Battlestar Galactica

Past, Present, Future

Chapter Sixteen

First Contact

Apollo sat in his office trying to relax after yet another eighteen centar day filled with the endless paperwork that had become the norm, it was almost unbearable. He had poured over countless requisitions for supplies, endless status reports, complaint reports, disciplinary reports, fuel reports, criminal reports and every other type of report one could imagine from the various ships of the fleet for so long, they all seemed to run together. Finally he decided enough was enough and left the bridge in Sheba's hands while he went to his office for a chance to disassociate himself from the rigors of command for a centar or two. He know understood why his father had taken so many of what he called "meditation periods" while he commanded the Galactica.

He picked up the small microphone from the desk and began to speak, adding to his personal log.

"It's been nearly five sectons since we left the dust cloud where we found the abandoned ships of the Second Colonial Fleet and so far we have found few signs of their passage. We have followed along the course indicated by Commander Dienekes in his final log which was found aboard the Battlestar Carpathia, but I have to wonder ……. will we ever find the survivors of the Second Fleet, or are they long gone?"

Apollo sat the microphone down and leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head. He closed his eyes, listening to the ever-present hum of the giant thrusters that pushed the giant Battlestar thru space. He was just starting to relax when the com unit on his desk sounded. He opened his eyes and gave the com unit a disapproving scowl before he leaned forward to activate the unit.

"Apollo here!" he said without activating the viewer. Sheba's voice came thru the speaker.

"Apollo, we just picked up a large star system along our present course. Distance is about one point seven four light-yahren."

"One point seven four light yahren!" Apollo exclaimed, not believing the range of the new scanners Nagy had built into the Galactica. "Can you detect any life forms from here?"

"Not yet, but we are picking up some electronic signals from the system, could be communications of some kind." She told him.

Apollo leaned forward and activated the viewer. The face of Colonel Sheba, his second in command …..and his wife, filled the screen. She smiled at him as his image came on her screen.

"That's more like it!" she said jokingly, then in a more business like tone she asked, "Should I dispatch one of the Destroyers to investigate further?"

Apollo pondered this for a moment then shook his head and said, "No, they haven't been refitted with the new scanners yet. Send Bojay in the Chiron to check it out, they've already had the scanner conversion done and were finishing up with their flight deck refit so they should be able to handle flight ops with Vipers. Have Boxey take Blue Squadron over to the Chiron and coordinate with Captain Kell. Once they get into range, I want a Viper patrol of that star system. In the mean time, have Bojay recon the system from a safe distance, if there are people there, we don't want them to know we're out here yet."

"Will do!" Sheba said with a big smile, then the screen went dark.

Apollo leaned back in his chair again and wondered what they might find in this star system. Would they find any signs of the Second Fleet? Could the signals they were picking up be the ancestors of the Second Fleet's survivors? How would they react to people from the colonies after so many yahren with no contact? Would they consider themselves part of the colonies or would they have cut all ties to their past? Only time would tell!

Bojay stood looking over the bridge of the Chiron with a great sense of satisfaction. There was a certain sense of pride one felt when they commanded a warship and Bojay surely felt it now! He'd loved his time flying Vipers, but this is where he had always wanted to be, on the bridge of his own ship. Ever since he transferred from the Galactica to the Pegasus, he had wanted to command his own ship, just like his idol, Commander Cain. Granted, a seven hundred sixty eight yahren old Gunstar (at least that's what Cadet…..no, now Ensign Sabo had told him) wasn't exactly the same as a Battlestar, but under the current circumstances it was more then adequate.

Bojay had done a little research on his own to find out a little bit about the history of his "new" ship and what he learned of its history was amazing! The Chiron was one of the most battle tested and decorated ships in the history of the Colonial service. It had served as part of the Second Fleet from the day of its commissioning and was the only vessel to survive the one and only direct assault on the Cylon home world back in 6612. During that ill fated raid, over five hundred ships were destroyed and close to half a million brave Warriors died at the hands of the Cylons and their allies. The Chiron was able to limp home with over half her crew dead, including her commanding officer, Commander Antares.

The last commander of the Chiron he learned was a Commander Arial, who it turns out was the great, great, great, great granddaughter of Commander Antares. From all accounts she was a very aggressive commander, even for a Scorpion. It was rumored that this was because she was trying to live up to the standards set by Commander Antares and always felt as if she was coming up short. Bojay thought that her aggressiveness was in part due to the fact that she was the first woman to be given command of a capital ship and wanted to prove she was as good as any of her male contemporaries. Whatever the case, it seemed she was a most formidable Commander.

Bojay's revere was broken by a call from his scanner operator, Lieutenant Dow.

"Commander, there's a small group of asteroids just off to port. On present course, we'll pass within a thousand metrons of the largest of them."

"Sir, I recommend we alter course and give them a wider birth." Colonel Malis, the Chiron's exec said.

Bojay nodded his head and ordered the helmsman, Ensign Duigan to change course so as to give them a minimum of five thousand metrons clearance, then he asked Dow if she had found anything in the star system ahead.

"Yes sir, I've been concentrating my scans on the planets in what would be the "life belt" and I've found what appears to be a large number of objects in orbit around several of the planets. They could be ships of some kind!"

"Ships! What kind of ships?" Bojay exclaimed as he nearly ran over to the scanner station. "How many are there? Can you get a fix on them?"

"Negative sir, we're still too far away for a positive ID." Lieutenant Dow said. "All I can tell so far is that there are a large number of objects in orbit around the third, forth, fifth and sixth planets."

Bojay wondered whether this was their first contact with the survivors from the Second Fleet and if so, how would they feel about the Galactica and her fleet showing up on their doorstep. How would they react? After so many yahren without contact with the colonies, would these people still consider themselves part of the colonies? Would they even know about the Colonies? These were questions he would like to have answers for before he ran into any of them. Maybe he should send a message off to the Galactica and ask Apollo for instructions on the subject?

It was at that moment that another of Nagy's inventions came into play. The alarm to the new scanning detection system went off signaling Lieutenant Dow that the Chiron had just been scanned!

"Where did that signal come from Dow?" Bojay asked as he looked over the young woman's shoulder. Lieutenant Dow worked the controls of the new scan detector and soon had a fix on the source of the scans.

"The scans are coming from that large asteroid to port Commander." She told him, indicating the large asteroid they were now passing. "I'm not picking up any life sign's. Looks like an automated system of some kind."

"Any sign of weapons or fighters?" Bojay asked, expecting the worse.

"None detected sir!" Dow said. "Looks to be just a simple automated detection system, we must have entered its detection sphere and set it off."

Bojay thought about it for a moment, then asked if there were any outgoing signals from the asteroid. Dow's answer was as he expected.

"Affirmative, I'm picking up a unidirectional signal aimed right at that star system directly ahead." Dow told him.

"Frak!" Bojay exclaimed under his breath, then to Dow he said. "Get me a scan those things in orbit and tell me if there's any change in what their doing!" Bojay ordered.

Lieutenant Dow switched her scanners back to the star system where it was immediately evident that somebody had heard the signal from the asteroid. Where they had found numerous objects in orbit around several planets during their initial scans, they now found that a large group of what had to be ships breaking off and moving toward them on an intercept course. Bojay watched as a group of twenty large ships headed towards his ancient Gunstar.

"Should we go to battle stations?" Colonel Malis asked as she watched the unidentified ships approach. Bojay thought about it for a moment then turned to his exec.

"No, our orders were to observe and report back without making contact. I think our best bet would be to……." Bojay began before Lieutenant Dow cut him off.

"Commander, you better take a look at this!"

Bojay and Malis turned to the scanner operator's screen and could barely believe their eyes. One after another, the approaching ships began to disappear!

"What in Hades hole is going on?" Malis asked no one in particular.

Bojay shook his head slowly and said, "I don't know, but this can't be good!" He then turned to the helmsmen and ordered him to come about and head back toward the fleet. Then he told the communications officer, Ensign Welsh to send a coded message to the Galactica informing them of what we've had found and our present situation. The comms officer acknowledged the order and began sending the message. Bojay was about to issue more orders when Lieutenant Dow yelled out to him.

"Commander, there are ships popping up out of nowhere!" she said. "Their all around us!"

"What?" Bojay exclaimed as he ran over to the scanner station. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, all around the Chiron, ships of different sizes and configurations were materializing from empty space.

"Lords of Kobol!" Bojay mumbled. "Helm, all stop! Colonel, sound battle stations. All squadrons to the launch bay. Have Vipers stand by but they are not to launch, just have them ready to launch on a microns notice."

"Yes sir!" Malis said as she passed the orders along.

"Captain Gavin, I want a tactical analysis of the situation immediately! I want to know how many ships there are and what their armament is."

"Yes sir!" Captain Gavin, the Tactical Officer said as he began compiling information on the unknown vessels.

Bojay turned to Ensign Welsh and asked if she had gotten the message sent.

"I got most of it out sir, but as soon as those ships started showing up, all frequencies became jammed with static!"

"Frak! Alright, keep sending. Let the Galactica know our situation and that we need immediate assistance." Bojay told her, then he turned to Captain Gavin.

"What's their weapons status? Have you got a fix on what kind of fire power they have?"

"Negative sir, their generating some sort of electro-magnetic field, it's blocking my scans." Gavin said. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"Who in Hades are these people?" Bojay wondered to himself, then to Lieutenant Welsh he said, "Open a channel to those ships. Let's see if they feel like talking!"

Welsh opened up a com-channel to the unidentified ships that now surrounded the Chiron. For several long and tense moments, there was no response, just static. Then the static cleared and a voice could be heard.

A voice speaking in the Scorpion tongue!

"This is Commander Polenikes of the Scorpion Battlestar Nocterria. Do not try to escape, we have you surrounded." The voice commanded. "Power down your weapons and engines and prepare to be boarded. Failure to comply will result in the destruction of your vessel!"

Bojay and Malis exchanged looks of uncertainty and apprehension. Though neither of them could understand the man's statement, the languatron had no problem translating it into Colonial standard.

"What are we going to do Commander?" Malis asked.

"First let's see if this guy will talk to us, then we'll go from there." Bojay told her. Then he told Ensign Welsh to open a channel to the lead ship.

"This is Commander Bojay, commanding officer of the Colonial Gunstar Chiron. We are here on a peaceful mission and mean you no harm. We only wish to talk to you."

There was another long silence, this time lasting almost a full centon, then the voice came back, this time speaking in heavily accented Colonial standard.

"Gunstar Chiron, hold your position. Power down your engines and weapons. Make no attempt to use your scanners or communications."

Then the connection was terminated.

Bojay turned to his exec.

"Well Colonel, looks like we've made first contact wither we wanted to or not!" he said.

"It would seem so Commander. Orders?" Malis replied.

Bojay glanced out the view screen at the numerous ships facing his lone Gunstar and with an air of resignation, he gave the order to comply with their "captor's" instructions. Malis nodded her head and passed the orders along to secure from battle stations and to shutdown all scanners. Bojay then asked Welsh to open a channel to the lead ship again.

"Commander Polenikes, this is Commander Bojay. We have done as you requested and await further instructions."

After several centons, the voice of Commander Polenikes came back on the speakers.

"Gunstar Chiron, you will hold position until we have attached grapples to you. Once this is done we will take you back to Scorpius. Do not attempt to resist or interfere."

Bojay and Malis looked uncertainly at one another again. Whatever was about to happen, it seemed was out of their hands. They could only hope that whatever did happen, it would not be too unpleasant.

"Commander, look at this!" called Ensign Duigan.

Bojay and Malis looked out the forward viewer and watched as a monstrous vessel came slowly toward them. At first it resembled an old style Battlestar, but as it approached, it became quit obvious that this was no ordinary Battlestar. For starters, it was larger then any Battlestar Bojay had ever seen, even the Galactica! As it moved closer, details of this behemoth became more apparent. It bristled with laser turrets and pulsar cannons as well as hundreds of what appeared to be missile ports. It was truly an awe inspiring site.

The giant ship continued to sail toward them on what appeared to be a collision course, then it made a slight adjustment and sailed up and over the Chiron. As it passed over the comparatively diminutive Gunstar, it turned about and centered itself directly above the Chiron. It then lowered itself to within ten metrons and extended dozens of grappling arms, which latched onto the smaller Gunstar.

Bojay and the rest of the crew could hear and feel the giant ship attach itself to the Chiron and wondered what it was they had gotten themselves into. Bojay told Malis to double check that all stations had shut down operations and that the crew remained calm, even thou he himself was feeling a bit unnerved at the moment. Then the voice of Commander Polenikes came over the com system.

"Polenikes to Chiron, standby for trans-spaceial jump!"

Bojay looked at Malis confusedly.

"Stand by for what?" he asked.

Malis shrugged her shoulders.

Bojay was about to try and contact Polenikes when the entire ship began to shake. He looked out the forward viewport and saw that they were now moving, being carried away by the huge ship that had latched onto them.

"Positive shield now!" Bojay yelled.

Gavin flipped the switch that controlled the huge metal shield that covered the forward view screen. The massive shield slide shut as the Chiron accelerated.

"All hands brace yourselves. We're being taken for a ride and it looks like it's going to be a bumpy one." Bojay yelled over the unicom.

After several microns, the shaking subsided. Bojay ordered Gavin to open the shield. What he saw was astonishing!

The stars were flying past them so fast, they were little more then streaks of white light. Bojay wondered how fast they were moving……. And how? Even at light speed, the stars didn't distort this much. It was amazing!

Then, as quickly as they had accelerated, they came to a stop.

This sudden decrease in velocity caused a large number of personnel to become violently ill while others lost conciseness. Bojay felt his last meal try to come back on him, but was able to maintain control. All those yahren of flying Vipers had given him an advantage that most of his crew didn't have. It would take some time for them to clean up the mess they had made of the ship.

"Status report, all decks!" Bojay ordered as he regained his composure. Then he looked out the view port and saw that they were now in orbit of a beautiful blue-green planet.

"Where are we Commander?" Malis asked, still a bit shaky from their little trip.

"I'd say were in orbit around one of their home worlds."

"So what happens now?" asked Major Hynes, the Operations Officer.

"That's up to them!" Bojay said softly.

At that moment, Ensign Welsh called over to Bojay.

"Commander, message coming in from the Scorpion ship."

Bojay nodded and told her to transfer it to his station. The voice of Commander Polenikes came thru the speakers.

"Chiron, stand by to receive our shuttle!" We will land in your flight deck in ten centons. Nocterria out!"

The transmission ended.

Bojay exchanged surprised looks with Colonel Malis.

"Not a very talkative chap is he!" Bojay said.

"Not very!" she responded. "So how do you want to play this Commander?"

"Well, since they still have us clamped to that behemoth, I'd say we go along with whatever they want and see if we can get some answers."

It was at that time that Ensign Duigan called up to the Commander.

"Commander, there's a ship of some kind heading this way. Looks like it might be a shuttle."

Bojay and the others looked out the forward view screen where they saw a small, sleek vessel approaching the Chiron. It had the look and feel of a fighter, but was far larger and only had two visible laser cannons.

"That must be their "shuttle"." Malis said.

"Yep, guess we should go down and greet our "guests"." Bojay said sarcastically. This got a chuckle from the other officers. With that being said, Bojay left the bridge in Captain Gavin's charge as he, Colonel Malis and Major Hynes departed for the landing bay.

Bojay and the rest of his senior staff waited in the landing bay as the Scorpion ship made a picture perfect landing. Before the engines of the craft had even shut down, the hatch of the sleek ship opened and a score of men in what looked like old style Colonial uniforms and carrying some sort of long pole arms marched out in drill squad unison and formed two ranks extending out from the opening. They made no sound other then that of their knee high boots clicking in perfect unison on the deck. Then without a word, they came to a halt and the two ranks turned to face each other. They slammed the butt ends of the pole arms on the deck and stood at rigid attention. All those in the landing bay were quite impressed with the precision of this "honor guard". Bojay and his staff moved closer, stopping a few metrons from the end of the honor guard and stood at attention themselves.

Moments later, a man appeared in the hatch. He was of less then average height, at least for a Caprican, but of average height for a Scorpion. He had long black hair with but a touch of grey, worn in a number of braided strands that hung past his shoulders in the back. He was dressed in what looked like a cross between an old style Colonial Warrior uniform and the garb worn by the Scorpion people over six millennium ago. The man looked to be of middle yahren, perhaps seventy or eighty yahren, but was in excellent physical condition. Bojay wished that he was in such good shape. The mans dark eyes scanned the landing bay for a moment, then landed on Bojay and his officers. A slight smile came to the mans lips as he looked at them. It made Bojay a little nervous. The man began to approach the Chiron's officers with a group of other men, dressed very much like the leader, following close behind. They were not smiling!

As this man and his group reached the end of the honor guard, they came to a halt. For a few microns, both groups stood, staring at each other. Sizing each other up! Then the leader of the Scorpion group spoke.

"I am Commander Leonitus, King of Scorpius and supreme commander of the Scorpion Grand Fleet. I bid you and yours welcome." The man said with a slight nodded of his head. "And who might you be?"

Bojay took a step forward and bowed slightly at the waist, being very careful to keep his eyes on the men in front of him.

"My thanks lord king. I am Commander Bojay, commanding officer of the Colonial Gunstar Chiron and these are my officers. I greet you in friendship."

"You are from the twelve colonies of man? From the star system called Cyrannus where dwell the children of Kobol?" Leonitus asked.

"That is correct lord king." Bojay answered, remembering what Sabo had said about the etiquette used by the Scorpion people when referring to the Warrior-Kings of the past. His address of the king seemed to please the man.

"It has been nearly four centuries since our ancestors left their home world and were stranded here without the knowledge of how to return home." Leonitus said somberly. "Now by the grace of the gods we can return their bones to Scorpia as they deserve."

"Lord king, there have been many changes in the Colonies since your forefathers set forth on their mission. The colonies are no longer ours!" Bojay told them.

The Scorpion officers paled in disbelief at hearing this, uttering curses and vowing revenge until Leonitus quieted them with a raised hand.

"Pray tell us Commander, what happened?" Leonitus asked.

"I think it would best lord king if my commanding officer was to tell you." Bojay said quickly. "I'm sure he would be able to tell you far more of what happened since I was not in the Colonies when all transpired."

Leonitus thought about this for a moment, then nodded his assent and asked where Bojay's commanding officer was.

"He is with our fleet lord king, they were following behind my ship." Bojay told him.

"How far behind is your fleet Commander?" Leonitus asked.

"Not far lord king, they could be here in less then a secton if I could contact them and let them know that we found you."

"Found us?" Leonitus said questioningly.

"Yes lord king, you see……. We've been searching for you ever since we found the ships left behind by the Second Fleet."

"You found the rest of the fleet?" Leonitus said in amazement.

"Yes lord king, we found them hidden away in a great dust cloud more then a sectar from here at light speed. This very vessel was among them."

Leonitus let this information soak in for a moment then stepped closer to Bojay.

"I think it's time we got you in contact with your fleet."