of Caprica and found at least six thousand survivors, but they were attacked before they could check the other planets.
"Oh" said the Major, "we also checked the nearby planet to Caprica… umm.. Gem… gem something."
"Gemenon" said Racetrack as the Major nodded his head, "did you find any survivors?"
"None" said the Major as Racetrack nodded her head.
The Major then told her that with the Ori still out there, and with the Stargate on Caprica buried, they had to delay any rescue plans until later. But he told her that rescuing the people from the Twelve Colonies was something that their people were looking to do.
"Which is why the planet was offered to your President" said the Major, "a new home."
The both of them continued walking silently as they reached the cave in which the Stargate was located. Racetrack walked with the Major into the cave which was well lit by lights that hung on the cave walls, however the Major told Racetrack to be careful as there were patches of the floor that were damp, and so were very slippery. It was something that Racetrack found the hard way when she slipped and fell on her back.
"See" said the Major as he smiled and stood over the Colonial Officer, "told ya to be careful."
Racetrack grimaced in pain as she was helped up by the Major who asked her if she was alright. Nodding her head that she was feeling fine, Racetrack and the Major continued walking down the pathway to a brightly lit cavern that had the ring shaped device to one side. Racetrack accompanied the Major to what the others on the Colonial planet had referred to as a Dial Home Device. She recalled the meeting that she was a part of back on the planet when they met with the Earth Delegation, Colonel Dixon had told them that the DHD was used to dial any number of Stargates throughout the galaxy. Right now, Racetrack watched Major Thompson press some symbols on the DHD and then she watched as the chevrons on the Stargate lit up. Soon, seven symbol had been lit before the Major pressed on the large red button. Racetrack jumped back, just as she did back on the Colonial planet, when the Stargate activated and the unstable vortex surged outwards before settling back into the event horizon. Racetrack looked at the blue, rippling event horizon as the Major stood next to her and got on his radio.
"Major Thompson to Colonel Dixon. Sir, I have one of the Colonial officers prepared to come through the gate. She'll be disguised as a scientist sir, since the other military personnel are needed to provide security for their scientists."
"Copy that" said Colonel Dixon, "the both of you are clear to come through. Dr. Burke and Dr. Jackson will meet you at the Stargate."
"Yes, sir" said the Major as he deactivated the radio and looked at Racetrack while motioning towards the event horizon. He smiled as the young woman shook her head and took a few steps back.
"No… no.. no.. no.. no" said Racetrack, "I.. I think it's a bad idea… I mean… what if I drown and.."
"It's not water" said the Major as he walked towards the pilot, and put his hand on her upper back and pointed at the blue puddle, "it's the event horizon of a wormhole and…"
"I know" said Racetrack, "I was there at the meeting between your people and mine. I saw your delegation come through and…"
"They didn't drown" said the Major.
"No.. but… I mean they could have been wearing some advanced breathing apparatus" said Racetrack as she looked with panic at Major Thompson, "I mean, your people have showed that they're advanced enough."
"Lieutenant" said the Major as he waved at his surroundings, "it's just like walking from one room to another. This planet is the room, and you'll be walking onto another planet. How about this? I hold onto you… and we go through together. You can keep your eyes closed if you want."
"Really" said Racetrack shaking her head, "I mean… I think maybe someone else should do this and…"
"You'll be the first Colonial officer in history to walk through the Gate to the Stars" said Major Thompson as he gently guided Racetrack to the pedestal on which the Stargate was kept upright, "come on."
Major Thompson led a trembling Racetrack up the stairs until she was at the edge of the event horizon. He then told her to close her eyes and follow his lead. Nodding her head slowly, Racetrack closed her eyes before the Major told her to take one giant step forward.
Colonial Refugee Planet, 1035 hours.
"O…K" said Racetrack as she took a giant step forward. The next thing she knew, she felt a cool breeze on her face as it brushed her cheeks and flowed through her ponytail. She slowly opened her eyes when she heard the sounds of birds in the air as well as the smell of food that was wafting into her nostrils.
"See" said the Major who stood next to her while the Colonial officer looked around in surprise before making sure that she had all of her limbs before reaching for her face, "told you it was easy."
Racetrack turned as the Stargate made a noise just before she saw the wormhole disengage. She then turned around again when she felt a tap on her shoulder from the Major who then told her that they should get down the stairs and head back to the camp. Nodding her head, Racetrack followed Major Thompson down the stairs and down the trail to the camp. As Racetrack was walking down the trail with Major Thompson, she noticed two people coming towards them. She noticed the female as Dr. Burke whom she had already met, however she didn't recognize the other male who was walking next to her.
"Lieutenant" said Dr. Burke as she approached Racetrack and shook her hand before introducing her to the man next to her, "this is Dr. Daniel Jackson.
"Dr. Jackson" said Racetrack as she nodded her head before introducing herself.
"Lieutenant" said Daniel nodding his head, "like I'm sure Major Thompson here told you, the people that were rescued are wary and very suspicious of the Colonial military. So do you mind if we call you Maggie? At least for now?"
"Yes" said Racetrack as she talked to Daniel while Dr. Burke talked to Major Thompson about him needing to report to Colonel Dixon in regards to the situation on the Furling planet. The Major then nodded her head before telling Racetrack that he had to meet up with his superior officer. It was Daniel who noticed the worried look in Racetrack's eyes and told the Colonial officer that the Major will remain on the planet until her briefing was completed.
"Don't worry" said Daniel as the Major ran towards the camp with Racetrack looking at him as he ran before she looked at the archaeologist in front of her, "he'll be accompanying you back to the planet. This is just going to take an hour maximum. I mean, unless you want to talk to some of the survivors; then it may take slightly longer."
"I.. I guess that would be best" said Racetrack as the three of them walked down the trail. It was soon that Racetrack heard the sounds of the Colonial language in the distance, followed be screams of children. It wasn't long before they walked past the tree line and were approaching the camp when Racetrack saw some children running around in the large field where the Raptors had once stood during the meeting between both of the delegations. She saw many men and women around what she knew was the Mess tent, which was where the smells that caused her to drool were coming from.
Daniel noticed the young woman wiping the side of her mouth before he gave a small smile. He asked her if she was hungry, to which she nodded her head; however, she also asked both Daniel and Dr. Burke if the refugees we being well taken care off.
"They are" said Dr. Burke, "we have our medical staff looking after them, particularly the ones we had just rescued from the abandoned ships. The first wave of refugees were taken care of by an ally of ours, the Tollan. You'll meet them one day, they had to return to their planet so that they could talk to their government."
"The Tollan?" asked Racetrack surprised, "humans?"
"Yes" said Dr. Burke.
While Dr. Burke was talking to Racetrack about the Tollan, Daniel thought back to the surprise on Narim and his wife's face when they revealed that Earth was building ships for exploration and defensive purposes. The two of them were briefed by Woolsey and General O'Neill on the state of the galaxy, in particular the existence and the threat of the Ori. He remembered Narim was stunned that Earth had managed to jump ahead technologically when compared to the last time that they had met. He was there when Narim and the other Curia members had talks with both the General and Woolsey when they asked that both Earth and New Tollana should be looking towards opening diplomatic relations, especially with the threat of the Ori still hanging over the entire galaxy.
Colonial Refugee Planet, two days ago.
"General" Daniel remembered Narim saying as he, Dr. Burke and Racetrack walked towards the camp, "the Curia still believes that the Goa'uld came to Tollana because of Earth, and while some of us are aware that they have always tried to destroy us due to our technological advantage over them, others do not see it that way."
"I am sorry to say that I am one of them" said Carine as she looked at Narim, and then at the General and Woolsey while Daniel frowned, "despite this jump in technology, which you admit were gifted to you by the Asgard, it does not prove that your people have the knowledge or the capability to be wise in how you use that technology."
"Yea, they were a gift" said Colonel Mitchell who was standing to one side of the Mess Tent shaking his head, "but given that we did the heavy lifting in beating the Goa'uld, and the replicators… yeah.. I'd say that those gifts were deserved."
"I did not mean…" said Carine as the Colonel interrupted her.
"I think we know exactly what you meant" said the Colonel as Woolsey asked everyone to calm down.
"Counsellor Carine, High Counsellor Narim" said Woolsey as Colonel Mitchell walked over to Teal'c and Faith who was standing next to Vala, "I understand that you still don't want to share technology with us, but it is our responsibility to warn you about the Ori. They are a dangerous element that eclipses the Goa'uld in power."
"The Ori wish for all worlds to bow to them" said Teal'c as Narim and Carine turned to face him, "their emissaries, the Priors, are capable of destroying an entire world singlehandedly if they do not succumb to the Ori. And then, once they have you on your knees worshipping the Ori… you will lose your free will and make the Ori much more powerful."
"Excuse me?" asked Narim, "Teal'c, what do you mean they will be more powerful."
"There is a physical transfer of energy from the worshippers to the Ori" said Vala just as Teal'c was about to respond. The Jaffa then looked at Vala who looked back at the warrior sheepishly before the man nodded at her. The female alien then looked back at Narim and Carine telling them that any world that didn't take up Origin would be destroyed. She told them that even Earth was attacked, much to the surprise of the Tollan, but it was Orlin who sacrificed his life as an ascended being to help them find a cure, "Earth's safe now.. but from what I was told, it was touch and go."
"You were not on the planet?" asked Carine.
"Vala sacrificed herself in destroying the first Supergate" said Colonel Mitchell, "she was sent over to the Ori galaxy from where she used an Ancient long range communication device to give us some intel; particularly in regards to a second super-gate."
"But we were too late" said Faith, "a lot of good people died that day when the first wave came through to this galaxy."
"I see" said Narim as he nodded at Faith before turning to face General O'Neill, "General, we will talk to the Curia. Like I said, there are some who believe that if we had done something ahead of time, perhaps the Goa'uld would not have destroyed Tollana."
"And despite my feelings about sharing technology" said Carine, "you have the gratitude of the Tollan people for searching for survivors on Tollana. If we had known…"
"The galaxy's wide open now, Carine" said General O'Neill as he looked at the woman, "at least you guys have been warned."
"If a Prior comes to your planet" said Daniel, "you need to let the SGC know. We can have the cure to the plague sent to you, or…"
"That should not be a concern" said Narim as he looked at everyone, "New Tollana is covered in a field that hides all signs of life on the surface from any scans."
"Well" said the General with a smirk, "I guess if we asked for that technology then…"
"I am sorry, General" said Narim, "the Curia…"
"It's alright" said the General as he thought about the work that Tara and the various Covens were doing back on Earth in trying to erect a planet-wide shield. The last time he talked to Cordelia and Angel, they had told him that the Covens had managed to have nearly sixty percent of the planet covered in a magical shield that would theoretically protect the planet from attack by using the planet's own energy as a protective barrier, "we're working on something too. Listen, you guys wanna stay for lunch? Or do you have to go back?"
"We have to return, General" said Narim, "but we will hold out hope that our two worlds can indeed have some form of a diplomatic relationship, and with the Ori out there… I will do everything in my power to change the minds of the hardliners… including my wife."
"Narim" said Carine frowning as the older male gave her a smile and a slight bow. IT was a few minutes later that the Tollan gated back to New Tollana. Carine told them that they'll be Gating to another world and then they will travel to New Tollana from there.
"It is for our security" said Carine as she looked at the Earth officers, "you do understand."
"Yes" said Woolsey as he nodded his head as the Stargate activated. It was a few seconds later that the four Tollan walked through the Gate, following which General O'Neill and Woolsey returned to Earth; but not before reminding SG-1 to help out with the refugees for three days until another team could be sent over to relieve them.
Colonial Refugee Planet, Present day.
As Daniel walked with Dr. Burke and Racetrack, they walked past a few Colonials who were talking but went silent when they noticed Racetrack walking past them. Racetrack couldn't do much except for look back at them, smile and then nod before she walked into the medical building which was full of scientists. She noticed a blonde woman along with the redhead that she had been introduced to earlier as Major Rosenberg who were looking at a screen of red blood with tiny nanite floating.
"Willow! Sam!" shouted Daniel as he waved them over before introducing Colonel Carter to Racetrack, and reintroducing Willow to the Colonial Officer. He then looked at the screen that the two women were looking at and asked them if they found another humanoid Cylon.
"Yea" said the Colonel as she nodded her head as the four of them walked out of the medical building and walked over to another tent which was an extension of the Mess Tent, "the humanoid Cylon's in the secondary Med Tent. We haven't told her that we know who, or what she is, but once she regains consciousness… we'll send her to Eden so that the other Cylons can brief her on what's going on."
"Good idea" said Dr. Burke as they entered the tent which had four Earth officers seated on one of the benches.
"Guys" said the Colonel as the officers turned towards her, "I need the room."
"Yes, ma'am" said the officers as they picked up their coffee and headed towards the exit.
"Just give us an hour, tops" said Colonel Carter as the officers walked past them. In turn, the officers nodded at the blonde officer before they headed out while the Colonel turned to Willow and asked her to set up the video player. Willow nodded her head before she left the tent, just as the Colonel got on her radio and informed SG-1 that someone from the Galactica had arrived and that they would be starting the video shortly.
"Copy that" said Colonel Mitchell who was on the other side of the camp patrolling with Faith, "so far so good here, Sam."
"Copy that, Teal'c? Vala?"
"There is no problem at my location, Colonel Carter" replied Teal'c who was patrolling with Vala, "the Colonials seem to be calm despite everything they have been through."
"That probably has to do with most of them eying me" said Vala as the Colonel rolled her eyes upwards, "but muscles is right, everyone's calm.. so far."
"Colonel Finns" said the Colonel referring to both Riley and Sam, "the refugees units?"
"All secure" said the husband and wife team.
"Daniel, Willow, Dr. Burke and I will be talking to the Colonial officer about what we found" said the Colonel as Willow rushed back into the tent with two metal cases, "we shouldn't be more than an hour."
"Gotcha" said Colonel Mitchell as everyone else relayed their acknowledgement. Colonel Carter then motioned towards everyone to take a seat while Willow opened one of the cases and took out what seemed to be a medium sized rectangular object and placed it on the table in front of the bench where Daniel, Racetrack and Dr. Burke were seated. Willow then opened the upper half of the object to reveal a screen while Dr. Burke explained to Racetrack that the object was a video player, and that they were going to show her exactly what it was that they saw when on the rescue mission to those ships.
"We were there" said Willow as she looked at Racetrack while Daniel translated, "actually I was on the ships with one of three teams, while Colonel Carter commanded the mission. You'll be seeing everything from our perspective and, and I hope that you haven't eaten anything."
"No" said Racetrack while Dr. Burke translated for her.
"Good" said Colonel Carter as she shook her head while Daniel translated for Racetrack, "trust me, you don't want to see this with your stomach full."
Willow then started the video after Racetrack nodded her head. The Colonial officer watched as the video started with ships floating lifelessly in open space. Daniel told Racetrack that the images of the ships floating were taken from the ship's sensors. Just then the video cut to the inside of a ship where Racetrack could see the camera moving from one place to another before it settled to a figure in the corner helping a body be seated upwards.
"That's Major Rosenberg" said Dr. Burke as Racetrack looked at the Redhead who was standing to her left, behind Daniel. She then looked back at the screen after she noticed the haunting look on Willow's face as she nodded her head. Racetrack watched the view change to another member of the team as she watched bodies piled on another part of the room. She watched as the figure whose camera she was seeing out off knelt down and pointed at bullet holes at the heads of the bodies before looking up at another figure who was dressed in an orange coloured suit. She could see the other figure waving the one whose eyes Racetrack was looking out off over to another body. Racetrack watched the camera get up and then run over before kneeling down on the floor, which was covered in dried blood. She watched as the camera focused on the hands of the other figure as it pointed at a hole in the head of what seemed to be a man, and then to the shell casing of a fired round. All the while, Racetrack was listening to dubbed comments in Dr. Burke and Daniel's voices, along with some others of their team, who were translating what the team members were saying.
Racetrack had been watching the video's for about forty minutes with tears welling in her eyes as she watched the consequences of what the Pegasus had done. She watched as other survivors of the ships had tried to attack the rescuers, while others had tried to scratch and tear off the suits that one of the teams was wearing. She soon saw one video that left her horrified as she watched two people approaching a few people who were looking off into the distance while leaning against the wall; she then noticed the one whose camera she was looking out of kneel down and place the gloved fingers on a woman's neck. Suddenly, Racetrack jumped when the woman screamed and grabbed the arm and tried to bite into the orange material.
The officer turned to Dr. Burke and Daniel who looked back at her and told her that the Earth officer was alright, that the woman didn't manage to cause any injury.
"But" said Daniel as the tape changed view to another team member who was looking at a pile of bodies with another suited officer, "they found bodies that, well, that had chunks of flesh missing."
"Wait, you .. you don't mean."
"The teams that went down to the ships confirmed that all their resources were taken away" said Daniel, "including food stores, water supplies, backup supplies for your Jump drives, even the jump drives were missing. It was a matter of survival for them and…. and they did everything they could to survive. There are about twenty people who… well…. you know. But we've kept them isolated from the others and calm, while at the same time putting them on medication and intravenous rehydration. Some of the other Colonials are trying to get them to eat normal food, but they're afraid. Months in a ship.. doing what they did was a huge trauma for them. They're afraid that the food that some of the other Colonials are giving would be laced with human flesh.. they don't even trust just the vegetarian options. They've been given some soup but most of them can't hold it down, the ones that can't are being given nutrients intravenously."
"My gods" said Racetrack as she rubbed her forehead as the view on screen changed yet again, "what did Cain do?"
"It was very bad" said Willow as Daniel translated while Racetrack looked up at the redhead, "you can take along the video system, while the other case has pictures and testimony from the first wave of people who came to the Tollan."
"May I speak to them?" asked Racetrack as she looked at Colonel Carter, then Daniel and back at Colonel Carter again, "I'd like to let them know that they're not alone out there."
It was then that Colonel Carter got onto her radio and talked to Colonel Dixon whose team was at the expanded refugee camp providing security for the Colonials. She told him that Racetrack wanted to talk to one of the Colonials who had come in the first wave with the Tollan.
"That Melik guy?" asked the Colonel over the radio, to which Colonel Carter acknowledged that yes, it would be best if Racetrack talked to one of the commanders of the ships, "yeah sure, just bring her over, Colonel."
"Copy that, Sir" said Colonel Carter as she told Willow to shut down the video and repack the device. She then turned to Daniel and Dr. Burke and told them to accompany Racetrack over to the refugee units to talk to Commander Melik.
"Got it, Sam" said Daniel, after which he told Racetrack to follow him and Dr. Burke as they headed off to the refugee units in the distance. Following the first wave of refugees from New Tollana, the SGC had more units transported to the planet through the Stargate in boxes. While the first wave occupied the units that were already there, the SG teams helped the Army Corps of Engineers in unpacking the boxes and worked throughout the days to get as many people fitted into the newer units while more were being sent to the planet by Homeworld. Colonel Carter told Racetrack that the two metallic cases would be in that tent, waiting to be picked up before she left the planet.
Once the Colonial officer had gone, Colonel Carter and Willow could only look at each other and frown at the situation that the Colonials found themselves in before they headed back to the medical building. They had been running blood tests on all the new arrivals, and while they were only halfway done.. they had already found a blonde woman who seemed to be a humanoid Cylon model. Willow walked over to the screen that she and the Colonel were looking at after it was reactivated and focused their sights on three numbers at the bottom left corner of the screen.
"There" said Willow as she pointed at the three numbers, "ma'am… I think that's it."
"Umm" said the Colonel as she headed to another device. She reached for it and brought it up into her hand. It was a small tablet-like device that the Colonel activated and input some data into the touch screen before she headed back to Willow. Handing the device to the redhead, the both of them then headed out of the medical building and into another adjacent building where there was a blonde woman lying down in bed with saline water being intravenously fed into her. Willow waved the device over her body and smiled when it started to make a beeping sound just as the woman opened her eyes and looked at the two of them. Colonel Carter could only smile at the woman before she reached for the radio on her vest pocket and called for Daniel to meet them both in the secondary medical tent.
"Looks like our Cylon detector's working" said Willow as she looked at the device, and back at the woman who was looking back at the redhead and the blonde officer with a worried look in her eyes.
In the meantime, Dr. Burke and Racetrack said goodbye to Daniel who had to return to the secondary medical tent next to the primary medical building. The two of them continued walking to the refugee units where they met up with Colonel Dixon who was talking to Major Thompson, Jon and Hailey. As Racetrack and Dr. Burke approached the Colonel; Jon and Hailey went off on their patrol while the Colonel nodded at the two new arrivals with the Major standing next to him. He gave racetrack a smile before the young woman looked down onto the ground and then looked at the Colonel, although she did glance at the Major once again.
"Lieutenant" said the Colonel as he nodded his head.
"Oh, Colonel" said Dr. Burke as she looked at the man, and then at Racetrack, "just for now maybe it would be better to just refer to her as Maggie. You did want civilians to come to this planet."
"True" sighed the Colonel before he asked Dr. Burke to translate what he was saying, "alright, Maggie…. I'll take you to the one who seems to be in charge of the refugees, well… at least he's the highest authority we have here from your people."
"I see" said Racetrack as she walked behind the Colonel while Dr. Burke translated while Major Thompson walked behind them, "how many people? Survivors, I mean?"
"A little over two hundred" said the Colonel as he looked back at the shocked look on Racetrack's face.
"When I first heard about what happened" said Racetrack, "and from the video I just watched, I expected that there would be a few survivors…. But this few?"
"From what Commander Melik told us" said the Colonel, "the total number of people in the fourteen ships, excluding his, should be about three thousand and fifty."
"Dear gods" said Racetrack as she shook her head in disbelief just when they came up to a refugee unit.
"You can find Melik in here" said the Colonel as he nodded towards the unit, "we'll wait outside while you talk to him, and… well, he's sharing the place with three other people. Just a warning."
"Thank you" said Racetrack as she knocked on the door before hearing someone from the inside asked her to come in.
Racetrack unzipped the mosquito netting that covered the main door and opened it before stepping inside. Once inside, she noticed that it was the same type of unit that she had stayed in when the Colonial delegation had arrived to talk to their Earth counterparts. She closed the door behind her as the four men in the unit looked at her before they looked at each other.
"My name is Dr. Maggie Edmondson" said Racetrack as the four of them widened their eyes when they realized that she was a Colonial as well, "I'm from Delphi City on Caprica; which one of you gentlemen is Melik?"
"Me" said Melik as he raised his hand and walked towards Racetrack before shaking her hand excitedly, "you're from Delphi City? How did you get here? Are there more survivors?"
Racetrack listened to Melik's questions as well as the excited questions from the other three men as they surrounded her. It was after a few minutes of excited babbling from the men that Racetrack raised her hands and asked all of them to calm down. She then explained that she was brought here through the Stargate after she and a few other scientists, who were guarded by Colonial Marines, were on another planet confirming a theory when the group was told that survivors had been rescued. She continued by saying that the people from Earth needed a civilian to get the evidence that was collected. However, Racetrack could see from her mention of the Colonial Marines that the men in the room started getting angry while cursing the military for what they had done.
"These Earthers just showed me what happened" said Racetrack as she shook her head, "we.. we thought that we were the only survivors. I heard through rumours what the Pegasus had done but… they were just rumours."
"Well, they are not" said Melik as he approached Racetrack with his hands rolled into fists, "you can go tell the fucking Marines that….."
"The people who did this to you were from the Pegasus" said Racetrack, "they were under the command of Admiral Cain. Look, she.. I heard rumours that she even tried to get rid of the President of the Colonies, and…"
"President Adar's alive?"
"No" said Racetrack, "President Laura Roslin. Look, she… all of us.. even the scientists heard the rumours about Pegasus having a fleet. But no one knew for sure what happened because, well…"
"Everything was denied or made a joke" said Melik as he sat on one of the beds while looking at Racetrack.
"Yes."
"How many are still alive?" asked another man.
"In the fleet I'm in" said Racetrack, "we've got about forty five thousand people.. give or take. The Pegasus is no longer with us, especially after Cain betrayed the Colonies to the Ori. I'm guessing that these people told you about them?"
Racetrack saw that Melik and the others where nodding their heads, so she continued, "But even before we met the Pegasus in deep space.. we were led by Commander Adama in the Battlestar Galactica."
"I heard of that ship" said another man as Melik and the other two nodded their heads, "classic ship that fought in the first Cylon War; she's a legend that was supposed to become a museum… at least the last I heard."
"She's been protecting the fleet" said Racetrack, "and if we had known… we would have come after you. Commander Adama and President Roslin would have rescued you."
"Will you not be coming here?" asked Melik as Racetrack could only shake her head as the four of them looked at her confused.
"Not yet" said the officer, "a majority of the fleet wants to make their way to Earth, the one that we believe is the home of the Thirteenth Tribe."
"I have talked to the one known as Jackson" said Melik as the others nodded, "he's insisting that his world is Earth, but they don't see themselves as the Thirteenth Tribe. They are right here so why…."
"Some in the Quorum, particularly Zarek and the member from Gemenon believe that these people are heretics" said Racetrack, "they have given us information but the two, and a few other members along with the majority of the fleet want to continue to Earth… an Earth that I just came through. I… look, we're there gathering evidence that the information these people gave us are true. And once we've confirmed their claims, then we'll head back to the Galactica and report to the Commander and the President. The election is in four days, and Zarek is using it as a referendum on what they should do; either settle on this world, or keep going for Earth.. at least the Earth that we believe the Thirteenth Tribe went to which, in my opinion, would be suicide."
Racetrack knew that she had to keep some secrets from the people in front of her, that she didn't need to tell them that the Thirteenth Tribe could may well have been a tribe of Cylons.
'No sense in panicking them' thought Racetrack to herself.
"I saw the video" said Racetrack as Melik and the other looked at each other, "I'm just a lowly scientist, but I'll petition the Commander to go after Cain. He's not like her… not like her at all."
"Most of us have heard of the Adama name" said Melik as the other three men nodded their heads, "but still, there are a few who will be…. Let's just say that the trust in the Colonial military had been destroyed after what happened."
"It should never have happened" said Racetrack, "but after all this. After we bring back your testimony, and the evidence from the other planet….. I hope that President Roslin will win re-election; and then we'll return."
"And if she doesn't?" asked another man.
"Then I believe the ones who want to settle will return here" said Racetrack, "but it could be a small fraction of what remains of the fleet."
"I see" said Melik as he looked at the ground, "I really hope that all of our people stay on this world."
"So do I" said Racetrack.
They continued to talk for a few more minutes before the Colonial officer said her goodbyes and exited the unit and met up with the Earth officers outside. Racetrack told Major Thompson and Colonel Dixon while Dr. Burke translated that she needed to get back to the planet and report her findings to Apollo. Colonel Dixon and the others nodded their heads before heading back to the camp from where the Colonial officer retrieved the two cases that contained the photographs, testimony of the survivors and the video player. With the two cases in both hands, Racetrack and the others walked over to the Stargate before Major Thompson dialled the address for the Furling planet.
"Ready?" asked Major Thompson after the Stargate activated while Racetrack looked at the blue puddle before looking at the Major again and nodding her head.
"Lieutenant" said Colonel Dixon as Racetrack looked at the older man while Dr. Burke translated, "be careful out there. We'll keep the light on here for you folks, just… just once you're confirmed to be settling this planet… let us know. We'll be building more refugee units but it'll take some time."
"Understood" said Racetrack, "I'll inform the Commander. Once the election's over, you'll have either a few of us… or the entire fleet coming in orbit over the planet. Either way, I'll ask the Commander to send someone ahead of the fleet to liaise with your people."
"Much obliged" said the Colonel as he nodded his head before Racetrack and Major Thompson walked through the Stargate. Once they reached the other side, Racetrack and the Major walked down the stairs of the pedestal and walked towards the exit of the cavern.
"You can use our equipment to call for your people" said the Major as the both of them walked together out of the cave.
"Thank you" replied Racetrack as they continued walking while the young woman took glances at the Major, "so…. You mentioned a movie?"
"Huh?" said the Major as he looked at Racetrack who gave him a small smile when he realized what she was talking about, "right. It's quite interesting actually… about what would happen if the machine rose up against humanity. I mean yea it happened to your people and I'm real sorry but this was made years ago as a form of fun on our planet. You have cyborgs, human heroes, cyborg heroes…"
"Machines being heroes" said Racetrack as she shook her head while carrying the cases, "something I thought I'd never think."
"It's one of the best action-science fiction movies that we have" said the Major, "even involves some time travel. Interesting stuff."
"Hah" said Racetrack as she looked at the Major and then forward ahead, "now I know it's science fiction when you talk about time travel."
"See" said the Major as he thought about how wrong Racetrack was; he was aware that years ago, SG-1 was transported to 1969 thanks to the wormhole of the Stargate going through a solar flare. He also knew that they had used solar flare to get back to their original time, however that was something that the Colonials didn't need to know… at least for now, "told you it's all science fiction."
"I wouldn't mind watching it" said Racetrack as Major Thompson looked at her in surprise, "I mean.. you know…. As a cultural exchange kind of a deal… you know?"
"Right" said the Major, "that is if your people actually go to that planet."
"Like I told the Colonel" said Racetrack as she looked at the Major, "either a few of us will come, or the whole fleet will be coming. I plan on coming to that planet either way."
"Ah" said the Major as he nodded his head.
"So" said Racetrack with a smile, "it's a date then."
"Yea" replied the Major, "I guess it is.
It had taken some time for the both of them to reach the Earth camp where Racetrack used the radio to call Apollo to pick her up. It was a few minutes later that the young woman boarded the Raptor piloted by Apollo and, before the rear hatch closed, she waved goodbye to Major Thompson. The Major looked on as the small ship rose into the sky as he saw Racetrack take her seat before it flew off into the distance. Smiling, the Major then turned around and headed back into the camp.
TBC.