Battlestar Galactica

Past, Present, Future.

Chapter Two

The Future Begins

On the bridge of the Battlestar Pegasus, Commander Cain, the commanding officer of the Pegasus and the legendary Fifth Fleet, was busily going over a number of last centon reports and manifests as preparations for their departure where carried out throughout the fleet. The bridge was a hub of activity, with people moving in every direction. Thru all the chatter and confusion, Cain was able to single out the one voice that was Colonel Tolan.

"Commander." Tolan said as he approached Cain.

Cain turned from the stack of reports to see what Tolan wanted, grateful for the interruption.

"Yes Colonel, what is it?" he asked, praying it was not more paperwork.

Tolan stopped at the bottom of the steps that lead to the command podium.

"Sir, Commanders Verga, Bannon, and Raylac are waiting in your office, per your orders sir."

Cain glanced up at the ship's chronometer. Sure enough, they were right on schedule.

"Very well Colonel, I'll be there in a centon." Cain said to the tall, blond executive officer.

Tolan simply nodded and left as swiftly as he had appeared.

Cain looked back at the stacks or reports and requisitions he had been working on for what seemed like yahren and shook his head. Had the pile of papers grown in the short time he had his back turned? It sure seemed that way. Cain turned to one of the officers working at a console next to Cain's work station, "Major Lojak, take all this felgercarb and have it sent to my quarters. I'll deal with it later!"

Major Lojak smiled and nodded, "Yes sir! I'll take care of it for you."

Cain gave the Major a small salute with his swagger stick and proceeded to his office. As he entered the room, all three officers came to attention in front of the large, wood desk. Cain made his way to his seat and without looking at them said, "Be seated gentlemen. We have a lot to cover and very little time left to do so."

After seating himself, Cain pressed a button on his comm panel and spoke.

"Colonel, you can bring in the safe box now."

Tolan's voice could be heard responding, "Yes sir!"

Cain then looked at those same three men that only a short time ago had accepted a mission that could not only change the future of the war and mankind, but change the future of the whole galaxy.

"Gentlemen, as you know, the fleet is preparing to depart for Molocay. We'll be leaving spacedock by the end of the secton. I called you here to give you your orders and all the other pertinent information you'll need for your upcoming mission." Cain explained to them.

"I've had everything put on specially encoded infodisks. Each set of these disks contains all the information you should need, navigation, communication codes and frequencies, a complete list of the ships and personnel that will be with you, schematics and specifications for the facilities and the ships you'll be building, and a top secret list of contacts. This is to be used only in an emergency. You three will be the only ones with access to this list, is this understood?"

All three nodded and replied with a loud, "YES SIR!"

The entry buzzer sounded and at Cain's acknowledgment, Colonel Tolan entered carrying a metal box with a touch pad on the top. Tolan placed the box on the desk in front of Cain and then took his usual place behind and to the right of Cain's seat. Cain tapped in a seven digit code on the touch pad. The status lights on the pad switched from red to green and an audible "click" could be heard as the locking mechanism disengaged and the lid slide back. Cain reached inside and retrieved three small, boxes. He took each in turn and read off the name of the person it was meant for. Each of the three accepted the box given them and returned to their seats.

Cain then began to explain what was expected of them.

"Gentlemen, inside those boxes you'll find all the information you'll need. Each disk is numbered and is encoded so they can only be played at the appropriate time, so be especially sure to check your ship chronometers before leaving spacedock." He told them.

"The first of the four disks are the same for all three of you. They contain information concerning navigation, communications, and other mission specific information. The second disk contains schematics and specifications on the projects you will be working on. You'll have time to familiarize yourselves with all this information before you reach your facilities."

Commander Verga sat looking at the four disks and asked Cain, "How will we know when to listen to each disk?"

Cain looked at Verga and explained, "The three of you will depart with the fleet as planned. You'll take up positions at the rear of the formation, sort of a rear guard."

All three commanders nodded there heads as they listened.

"When we come to the point of departure, I'll send you a message to check on a near by planetary system, this will give you a reason to leave the formation without arousing any suspicion. Then, upon departure from the fleet, you will each place disk number one into the main computer interface and download it into the computer main frame. This will place all your initial navigation and communications information into the computer, then all you need to do is switch over to computer control. The computer will take it from there; all you'll have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride. When the time comes to listen to the next disk, the computer will let you know."

"So this will all be automated then?" asked Raylac.

"Only the first part of your journey will be run by the computers." Cain replied. "After that, you'll follow the instructions on the disks"

All three commanders nodded their heads, understanding Cain's explanation.

"Any more questions?" Cain asked.

Bannon glanced at his comrades, then with a bit of a smirk on his face asked, "I don't suppose you'd like to tell us where it is your sending us off to, would you Commander?"

Cain smiled and chuckled a little at this.

"Sorry Commander, but that information is classified. You'll learn your final destination once you listen to disk three, not before!"

"I kinda figured as much, but I had to ask!" Bannon said with a laugh.

"Anything else?" Cain asked again.

When no questions were forthcoming, Cain stepped around his desk and one by one, clasped wrists with each man and said his farewells.

As the three men exited his office, Cain said after them, "Good luck gentlemen, I'll come see how things are progressing after we take care of this business at Molocay!"

After the three officers left, Cain stood there staring after them for a few moments, lost in his own thoughts. Something didn't feel right, but he couldn't quite put a finger on what. Cain continued to muss over this when Colonel Tolan's voice interrupted his reflections.

"Commander, with your permission, I'll return to the bridge and continue preparations for our departure."

Cain had totally forgotten about his second in command being in the room still. He turned to face his X.O. and nodded his head, "Very well Colonel, carry on! I'll join you shortly."

"Yes sir." Replied the Colonel as he turned and made his way from the room.

Still somewhat lost in his own thoughts, Cain cleared the safe box from his desk. Something was bothering him, but was at a loss as to what it could be.

A short time later, Cain returned to the bridge of the Pegasus. As could be expected, it was still a picture of organized chaos. He ascended the steps to the command podium to find Colonel Tolan busy completing the last of the preparations for their departure. Unlike Cain, Tolan was a great administrator and actually seemed to enjoy it, where as Cain would rather be out in a Viper, blasting away at Cylons. Tolan spotted the Commander as he stepped onto the platform and walked over to him.

"Final preparations are almost complete Commander." Tolan reported.

"Good! Good! Have all ships stand by for departure." Cain said.

"Yes sir." Tolan replied, then turned to carry out his orders. Cain strode over to the rail of the podium and lean forward on the rail. He stood there watching his crew as they went about their last centon checks before departing the giant space docks. Looking up from the hustle and bustle of the crew below him, he gazed out the thru the huge main view port at the front of the bridge. There, in the vastness of space, one could see the multitudes of vessels that awaited the signal to set sail. Cain could see dozens of ships hanging in space or docked to the giant space station. Among those ships were the Battlestars Archimedes, Olympia, Polaris, Poseidon, and Thanos. Five mighty warships ready to meet and defeat a merciless enemy.

Also among the various ships of the Fifth Fleet were a half dozen old Battle Cruisers. Cain, unlike most of the other fleet commanders, loved these old warships. Though somewhat slower and smaller then the Gunstars, they still packed a great deal of firepower, ranging from the over four hundred, twin barreled, anti-fighter laser turrets to the ultra powerful Mark V Pulse Laser Cannons that were the standard main batteries on every capital ship built in the colonies for the past four hundred yahren. Like the Gunstars, the old Battle Cruisers were basically large gun platforms made to provide massive firepower in both its role as an escort for the fleet Battlestars, as it was for the large Star Carriers before them, and as front line attack vessels. It was in this role the Battle Cruisers four huge lasers and twenty solinite missiles were most useful.

Other ships were visible as well, tankers, supply freighters, escort destroyers, even a gargantuan fleet repair ship were there. All waiting for his command to get underway. It was a heady position he held. All that firepower at his command. Cain often thought that if the damn politicians would stay out of things and let the warriors do what was needed, the war with the Cylons would have been over centuries ago.

"Damn politicians!" Cain said under his breath.

"Excuse me sir?"

The voice of Colonel Tolan brought his thoughts back to things at hand. Tolan was looking somewhat confused by Cain's last statement.

"What is it Colonel?" Cain asked somewhat perturbed at being overheard.

"Incoming message from Central Command sir." Tolan replied.

"Alright Colonel, I'll take it here." Cain said a bit more civil this time.

Cain walked over to his command station where the duty bridge officer brought up the message from the Central Command. On the small video screen, the face of Senior Admiral Larson appeared. The admiral was of middle age, perhaps just over a hundred yahren. His brown hair showed just a touch of gray at the temples. He wore a neatly trimmed mustache below a patrician nose and obsidian black eyes.

"Greetings Commander, what's your status for departure?" asked the Admiral.

"All units report ready and standing by sir. Awaiting final confirmation." replied Cain.

"Good! Glad to hear it. What about Genesis?" the admiral asked.

Cain cast an irritated glance at the young bridge officer seated at the console, then back at the monitor.

"Everything has been taken care of Admiral!" came Cain's terse response.

"Very well Commander, as soon as you're ready, you are granted permission to depart. May the Lords of Kobal watch over you and all those who serve you." said the Admiral.

"Thank you sir. Pegasus out!" Cain replied as the connection was terminated.

Cain stood there for a moment looking at the blank screen, shaking his head.

"Unbelievable" he muttered to himself.

"Sir?" asked the young bridge officer, not knowing if Cain had been speaking to him or not.

Cain turned his gaze to the young man, Captain Mavin, with a very concerned look on his face.

"Captain!" Cain said, an unmistakable harshness in his voice.

"Yes sir!" Captain Mavin said, raising his eyes from his console to meet Cain's and instantly wishing he was somewhere else when he saw the look in those volcanic blue eyes.

Cain stepped closer to the young officer and lowered his voice so that Mavin was the only one that could hear him.

"Captain, you are not to repeat ANYTHING, not a single word of my conversation with the admiral to anyone, IS THAT CLEAR?" Cain said in a voice that could freeze a mans blood.

Mavin's eyes grew wide with fright as he sat frozen by the Commanders icy stare.

"Y-y-yes sir! Understood sir!" Mavin managed to stutter in response.

"Carry on!" Cain said as he walked over to where Colonel Tolan stood. Mavin's eye's fell back to his console, but he was still too shaken to focus on his instruments. All he could think about was what was it he supposedly heard and why was it so important.

Cain stepped up next to Colonel Tolan, who was making some last micron checks of the fleet.

"I can't believe Admiral Larson could be so foolish as to mention Genesis on an open channel like that! What in Kobal was he thinking?" Cain said hotly. "He could jeopardize the whole project."

Colonel Tolan just nodded his head and said nothing.

"What's our status for departure Colonel?" Cain asked, a bit calmer.

"All ships report ready, just awaiting your orders sir." Tolan told his commanding officer.

Cain walked over to the command console and placed his headset on. After making sure he was plugged into the comm system, Cain began to speak.

"Onboard the Pegasus, this is Commander Cain. Stand by to leave spacedock. Helm, release docking cramps and clear all umbilicals."

The helmsman acknowledged and repeated back the orders. With the flip of a few switches, the huge docking clamps released their hold on the Pegasus and all the various cables and conduits were disconnected and fell away.

"Docking clamps released. All lines are clear. We are now free to navigate sir." the helmsman reported.

"Very good, ahead slow. Once you clear the spacedock, proceed on course one nine five delta by zero one six theta." Cain ordered.

Again the helmsman acknowledged and repeated back the orders as he set the controls to comply.

Now free of her restraints, the Pegasus began slowly to move forward, away from the giant spacedock and back into the cold embrace of space. This is where she belonged, not tied to a dock, but soaring between the stars!

As the great ship cleared the spacedock and turned to her course, Cain flipped the switch on the command console comm system so he could speak to all the ships of the fleet.

"Attention all hands, attention! This is Commander Cain. We are about to embark on an important mission. The lives of every man, woman, and child in the colonies could rely on our success during this mission. We've faced tougher challenges then this and won the day, I have no doubt that we shall do so again. All I ask of you is that you do your duty as you always have in the past. Stand by to get underway."

Cain flipped off the fleet wide frequency and switched on the fleet command and control frequency.

"Cain to all ships, form up on the Pegasus. Standard formation…….. Execute!"

With the order given, all the ships of the Fifth Fleet, two hundred fifty five in all, moved into their pre-assigned positions and began to move forward. Cain watched on the ships scanners as the ships of the fleet fell into position. Once the last of them was tucked into place, the Gunstars Hyperion, Phoenix, and Titan, Cain gave the order to increase speed and start the long journey to Molocay…… and destiny!