Disclaimer
All characters appearing in the Star Wars saga and in Battlestar Galactica 1978 belong to their respective copyright holders. No infringement of these copyrights is intended and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Battle Among The Stars - Prelude
by
Celgress
Battlestar Galactica Galaxy
Baltar's Basetar outskirts of the Gamoray System
"How long before our fighters will return to defend us?" Baltar asked from his elevated command chair. His mood concerning the upcoming engagement was morose.
"I'm afraid they will not arrive soon enough. The Pegasus will reach us first." Said Lucifer the IL-series Cylon assigned to aid Baltar.
Baltar swiveled his command chair so he could see Lucifer face to face. "Have us drop back, let the other two basestars intercept the Pegasus," Baltar instructed.
"I doubt the other basestar commanders will appreciate your decision. They may resist implementing it." Luficer said.
"I don't care how they react. This isn't a request it is an order, Lucifer." Baltar snapped.
"By your command," Lucifer said bowing his head obediently.
Space
Three things occurred nearly simultaneously. The two Cylon Basestars each fired one of their mega-pulsars at the Battlestar Pegasus. The mega-pulsars impacted the deflector shields of the Pegasus. The Pegasus returned fire with her laser turrets. Everything then went "crazy", or at least that is how the event would be later described in the after-action report.
A quarter of a cubic light year of space convulsed, warped, and then stabilized all in less than a minute but by then the three Cylon Basestars, the two Colonial Battlestars, and all their associated support craft were gone. All was calm. No trace of the epic space battle remained.
Star Wars Galaxy
Somewhere in The Outer Rim
Battlestar Galactica
"What the frack just happened!?" Boomer exclaimed getting back to his feet. Colonel Tigh shot the young pilot a withering look. Boomer followed Tigh's gaze to where his follow viper pilot Serina was helping her son Boxey to his feet. Using profanity in front of Commander Adama's grandson was a major no-no, even in such a dire situation, "sorry." Boomer said sheepishly.
"Status report," Commander Adama said. Like the veteran soldier he was, Adama was already back on his and taking charge.
"Sir, internal sensors are coming back online, slowly." Flight Corporal Rigel stated after getting back in her seat. She took a moment to study her readouts carefully. She checked and then rechecked her findings. "Sir, it appears we were hit by some type of powerful subspace shock wave. Damage is extensive. Our FTL drive is inoperable, we cannot jump to hyperspace."
"What about long-range sensors are they back online yet?" Serina asked. She nervously chewed her bottom lip.
Rigel shook her head. "No ma'am, they appear to be scrambled. I cannot reboot the system for some reason."
"I should have gone with them. This is all my fault. If I had been there we would have had three vipers. Maybe I could have prevented whatever happened from happening." Serina said.
"No, you did the right thing. You followed my orders. If this is anyone's responsibility it is mine." Adama said.
"Commander, I-," Serina said only to be cut off by an excited Rigel.
"Sir, I don't know how but long-range sensors are back online. Also, I'm receiving a transmission." She said.
"Patch it through." Colonel Tigh ordered.
"Apollo and Starbuck reporting to the Battlestar Galactica. Galactica do you copy?" Apollo's voice crackled over the intercom.
The bridge crew rejoiced. "We copy you loud and clear, son." Commander Adama said not standing on protocol.
"Thank the gods," Serina said briefly closing her eyes to offer up a silent prayer of gratitude.
"What happened to the Pegasus and the three Cylon basestars she was engaging?" Colonel Tigh asked.
"Unknown, when the visual disturbance cleared all four vessels were nowhere to be seen. Our sensors are fired." Appolo's voice crackled. "permission to come aboard."
"Permission granted," Adama said happily.
Another part of The Outer Rim, several hours later
"I am pleased to report we are now operating at 94% efficiency. All systems are back online. Additionally, the majority of our fights have made a safe return although half are seriously damaged." Lucifer reported.
"What of the other two basestars?" Baltar inquired.
"They are operating at 57% and 49% efficiency. Damage was quite extensive to both vessels. That stated because their fighter compliments were in space when the disturbance occurred the fighters are in much better condition. The fighter compliments, like our own, suffered only moderate damage." Lucifer said.
"What of the Battlestars Pegasus and Galactica?" Baltar said impatiently.
"The whereabouts of the Galactica is unknown. However, the Pegasus was destroyed by our assault the result of two direct mega-pulsar impacts. Our fighters are searching the wreckage for survivors and salvageable materials as we speak." Lucifer said.
"Hmmm," Baltar said. His mind was full of lingering questions.
"Have our scientists (also known in canon as "Cylon civilian" units, Living Legend) discovered where we are or the nature of the disturbance that brought us here?" Baltar said.
"Not as yet," Lucifer said. "They have, however, discovered something of interest nearby."
"Oh?" Baltar said.
"A highly industrialized planetary system full of subterranean structures. This system has the facilities we require to repair the other two basestars along with rich mineral deposits we can mine for fuel and weapon replenishment." Lucifer said.
"Is the system fortified?" Baltar said.
"Nothing a basestar much less three, even given their reduced condition, cannot easily subdue," Lucifer said arrogantly.
"Very well, make the required preparations for invasion and occupation," Baltar said.
"By your command," Lucifer said bowing. Lucifer turned to leave but stopped in his tracks. "What are you doing here?" The purple IL-series demanded of his golden counterpart."
"Only ascertaining if there is any way I can assist the glorious Baltar," Specter said lavishing on the praise as was his typical strategy when sucking up.
"Ah, Specter, a pleasant surprise as usual," Baltar said smiling.
"The pleasure is all mine, oh glorious one," Specter said bowing low.
"Felgercarb," Lucifer swore.
"What was that, Lucifer?" Baltar asked.
"Nothing," Lucifer said.
"I heard that one of the Command Centurions was killed in the recent battle. Perhaps, if it pleases you Baltar, I can assume command of his former basestar?" Specter said.
"Most certainly not," Lucifer said.
"Lucifer, be silent," Baltar said.
"But," Lucifer said.
"No buts, I think Specter has a fine idea. Specter the command is yours. Do not disappoint me." Blatar said.
"Thank you, glorious one. I shall not." Specter said with another low bow he was gone.
Lucifer inwardly fumed. His anger and frustration were not made better by Baltar's laughter and then his dismissal. "Lucifer, don't you have something to do? Go, organize the assault." Blatar said shooting Lucifer a stern look.
"Yes, Baltar, by your command," Lucifer said a hint of resentment in his voice. With a bow of his own, he was gone.
Geonosis, a short time later
What Republic forces were unable to accomplish a few short days ago with their freshly minted clone army, the Cylons accomplished in a matter of hours. The Geonosians surrendered rather than be annihilated once it became clear these strange "droids" were nothing short of genocidal in their intentions and actions. Cylons accept only total victory as the inhabitants of the Twelve Colonies of Man could have told the Geonosians. The Cylon conquest of Geonosis would have a far-reaching ripple effect across the Star Wars Galaxy.
In the weeks that followed the Fall of Geonosis, Republican and CIS planners alike were baffled by the sudden appearance of these militarized alien "droids". Most troubled of all was one double-dealing Sith Lord his carefully laid plans for galactic domination were thrown into utter disarray. Luckily, one of his prize assets General Grievous had left Geonosis less than a standard solar day before the invasion. None of these planners, however, realized the danger in which they found themselves until it was almost too late.
The droid foundries of Geonosis were quickly converted by the enslaved populace (working under the careful supervision of their new Cylon Scientist overlords) to produce not more Battle Droids (whom the Cylons found to be laughably primitive and inferior in every way imaginable) but Cylons mostly Cylon centurions at a dizzying pace. The burgeoning Clone Wars were about to take a terrible turn a turn no one could have predicted. The denizens of Hutt Space, by virtue of their close proximity to the adopted Cylon Home World, would be the first to experience the legendary brutality of the Cylons on a mass scale.
To Be Continued
Author's Note One -
I included the characters Specter and Serina because I like them.
Specter is an easy fit because the BSG 1978 episode Living Legend (in which the Pegasus shows up) takes place directly after the episode The Young Lords which features Specter and Baltar did agree to transport Spector and his garrison to a new location.
Serina was supposed to be a major character but her actress Jane Seymour decided not to accept a long-term contract. I do not see Serina's survival changing events in a major fashion until after Living Legend. So, everything happened as it did in the BSG 1978 canon with only minor tweaks.
Author's Note Two -
Don't worry Star Wars fans. Anakin and company will be featured heavily next chapter.
And, is the Battlesrar Pegasus truly destroyed, or simply MIA (again lol)? Keep in mind, that Lucifer is not exactly known for his truthfulness, especially if that truthfulness will upset Baltar.