Chapter Four: Against All Enemies…
Three Months Later:
Battlestar Libran (BS-19)
Commanding Officer's Quarters:
It had finally happened; all twelve of the Clemson-class faststars had been brought back into active service, modernized, crewed, and assigned to his task force. Commander Nicholas Tattnall may not have been an admiral but he certainly felt like one, especially since the Libran was the centerpiece of the taskforce assigned to tracking down the Erebea.
The phone on his desk began to ring. He had gone off-duty, Colonel Susan Minerva was standing watch in the CIC, and so he could not help but wonder just who was calling.
Picking up the receiver he said, "Commander Tattnall."
"You sound so formal when you say that," the voice on the other end said followed by a laugh.
Tattnall's lips curled into a smile, "Hey, little brother!"
Noah Tattnall applauded, "I'm glad to see you haven't forgotten about your only brother."
"Of course not, our sisters would hurt me over that one," Tattnall said. He and Noah were the only two boys out of five children.
"Neil wanted to talk to you, but I'm afraid sleep got a hold of him before I got home from work," Noah said.
"Where's Brittany?" Tattnall asked. Brittany and Noah had been married for the past five years; some said it was a 'whirlwind' romance and resulted in her becoming pregnant almost immediately after they had married.
"She went out with some friends to go see Noble Causes while it's still playing in theaters," Noah said before adding, "I have the house to myself and I'm watching the college pyramid game between Abry and the Fleet Academy."
"Go Abry!" Tattnall shouted.
"I knew you would say that. Nadia, Nadine, and Nadira said that you told them you wouldn't be home for another few months," Noah said referring to their three younger sisters, triplets, who lived on Caprica.
"That's the life of being a battlestar commander. I go where the Fleet orders me to go and stay out until I'm told to come home. I think we should be docking in about three months for an overhaul," Tattnall said.
"Do they really need a battlestar for a survey mission?" Noah said with a skeptical tone of voice.
"It's the Libran's job to protect the research ships that are doing all sorts of scientific research out here near the Erebus Belt's far end. There is rumor the Erebea or the Eastern Alliance may be raiding ships out here. Because of that we were 'hired' by the Colonial Fleet to serve as an escort and do the various babysitting duties until this is over with."
"I suppose that's something that falls under the 'Important' category. Well the next time you're down on Caprica, let us know," Noah said.
"Will do, bro," Tattnall said as he set the receiver in its cradle to end the call.
The hatch to his office opened and he let out a frustrated sigh when he saw who it was. "Well to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"A pleasure to see you as always, Commander," Major Evan Windsor of the Ministry of Intelligence said as he walked up to Tattnall's desk.
"I'd say likewise but I know you have a reason for being here and it's not to make a social call."
Windsor looked hurt, "Commander Tattnall, that is a horrible stereotype, it happens to be true in my case, but still you have to realize that there is more to me as a person than just being with the MoI."
"Right, well in my experience most Ministry of Intelligence personnel are always trying to use a tactic to gain information or get a situation changed to their liking. Which is it in your case?" Tattnall sat back and waited to see what Windsor would say.
"I am starting to think that most people have watched one too many spy movies," Windsor said with an audible sigh.
"Windsor, I'm due in the war room soon for a briefing with Picon Fleet Headquarters so if you don't mind not wasting my time here," Tattnall said with more than a hint of impatience.
Windsor held up his hands in surrender, "All right, Commander, you win. I was curious as to how you planned to deploy your forces now that you have the twelve faststars at your disposal."
"I have some ideas that I'm developing," Tattnall said.
"Just what were those ideas?" Windsor asked.
Tattnall simply smiled, "None that I'm going to be at liberty to talk to you about right now."
"I see. Well, when you feel like sharing just let me know, the higher-ups in Gray like to be kept up to date on what's going on with this pet project of theirs," Windsor said before promptly turning to walk away.
Aerilon:
Genesis Orbital Facility, Inactive Reserve:
Battlestar Gemenon (BS-18)
The hangar deck of the decommissioned battlestar Gemenon was about as cluttered as a warehouse after the 'strip trips' to the various battlestars in the Inactive Reserve. The various trips had yielded a fortune of valuable items that would be useful in returning the Gemenon to working order. For the purpose of the mission it had been assigned, it was important to give the impression that the Cylon War veteran had been fully refurbished.
Ministry of Intelligence Major Arthur Wallace was sorting through various boxes of supplies but they were not intended for use on the Gemenon. Their destination was there with him in Hangar Bay Four, two Mark One Vipers that he had discovered rusting away on Sagittaron. They stood out from the many Viper Mark Vs that had been brought upon the battlestar. The two Mark One Vipers were in the process of being restored, a hobby that Wallace had inherited from his time spent with Stryker over the years when the man was alive. It had often been commented that Wallace was an unofficial son to Stryker, an observation that Stryker never refuted if a person had asked about it. When he was done with them they would each find a home in the Stryker Museum on Aquaria and the other would go to the Stryker Memorial on Picon. They would be preserved, unlike the Mark Vs which were ultimately going to be destroyed.
Viper Mark Vs were notoriously problematic, and many of the pilots who flew them were not sad to see them phased out quickly in favor of the decidedly more reliable Viper Mark VIs. They were not going to fly however, like most things on the Gemenon it was all about appearances.
When the mission had been approved to use a decommissioned battlestar to hunt the Erebea down and eliminate them permanently, there had been a thorough investigation of the remaining veterans of the Cylon War. The decision had been made to reactivate the Gemenon's sister ship, the Libran, and the twelve Clemson-class faststars for the Erebea mission. However, there had been a second mission approved to help the Libran without being on the frontlines.
The Gemenon was not given a proper decommissioning, through either apathy or sheer ignorance on the part of the last crew, and the result was a battlestar that was far from the best materiel condition and seemed likely to see further service. It was Wallace's idea that gave the Gemenon a purpose for one final mission and a chance to go out in a blaze of glory.
Wallace had posed as arms dealer William Savedge and made initial contact with Cinta Melati, the leader of the Erebea, about the group's interest in purchasing a decommissioned battlestar and a full air group. Melati was skeptical at first, but over time, Wallace had been more than able to gain her trust. When the time came to make the deal, well it would be the end of the Gemenon and the Erebea in one fell swoop.
Until then it was a matter of putting in the appropriate amount of time to get the Gemenon looking like a respectable battlestar and keeping Cinta Melati and the Erebea on the hook long enough to accomplish his mission. There was also the matter of prying eyes regarding the work being carried out. So far only interior work had been done, nothing on the exterior of the ship showed that it was being returned to a state of commission. If anyone had asked his team what was going on, the result was a comment about work being carried out in case the ship was put up for sale to a salvage company.
"Major Wallace, do you have a moment?" Lieutenant Victoria Bryant asked as she walked into the hangar bay.
Wallace stopped what he was doing and looked at her in an amused way, "Now Lieutenant
Bryant, how long have you been on the Gemenon?"
"Almost a week," she said as she moved a strand of her brown hair away from her eyes.
"I told you I don't run the Gemenon like it were a ship in the military, we have some protocol keeping the MoI Directors back in Gray happy, but while we're here on the Gemenon you can call me 'Arthur'."
"I'll work on it…Arthur. Captain Bond says you're needed in the war room."
"In that case, lead the way," Wallace said and motioned for Bryant to start walking.
Battlestar Gemenon, War Room:
The war room had been one of the first areas of the ship to be refurbished. It not only provided a way to keep track of the progress made on the refurbishment, but also provided a way to stay in contact with the MoI headquarters as well as a place to hold his formal conferences with Cinta Melati.
Standing in front of a group of display monitors was Captain Curtis Bond, Wallace's second-in-command on the Gemenon.
"What's going on, Curt?" Wallace asked when he and Bryant entered the room.
"Cinta Melati wants to have a word with you later on in the day. Director Torres sent a message saying that she expects a report from you via live conference at your earliest convenience. You know how she is," Bond said and tried to stifle a laugh when he saw the annoyed look come over Wallace's face.
"She has been against this project from the beginning," Wallace said and made no attempt to hide his irritation. Assistant Director Diana Torres had it known that she was going to follow Wallace and 'Project Siren' closely and would not hesitate to shut it down if there was even a hint of time and money being wasted. She had influence with the more senior directors such as Executive Director Joseph Shea, making her a formidable foe if the worst came to pass.
"That pencil-pushing bureaucrat is going to be the death of me!" Wallace declared as he fought the urge to slam his fist into the wall. It seemed no matter how hard he tried to show her that everything was going according to plan and no money had been wasted or used for purposes other than the mission. It felt as though she wanted 'Operation Siren' to fail.
Tauron City, Tauron:
It was always a great feeling to be home on Tauron. No matter where her travels required her to go, the thought of being back home on her native colony gave Cinta Melati a sense of exhilaration. It would be a welcome relief if the days of Tauron purity could return. It was something that she had heard about on Scorpia with the New Green Army. That group advocated that Scorpia should be for those native to the colony and none others. Perhaps when the Erebea became strong enough they could do something similar for Tauron. Not only would they ensure their colony's independence, but they would also be seen as liberators instead of traitors to the regime in Caprica City.
She strolled along the various shops in the Gyarmati District and took in the bustle of city life around her. Eventually she would return to space and begin the next phase of her operation but for now, she was simply content to be a private citizen. Not that she could truly be a carefree person down here, keeping a short distance away were the four members of the Erebea who served as her protective detail. They swore a sacred Tauron oath to protect her and if necessary, they would return to the soil so that she could live.
Her and her entourage made their way to the edge of the commercial district to where she was staying during her brief trip to Tauron. The Vicar Hotel had once been a possession of her family's before their fortunes were lost in the aftermath of the adoptions of the Articles of Colonization. She remembered her parents telling her stories of the lavish parties that had been thrown in the Ania Lounge on the top floor and other social events that the hotel had hosted.
There was more than one purpose to staying the hotel, apart from the nostalgia, and she always kept those reasons fresh in her mind. The hotel had been cared for by the Aram family and they had kept it in remarkable shape, leaving it as a place where those with the cubits could afford to spend time in the luxury the hotel provided.
The Vicar had a restaurant and a bar on the ground floor. The restaurant was now called the Avedis Restaurant. On the opposite side of the ground floor was the bar that was still known as the Jirair Tavern. It was at this tavern when she first met William Savedge and he managed to convince her that he could use his various means to provide her and the Erebea with a battlestar and an air wing that they could use in their fight against the government of the Colonies.
Her mobile phone began to ring. She promptly fished it out of her pocket and checked the caller id before answering, "Hello."
"Hello Cinta," Arthur Wallace said, even though as far as Cinta Melati was concerned she was talking to arms dealer 'William Savedge'.
'There's something different about his voice," Melati thought, as though there was something he needed to tell her but was worried about doing so, "Hello William, what can I do for you?"
"I thought you would like to hear some good news, I know it is going to bring a smile to your face."
"Why is that?" she asked, her voice was even as she let the arms dealer explain to her just what was going on.
"The mechanical tech I hired for our job has assured me that he has fixed the problem with your recreational vehicles," Wallace said. The Viper Mark Vs that were included as part of the deal for the decommissioned Gemenon were referred to as 'recreational vehicles' whenever the two would talk on the phone. It was mainly done to keep the Colonial authorities from eavesdropping on the phone call and hearing what was really happening. That would complicate the delicate operation that the Ministry of Intelligence was conducting.
"You know I had done some research and I was told those problems were impossible to fix," Melati said as she allowed her lips to form a smile. The Mark Vs did not last long as a frontline Viper because the mechanical issues were so prominent in them, having them fixed gave the Erebea a potent weapon that could be used.
"That's the thing about experts. For the right price they can be highly motivated to perform the impossible, I pay much better than the government sector."
"I'm glad to see that you can make people earn their cubits when you give them a job."
"I make it clear that I do not tolerate failure, and that failing me does carry unfortunate consequences…and by that I don't mean they simply get fired."
"I think that's what I like about you Mr. Savedge; we both have similar ways of demonstrating leadership."
"Indeed we do. I have more work to do here so I will talk to you later," Wallace said. He wanted to keep his conversation with her to a minimum, no reason to have a thirty minute conversation when five or so would easily suffice.
"Yes we shall have to have another meeting here on Tauron. I know you prefer Aquaria, but Tauron has more charm if you ask me."
"That's because you're biased and think nothing can compare to Tauron," Wallace said before saying goodbye to her and ending the phone call.
Melati put the phone away and turned to the head of her security detail, "Ragno and Usai, I want you to go in there and check for any possible trouble."
"We'll be back soon," Antonio Usai said as he and Carmine Ragno entered the Vicar Hotel to check the ground floor restaurant and bar.
Quietly her other two bodyguards, Rino Romani and Mario Ioannas, moved closer to her so that if trouble came her way they would be there to intercept it without the possibility of her being seriously harmed.
The Next Day:
Tattnall had assembled the small group in the War Room of the Libran. He had thought it over and realized that the best he could hope to do would be to devise a plan to use the number of faststars he had at his disposal and had put together a plan that would serve to drive the Erebea to the destination he wanted.
The plan was simple, he would allow the faststar group Colonel Aileen Baines commanded and use it to serve as a hit and run force that would force the Erebea to retreat to the coordinates he desired. Push them back far enough and the Libran and its six faststars could easily come in and finish the group off permanently.
He would wait until the next day or so to put his plan into action, but it would have the desired of effect of putting the Erebea into what was essentially a two front war. He could use it to his advantage; not only would it help to drive the Erebea to where he wanted it to go, it would also keep the leadership off balance guessing where the main task force was at and when it would strike.
Picon:
Ministry of Intelligence Headquarters, City of Gray:
The top floor of the Taria Building, the main building of the Ministry of Intelligence Headquarters complex held the offices reserved for the Director and Executive Director of the Ministry of Intelligence. At this time, Director Adrian Schwtizer was on Caprica to give President Richard Adar a briefing on the recent activity of the Eastern Alliance. That left Executive Director Joseph Shea in charge of running the MoI.
Arthur Wallace walked into the main rotunda of the building and made his way to the escalator that would lead to the upper part of the ground floor where the elevators were located. He turned his head and saw the wall with the stars attached representing the fallen MoI agents and officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He saw the twenty-sixth star and knew for whom it was to be in place; his mentor who had trained him in everything he knew as a MoI officer…Galit Malka.
He could not let sentimentality get in the way of what he was going to here, or even his overall reason for joining the MoI to begin with. Right now, there was an overzealous Deputy Director who was getting in his way. The elevator ride up to the top floor he made sure his hand firmly clutched the large folder he had carried with him. Wallace had a secret weapon with him and he was hoping he would not have to use it but his hand had been forced.
He entered the lobby for Shea's office and there at the reception desk was a young woman wearing a professional business suit. The nameplate on her desk read Leticia Fleming.
"Ms. Fleming, is Director Shea in his office?" Wallace asked as he made his way to the desk.
"Yes he is but he's in a meeting," Fleming said in a bored voice.
"Thank you," Wallace said as he strode past her and headed for the doors that led to the office."
"You can't go in there," Fleming said with more than a hint of annoyance.
"Go back to doing your nails," Wallace said as he pushed the doors open and entered the office, slamming the door behind him.
"Director Shea, I hate to barge in on you but there's an urgent matter," Wallace said as he walked to a nearby chair and took a seat.
"Deputy Director Gabrielle Cobb, this is Major Arthur Wallace," Shea said as he motioned toward where Wallace sat.
"Hello, Director Cobb, would you leave now so I can discuss something with our Executive Director?"
Cobb and Shea exchanged a look and finally Shea nodded and she left the room.
When the door was closed, Shea fixed Wallace with an appraising look, "You have the stones of a Tauron coming in here like this."
"Thank you for the compliment. Now I have a problem with Deputy Director Diana Torres regarding Operation Siren. She is determined to make sure this project does not succeed. I need you to get her off my back so I can do my job."
"Interesting, I have to admit the idea of you thinking you can tell me what to do is kind of funny."
"Do you think it might be as funny as Division 731?"
"What?"
"You know that little group that the late John Bledsoe was involved with. A hidden facility built in Phaon during the Cylon War on Virgon; I'm telling you some of those experiments were just brutal."
"How do you even know about that?"
Wallace smiled, "I had a reliable source give me the information. I know this all happened a little over forty-seven years ago but it would probably embarrass the Ministry of Intelligence to have this made public. Now I am willing to look the other way if you can make my job easier. Director Torres is breathing down my neck and it's becoming harder to prep the Gemenon for Operation Siren."
"So if I make your problem go away then you'll make sure the Ministry doesn't get embarrassed?"
"Correct, I'm willing to make a deal."
Shea was silent as he thought it over, "You have a deal, Wallace, I'll make sure Director Torres doesn't bother you anymore."
"See, I'm starting to believe you are as smart as everyone says you think you are," Wallace said as he quickly got up and left the office leaving behind an infuriated Director Shea.
Battlestar Gemenon, War Room:
"Mr. Savedge, you're late," James Thorn, the top lieutenant of Cinta Melati, said once the connection had been established.
"My apologies, I had some business on Picon come up that had to be dealt with," Wallace said. He was fortunate that in the time since he started Operation Siren he had managed to keep his cover identity of William Savedge, weapons trader, from being blown.
"Interesting, what type of business?" Thorn asked.
"Something involving a woman who was giving me trouble, let's just say I managed to shut her up," Wallace said, not a lie but merely telling a different version of the truth.
"Have you made progress on the Viper Mark Vs you promised to deliver us with the Gemenon?"
"I have my best people working on it. I think, if given a little more time, they'll have them working as good as new."
"You are a man who seems to be delivering on his promises; this could be very good for your future, Mr. Savedge."
"I like making sure that my future is bright; it just feels so right when compared to the alternative."
"Indeed, Ms. Melati has informed me that she wants you to meet her on Tauron tomorrow. I'll transmit you the address where the meeting will take place."
"You realize you didn't give me the chance to back out of it."
"That's because it's not an option," Thorn said and an instant later, the screen went dead.
"I get the feeling he doesn't like you," Bond said once the meeting was over.
"Yeah, I don't think I'm going to get invited to any of the events on his social calendar," Wallace said with a laugh before adding, "I'm going to my quarters, it looks like tomorrow you get to take over while I go to Tauron."
A nearby printer came to life and quickly printed a sheet of paper. Wallace took it and read it to himself. He was going to meet Cinta Melati in Tauron City at the Vicar Hotel.
'Only the best for you Cinta,' Wallace thought to himself as he put the note in his pocket and left the room.
When he got to his quarters, he immediately went over to his personal computer and inputted the number of the woman he wanted to talk with. He waited and finally he heard the familiar voice.
"Hey, Arthur, do you realize what time it is?" Whitney Thompson, Wallace's fiancée, said groggily.
"Didn't think you'd be asleep this time, the clock hasn't even struck midnight yet."
"It's been a long day, Windsor has had us analyzing every last bit of video we got from the recon mission a while back. If I have to look at one more Cylon War era vessel I may lose my mind!"
"You do realize you're on a Cylon War era vessel right now?" Wallace asked as he tried to stifle a laugh.
"Present surroundings are exempt of course," Thompson said with a tired smile.
"Windbag is running you and the team ragged over there, it shows."
"You do realize that if he ever hears you call him that it's going to start a fight."
"I don't mind that. I think, since I was the one who got my part of Operation Siren accepted, he's been looking for a reason to have it out with me."
"Save it for after the Erebea has been taken care of first. By the way, my parents sent me a letter. It seems they want you and I to join them for a camping retreat on Caprica when we get some free time."
"As long as we can share the same tent I'm fine with that."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Thompson before adding, "You look tense, need me to come over and rub your shoulders?"
"That sounds like something I could use. Director Torres was giving me hell on this project and I had to go make sure she left me alone."
"How'd you do that?"
"Used a secret weapon of mine, it's not that I don't love you but the less you know about it the better."
"It's probably best. I have enough trouble keeping Windsor from interrogating me about what you may or may not be doing."
"You seem to be holding your own there, not that I'd expect anything less."
"Get some sleep, Whit, let me know when you're free and we'll have a longer talk."
"If I can tear you away from your ship long enough," she teased.
"I'll make time for you," he said and then he closed the connection.
Wallace stood up, walked over to where his bed was, and promptly laid down on it. He reached for the headboard and pulled down what looked like an old book. Its brown leather looked worn and its pages showed some of the signs of age. What he held in his hands was considered both a myth and a treasure if a military historian ever got his or her hands on it. The owner of the book had given it to him and Wallace was told to keep it a secret. He had kept his word, and reading it he got a sense of what it must have been like during those years of the Cylon War.
He ran his fingers of the embossed gold lettering on the front of the book, Chronicles of Jonas Stryker. It was by reading the book he had discovered the various deeds of Section 731 as well as other assorted secrets that Stryker had discovered during his years of Admiral of the Fleet during the Cylon War. It also contained information that only Stryker and a few others knew.
Libran, CIC:
"Commander, we're receiving a distress signal from the Naylor System," Lieutenant James Ward announced.
"Patch it through," Tattnall said.
"This is Virgon Convoy 1043 en route to Caprica, we are under attack by an unknown enemy near the planet Felucia in the Naylor System," the panicked voice of a woman said over the speakers.
"Mr. Freyburg, I want you to get me the information that transport," Tattnall ordered.
"Virgon Convoy1043 consists of the freighters Kromeus, Ustraro, Elaria, Kreo, Tarsus, Camus, and Zenius," Lieutenant Lancelot Freyburg, the Libran's Tactical Officer, reported.
"Plot us a jump there and set the ship to Condition One, I want Viper Squadron One in the tubes ready to launch the moment we enter the system and have Raptor Squadron One brought up to the deck of the flight pods so they can take off. Have Squadrons Two and Three on standby in case we run into heavier resistance than anticipated. Mr. Ward, I want you to send word to the faststars to prepare to jump with us and be ready to engage enemy forces," Tattnall said and moments later came the call to Action Stations.
"What do you think we'll find there," Colonel Susan Minerva, Tattnall's XO asked.
"My gut tells me it's the Erebea but for all we know it could be the Eastern Alliance," Tattnall said.
"Action Stations, Action Stations, set Condition One throughout the ship," Freyburg announced, sending the crew running to their stations throughout the ship.
Tattnall looked and saw that Ward was already alerting Major Alexander 'Ironhead' Mason, the CAG of the Libran and the officer in charge of Libran's Viper Squadron One, and Captain Peter 'Tracker' Slade of Raptor Squadron One.
"What's going on, Commander?" Windsor asked when he came into the CIC.
"We have a Virgon convoy that's under attack by an unknown enemy. We're jumping in to intercept."
"Glad to hear it," Windsor said. When he saw the stunned looks he added, "I know it sounds strange for me to agree with you, but it could be the Erebea or the Eastern Alliance. Either way it's a group that's been put on our list to attack."
'This is a strange day,' Tattnall thought to himself.
"Commander, the ship and the faststars are ready to jump," Freyburg announced.
"Very well, begin jump," Tattnall said and an instant later the Libran and the faststars had jumped away to the Naylor System.
Naylor System, planet Felucia:
The ships that made up the Virgon convoy had scattered by now, trying to evade the fire from the enemy vessels. The ships seemed less intent on destroying them and more focused on trying to disable their engines.
In a flash, the Libran and the twelve faststars had jumped in range of the planet. Vipers launched from the Libran while the faststars began targeting the enemy ships with their guns.
In the CIC Tattnall, Minerva, and Windsor watched the DRADIS display to see if their actions were having an effect.
"Looks like the ships have taken notice of us," Minerva said.
"Probably because we're scoring more hits than misses on them," Tattnall said.
"Do you think they'll be able to hurt us?" Windsor asked.
"Depends on what types of weapons those ships have on them," Tattnall said as he saw the distance between the convoy ships and the enemy vessels begin to widen.
"Commander, we are looking at six Preston class patrol frigates," Freyburg announced.
"Those were pulled from service about two years ago if I recall," Minerva said.
"Those against us should make for an easy fight," Windsor said.
"Commander, the ships are coming our way…sir they've launched a barrage of Tiger-Cat missiles at us!" Freyburg exclaimed.
"Helm, evasive maneuvers," Tattnall called out.
"Evasive maneuvers, aye," Petty Officer Kerri Carrillo said as she began to try to turn the Libran out of the way of the missiles.
"This sounds like something you're concerned about," Windsor said to Tattnall.
"The Tiger-Cat missiles were part of a weapons project, they were supposed to have been destroyed when the project was discontinued. They pack a punch and we'll just leave it at that," Tattnall said as he watched the missiles come closer on the DRADIS display.
"The Gerhardt has taken a direct hit and are reporting severe damage and fires breaking out over the ship. Commander Socorro requests permission to withdraw," Freyburg reported.
"Tell him that he has my permission to withdraw for repairs," Tattnall said before turning his attention to Windsor, "Those missiles are designed to inflict a great amount of damage with only one hit. The explosive compound in them is powerful but also incredibly unstable."
The Libran began shaking as rounds from the frigates began to find their mark on the battlestar.
"Have the gun crews target those ships and begin firing," Tattnall ordered.
"Mr. Ward, tell the convoy that we'll buy them time to jump away," Tattnall said.
"Sending the message now," Lieutenant James Ward said.
"The Palaiologos, Robert Smith, Clemson, Asturias, Velos, and Psara have taken up defensive positions and are using their flak guns to help put up more of a defensive screen. Also, our Vipers have launched and are closing in on the frigates."
"Send word to Major Mason that his pilots have my authorization to go Weapons Free and to engage the enemy," Tattnall said and Ward acknowledged it.
Viper 4932 (Pilot Major Alexander Mason, Call Sign: Ironhead):
"Ironhead, this is Libran, the CO has given you permission to engage the enemy. You are clear to go Weapons Free."
"Copy that Libran, we are going in," Major Alexander 'Ironhead' Mason said before turning his attention to the air wing flying with him, "All right, we have the ok from the CO to take care of the pirates, go Weapons Free and good hunting."
His Viper, along with the others that comprised the Libran's air wing, hurtled towards the six patrol frigates that were crewed by the Erebea. Already the Clemson class faststars were feeling the sting of the missiles that the ships had launched and appeared to be trying to withdraw from the battlefield.
He came up on the lead ship and immediately launched his missiles at it, scoring a hit along the midsection of the top of the ship. He had to do some careful dodging as the ships began firing their flak batteries to try to keep him and his pilots away from them.
"All right, nothing too fancy here…get your hits in and avoid getting shot. They have flak batteries and they're not afraid to use them," Mason said as he pivoted his Viper around to try to make another run at the ships.
The shells of the Libran were getting closer than they had originally, one of which hit the ship on the left flank of the group and its guns went silent.
Mason saw the flashes out of the periphery of his vision, the convoy ships were starting to jump away. At least they had given the civilian ships time to escape. He began to prepare to launch more of his missiles at the frigates when one by one they all jumped away. A part of him was glad to see it happen but another part of him wanted to get one last hit in against the enemy.
"That's it, great work everyone…let's go home," he said and he looked and was horrified to see the missiles that had escaped the flak screen hit home not only on the Libran but also the Robert Smith, Clemson, and Asturias.
Columns of flame erupted on the ships as the missiles found their mark, with Libran taking most of the hits.
Mason realized that more than likely him and his squadron would be unable to land on their ship for the time being, it was an issue that did not bother him. The Vipers and Raptors had more than enough fuel to fly for some time.
"Libran, this is Ironhead do you copy?"
There was a burst of static over the wireless and then nothing.
(Author's Note: Allen Knott had given me permission to use his character of Arthur Wallace from his 'Battlestar Leonidas' series in both this story and my 'Survival of the Stryker' story. I had forgotten to mention this, and wanted to correct the oversight.)