Autor's Note
First thank you so much for your patience. My whole life has changed this months, includying a new baby coming, so...
kyrosyamcha: The story starts in 2023 and goes on from that date. There are several flashbacks showing things that happen before so you can understand how the current history evolved from the series, which ended in 2008. Sorry if it's not clear enough, I will include a timeline in the next chapter to clarify it.
Now, let's continue
The small and slow robot moved through right into the event horizon of the Ring. As soon as the machine climbed the ramp and started to enter the water-like surface, Gaius Baltar ordered to keep moving forward no matter what. After the sudden end of any transmitions and readings from the robot, two minutes later the machine started to broadcasting again.
The other side was in the bright of the day. The ring looked like it was in a platform sorrounded by something like a square field, with huge monoliths in each corner. From the middle of each side of the square several stone roads departed into a city. This city was huge enough to cover the entire view of the robot's camera, and the blocks of this city were filled with 3 or 4 stories buildings, with a style very similar of the Caprican architecture of 2 centuries ago, with elaborated design, windows and balconies.
The archeologist, Dr. Baltar, the other doctors, and even the Marine operating the robot were stunned. An entire new civilization, lost to the history, less than 200 light years from the colonies.
-I think we just found the origin of the humans of this settlement-stated the archeologists, and everyone there assented.
-How far you can go with this thing?-asked Baltar without moving his eyes from the screen.
-I don't know, maybe a couple hundred meters...-answer the Marine.
-Good enough, move to any of the buildings nearby.
-Yes sir- and moving the controls the robot advanced to one of the sides of the square, moved down a ramp and crossed the street. Several craters were in sight, he moved the robot in zig zag to avoid falling in one of them. After that, they climbed to the small steps marking the front entrance of a 3 plant building with many windows. Every window was carefuly adorned with small statues of fruits and plants, but several of them were broken, in a way that resemble big caliber shots.
The entrance had the remains of a wooden door, now broken in half and lying to the right.
Several bodies, now a little more than clothed skeletons, were in the hall of this building. The robot advanced to one of those bodies, it was sit on the floor with the head barely rested on a column. A huge hole was visible in the forehead of the skull.
-Keep looking, I am going to ask Adama for some Raptors- said Baltar before running away.
Battlestar Galactica
CIC
-Doctor. You wanted to see me-asked Adama after Baltar was guided into the CIC by a Marine.
-Captain Adama, yes I do. I would like to borrow a Raptor. To send it to the planet at the other side...
-Dr. Baltar, are you sure? One thing is to send a robot there, other thing is to send a Raptor, with people inside. And if I remember correctly, you know how to get there but not how to return here, am I right?
-Yes, but... if we send a Raptor you can go to space there, and see how far are you from here, and jump back.
-And if it is too far to jump back, Doctor?
-I... I didn't... think about that, I... Just thought it was worth the risk.
-Let me to evaluate if the risk is worth or not, Doctor. Mr. Tigh, call Chief Tyrol and Mr. Gaeta, and see if you can make one of our Raptors remote guided for the Doctor here.
-Yes sir
-Anything else?
-No, no, thank you so much. I never thought of... you know, make the Raptor go remote...
-I'm not a computer genius like you, Doctor, but I have my moments- answerd wryly Adama.
-Ok... I will help them with the...remote thing.
-Be my guest.
After Baltar leave the CIC, Colonel Tigh couldn't help speaking his mind.
-Frakking egghead- said, making Adama smirk.
Colonial Fleet HQ
Picon
As soon as the Raptor bringing news of the expedition arrived, President Adar himself leave Caprica and jumped to Picon to see the reports with his own eyes. His surprise reading the findings of Baltar in the planet was quickly turned into enthusiams, with a little of concern.
After reading two dozen of pages, he allow the Admirals to start a reunion to adress the situation.
Admiral Nagala started the diebriefing.
-As you can see, the report is very interesting. We found not only an habitable planet, but also an abandoned human settlement, a device able to travel to other sistems light years away, instantly, and evidence of a human civilization different of the 12 colonies of Kobol, and from Earth.
-Sorry Admiral but how do we know it is not Earth, or Kobol, this planet connected through this... ring?- asked the President.
-According to the experts there, the civilization it's too primitive. We didn't find any industrial or technical capabilities correspondent with this Ring. Actually, not even us are able to build something like it. The mineral used is unknown to us.
-Also sir we have found evidence of an hostile power, with energy weapons-interjected a Coronel.
The President intrigued, and alarmed, look over the dossier for the data of those energy weapons signatures.
After several minutes reading, Adar, still shocked, started to impart new orders to the Admiral.
-It is my recommendation you keep exploring both planets, and authorize the use of the interplanerary transportation device to reach both. To start exploring both systems, and to assure enough military presence in case of these unknown hostiles return. We need to prioritize the search of these hostiles, alien or human, to assess their threat level, and eventualy, to attack and neutralize them. Keep me informed of any progress.
The Colony
Cylon Space
The One known as Cavil stoped talking as soon as the Sixes ended their report. These news could change the whole plan. The Colonials had founded a new human tribe, the 14th (because the Cylons -at leas the Ones- knew who the 13th really were), and maybe an alien civilization with advanced energy weapons and strange interestelar transportation devices.
Afrer some discussion, the consensus reached consisted in sending a small fleet of 10 Basestars and a Resurrection ship to follow the Colonial expedition and explore the sector, looking for the new humans and the possible advanced aliens who attack them.
Leoben was the One selected to command this Task force, and until news about this supposed 14th Tribe, and perhaps an alien race, were confirmed, the whole Plan was suspended until further notice. All dormant agents and current infiltrators would keep waiting or gathering data about the Colonial forces.
Finally, the ad hoc team of Baltar, Gaeta, Tyrol and his men have reprogrammed the Raptor to be remotely fly through the Stargate.
The plan was to send it to the other side, to take some aerial photos and video of the city, and then go out to orbit and take a look to the surroundong space. All that during the 38 minutes before the wormhole closed itself. Once that happened, the Raptor would reman in orbit running on autopilot until they could dial in again and restablish the contact.
Lt. "Helo" Agathon volunteered to be the one piloting the Raptor remotely. After several attempts to lift the craft and move it just half meter from the groud without crashing, he started to oractice move the aircraft through the Ring without the Wormhole. Two times in a row he hitted the sides, once almost breaking the left wing, and the second getting stuck for several minutes. Two teams of firemen were ready in case the craft crushed. Seven succesfull attempts,and three wrong, later he finally decided to move trough the horizon. Both Gaeta and Tyrol bet a hundred cubits against Helo, daring him to cross it sucesfully at first attempt.
-Ready Lieutenant?-ask Baltar, whilst Agathon started the engine one more time.
-It's now or never-answered.
With more pulse than anytime before, and praying to the gods to not get a sudden wind barrage, Helo pushed slowly the aircraft into the Stargate.
-Mr. Agathon, please don't release the controls during the passage
-Yes doctor.
-The Raptor went perfectly, and both deck officers started to curse for the loss of one hundred cubits each.
-It's ok chief, I know you're brokeas hell. Just don't be so hard with me next time I land in the old ship
-Shut the frak up, Helo, and keep flying-answered Tyrol, while Helo laughed as crazy.
The landscape was incredible. The city was at least 10 miles in every direction, several buildings burned or demolished in some of the blocks, a couple of green areas to the west, and about 20 miles at the norteast a mountain range.
A huge river marked the southern limit of the city. A couple of stone bridges, one of them destroyed, crossed the waterway.
-Ok. Mr. Agathon, proceed to orbit. We have... 19 minutes left.
-Ok. Ascending.
In less than 5 minutes the sky turned pitch black and the stars apeared in the screen.
-We are in orbit. Initiating astronomical localization protocols.
-Gallactica, are you receiving?-asked Helo.
Battlestar Gallactica
CIC
-Were are receiving astronomical data. The system has a type H 2 star...two G class stars 3,5 and 4,7 lightyears away are the closest to it... We have a match, 98,56 % accuracy. 155,7 lightyears from here. Sector Sigma Alpha 23- said the navigation officer, showing in the star chart to the rest. Adama get closer to it, and asked Colonel Tigh.
-A single jump is two risky. Two, perhaps three, that way we don't put too much strain to the jump drive-said the colonel.
-I agree. Prepare a Raptor Recon flight. As soon as they return, we jump there.
Planet Alpha Sigma Theta 3
High Orbit
Task Force Prometheus
Battlestar Pegasus
Admiral Cain watched the new planet from the Pegasus CIC. Adama and Baltar did a great job for the Colonies, but now it was her time to make history. As soon as all the ships under her command were accounted for, she ordered to start with the occupation of the planet. Her orders were to establishing a solid foothold of the Colonies, fortify it, and send troops trough the Ring to the other planets being surveyed by Adama's fleet. But above all, to prepare for military operations against these advanced aliens, whoever they were and wherever they may be.
-You thought you can terrorize some defenseless primitive humans, huh? Not again, not in my fraking watch.
April 2024
Earth low orbit
RFS Korolev
The Korolev was in low orbit just
-Sir, something is happening. My console is running some kind of diagnostic...
-Show me
-I... I can't cancel it.
-Mr. Korenstsov...
-Sir. Allow me your terminal, Liutenant-aswered the First Officer, and then talking to the Weapons Officer.
-Yes, sir.
After several minutes trying to figure it out, the forehead of Lt. Commander Korenstsov was showing signs of stress.
-What's the problem, Ilya?
-Sir, our weapons system... is not longer under our control sir.
-What?!
Homeworld Command
The Pentagon, Washington DC
-General, we have a transmision from the Korolev. Is their Captain, he is requesting a secure line with you, sir.
-I will take it in my office-answered General O'Neill with worried expression.
-Yes sir.
After 5 minutes O'Neill went out back to the Crisis Room and call to Atlantis.
-Colonel Sheppard, I want both, Dr. McKay and Dr. Zelenka beamed to the Korolev in 10 minutes. Priority One
Washington DC
Undisclosed location
-My Lady, why wait for the eclipse to finish?
-The people is afraid. Your job generating chaos and making people to fear for the end of this country has finally producing results. Now we will reap what you sow for so long.
She access a Goa'uld terminal, and with every move of her fingers over the red screen, the smirk in her face turned into a full smile.
RFS Korolev
Bridge
With the tablet in his left hand, McKay was trying to understand what the hell was wrong with the Korolev's weapons system. Zelenska tried several times to reset it with no avail, it was some kind of malware, a very advanced one, probably the result of a sabotage or hijacking attempt on the russian vessel. McKay was not sure, he want to be sure it wasn't just a malfunction first before jumping to the sabotage idea.
Soon the entire ship went to Red Alert.
-It wasn't me!- screamed McKay
-Sitrep!-ordered Korenstsov.
-Weapons hot!-screamed the Weapons officer.
-What?!
-Tubes 3 and 5 arming! Two Mark X missiles armed!-screamed again, now in full panic.
-Abort! Now!-ordered the commander, trying to take control of the worst thing he ever imagined to occur in his watch.
-I can't!
-Jesus Christ! Jump! Jump to hyperspace, now!
-Zelenka, cut the power... the power to the launch systems!-screamed McKay, but it was to late.
-On it!- answered Zelenka, cursing in czech while deperately tried to override the failsafes and cut the power to the system. It was all in vane.
-Missiles launched!
Two 1000 megaton missiles were shooted in Earth's direction, and to the horror of the crew, the abort commands were not working. The captain ordered to shoot them down with the railguns, but those were also disabled. He thought of accelerating the ship and using it as a live shield, but it was to late. The missiles were too fast, and the target too big and too close.
The missiles were programmed to detonate in the upper layers of the atmosphere, so everyone was relieved, but at that altittude, other side effects were produced. The explosions were so big the night in the Americas turned to day for a second, north to the Mexican Border, followed by a bright aurora who covered everything from Nunavut to Texas. And right with the lights, a huge PEM hit Northamerica and Europe.
The lights in all canadian provinces and all the contiguous states, except southern Texas and Florida went down, cars went dead on the roads, and planes started to fall from the sky.
To be continued...