Chapter 31 - The Survivors
TN:- There will be a 3 week gap between this release and the next as I'm going away for 2 weeks and will not be writing in that time so please be patient. This also explains the delay in this chapter as I have been spending a lot of time getting my stuff ready.
Picon - Mountainous Areas Outside Picon Fleet HQ/Space Above Picon - 7 DAH
The 2 Alteran Corvettes appeared on either side of the Base ship in orbit and opened fire on them immediately with 4 nuclear ship killer missiles while 2 of the missiles were intercepted by the patrolling raiders but the other 2 made it through. The first hit one of the upper arms blowing a massive hole in the armor while the other hit the center mass of the ship pushing the ship further into the lower orbit of Picon.
While that was happening a small transport ship appeared on the other side of the planet above picon fleet HQ and made an atmospheric entry. The ship looked like a great ball of fire as it dived at a steep angle while its thrusters fired at full power trying to slow the ship down. Those who saw what was happening were shocked at the balls of the pilot to be willing to perform such a maneuver.
The image of the ship finally cleared up as it broke the lower barrier of the atmosphere and the friction started to die down but you could clearly see that the hull of the ship was still glowing red as it cooled off. The ship over taxed its forward thrusters as it was able to reduce its fall enough to come in for a rough landing at the location cleared by the marines a day before.
While the ship made its risky landing the corvettes were playing a cat and mouse game with the Base ship in orbit and after the nuclear detonations the Cylons sensors were unable to pick up the other ship entering orbit.
On the ground the marines approached the ship waiting for the boarding ramp to lower to be able to secure the area before the Admiral could approach and board the ship. Corman Watched from a short distance away as the ram lowered and a man dressed as a marine colonel walked down the ramp and stepped onto the forest floor.
"Will first class passengers please make their way to the forward cabin where you will be directed to your seats." The colonel said loudly with a smile on his face.
Corman shook his head and stepped out from the forest edge. "Welcome to Picon Colonel, I take it we don't have time for pleasantries so if you could can you show my people where to store the cargo." He said with authority from a lifetime of being the one charge.
The colonel nodded. "Yes, Sir." He then turned to the ship and shouted. "Sergeant, get them stacked, tagged and seated so we can get off this rock."
Corman turned and nodded to the waiting people and the chaotic but organized process to get the supplies onboard before the people were then boarded.
Corman gave one last look around at the wilderness around him before boarding the ship and making his way to the small bridge to see what's going on in the space above them.
In the 2 hours in took to get the people and supplies aboard the corvettes where finding it harder to keep the Cylons busy while remaining alive as they called in more ships to trap them but with the added speed from the new tech on the corvettes meant that the Cylons stood no chance of catching them in a straight up fight of speed.
They just watched another 2 base ships jump in and were getting ready for another risky maneuver when they received the all clear from the transport on Picon as it broke orbit and jumped away before any patrolling raiders could intercept them.
The corvettes changed course to pass within throwing distance of the base ships and launched the last of their Ship-killed missiles just to cause as much damage as possible before jumping away to safety. They were asked if they were able to scout the area around the colonies for any other surviving ships when their primary mission was complete.
On board the Transport ship Admiral Corman had just entered the bridge when they arrived at the rendezvous coordinates to be met by one of the Alteran battle groups that were rerouted on their way back from hitting the Cylons in their own space. Corman smiled when he saw the ships through the viewscreen as the fact the battlegroup was here meant that there were still survivors out there or Leo wouldn't be risking his new nation's resources here.
The Co-Pilot got his attention as he said. "Admiral, your daughter asked us to transfer you and your companions to the Battlegroups flagship as we have another mission before we are able to return to Waypoint Alpha."
He nodded and replied. "Thank you, Can you arrange our transfer as soon as you can as I would like to get back in the fight as soon as possible as there are many still on the colonies that can be saved."
"Yes, Sir. We will be docking with the Flagship in short order. If you make your way down to the main deck you will be directed to the docking hatch." Answered the Co-Pilot.
Cormon nodded and left the bridge thinking of all the things he will need to do next to better prepare and protect the remaining citizens of the colonies and with Leo's help he knows they can do better than what the colonies became at the end.
Leonis - Foothills Outside of Kefalonia - 7 DAH
It's been 7 days since Ambrose was found by Evander and brought to his family cattle ranch on the outskirts of Kefalonia, she hasn't had time to think about what happened as the attack she witnessed was only the start of the nightmare that was Armistice day. Today she awoke after working late the day before helping Diana packing the last of the supplies from the Cabin they had been sheltering in since 2 days after that attack.
They had left the cattle ranch after one of their sons came back from speaking with one of the neighbors. He barged into the kitchen out of breath and between taking lungfuls of air said he saw a column of what looked like enemy troops marching into the town from the direction of the capital. He mentioned that he waited a little to see what was happening when he heard gunfire and screams from the town and didn't wait around after that.
Evander was worried but fell back on his training from his time in the marines and started to direct his family to pack essentials and prepare to leave for the cabin right away. He also arranged with his sons to save as much of their herd as possible as they would need the food if they were to survive without the aid of the town to buy processed products.
Ambrose really like Evander and his family but still missed her parents, She hoped that they were alive and made it out of the town but knew her parents wouldn't have made it as they lived towards the center of town where most of the attacks happened and being rather older than most as her parents where in their 40's when they had her so they where now in there mid-sixties.
She was getting ready for another hard day of traveling as they were due to arrive at the rendezvous they had set up with the other members of Evander's extended family. A few hours later they had just stopped for a 20 minute break when the radio Evander carried with him came to life.
"Hailing survivors located..." She only caught the odd word but whatever was said really got Evander excited and after a small conversation with whoever was on the other end he jumped up and told his sons to get the herd ready to be loaded up on a ship. Ambrose looked on as the people she had come to rely on got to work preparing for the ship that was promised.
It was an hour later that there was a boom from above them as what looked like a fiery comet appeared in the sky but as the flames cleared she made out a rather large ship that was slowed as it was getting closer to the ground. The cattle was spooked from the noise but was easily controlled by the three men on horses who were ready for it to happen.
It was a long ten minutes as the ship set down and the cargo bay doors opened up and a ramp was lowered. Evander approached the ship as a group of 5 people came down from the bay doors and met him. They spent a few minutes talking with Evander pointing out over the herd before they shook hands and started to get to work loading the cattle.
While that was happening Diana and Ambrose were approached by a uniformed man but when he got closer she noticed that he wasn't wearing a colonial uniform but a black uniform with silver embellishments. "Hello Ladies, I'm Captain Wilson and I was told by Evander that you were planning to meet up with some other survivors in the next day or two?" He asked after he introduced himself.
Diana spoke first. "Hello Captain, I'm Evander's wife Diana and to answer your question yes we are due to meet up with our extended family and any neighbors that could make it at the start of the trails leading into the mountains. If you like I can give you the general area location but not sure on what the exact coordinates would be."
He nodded and said. "Sure any information could help as we have a few raptors in the area who could meet up with them and get them ready for a quick pickup." They then went on to discuss ways to identify who sent them and when done he left back to his ship as the work continued to get the cattle aboard before they were noticed.
They managed to get everything done within an hour and they left towards the meeting place as the raptor they sent reported back that they found all of Evander's and Diana's extended family and a few of the neighbors they were hoping would make it. They would have liked to wait a few more days but knew that time was tight as they were told that the Base ship in orbit could be back at any time as they only managed to make it to the surface as the guarding Base ship left for an unknown reason.
Ambrose gave the area one last look as tears silently streaked down her face for the family she had lost. After 10 minutes she made her way back to the ship and whatever the future would hold for her.
Aerilon - Agricultural Seed Storage Facility in Low Orbit - 7 DAH
A little away from Aerilon a heavy duty supply ship was monitoring the Base ship in orbit looking for an opportunity to empty the seed storage facility as it will help the colonials greatly if they have the seeds to plant on their new colony when they get there.
They waited for more than 45 min from the start of the rescue operation on Picon for something to change. They watched as a Heavy raider jumped into orbit then 10 minutes later the Base ship jumped away followed by the heavy raider also jumping away.
They waited a few minutes before powering up all their systems from standby and making their way to the seed storage. They took it slow to begin with to make sure it wasn't a trap before increasing their speed when their advanced sensors showed that the only Cylon ships within a lightyear were the few dozen Cylon small craft on the surface.
It took them 15 minutes to approach and dock with the station while the ship launched several shuttles towards the surface to scout out and possibly rescue anyone they found at the sites their scouting mission had picked up human activity. The Ship docked successfully and the codes they had were accepted and with the large airlock doors opening the crew of the ship got to work offloading as much of the seeds as they could.
They prioritized seeds for foodstuff but made sure to include as many samples of each seed stored there so that the colonials could rebuild their diverse agriculture without having to start from scratch.
While they were emptying the storage the shuttles they launched landed in the more hard to reach areas and picked up families and groups that had escaped the initial Cylon attacks. They found all different types from survivalists to office workers but they all had one thing in common and that was they were desperate to get to somewhere safe.
Ragnar Station - Press Room - 9 DAH
What passed for the colonial press gathered once more in what has come to be the center of the military in the fleet. They had been told that Commander Thompson will be making a statement that would contain vital information for the future of the colonials. So here they were gathered in front of the podium that holds the colonial fleet emblem waiting on the appearance of the person who has come to be known as the military mouthpiece since his assignment as the public relations officer.
The room quietened down as a group of colonial officers entered from the door with a sign saying Authorized Personnel Only. The group of officers surrounded Commander Thompson as he made his way to the podium, they did their job holding the over eager reporters and journalists at bay as they didn't seem to understand that you don't mess with the military as they dont play games when it comes to security.
Thompson walked up to the podium and placed his notes down ready for what he knew was going to be a monumental shift in the fleet's dynamics. They had spent the best part of 2 days preparing for this speech and putting pieces into place to maintain control and ensure the safety of the civilians of the fleet. He looked over the civilians in the room and asked for quiet. He waited till they all sat down and silence settled in the room and he began his address.
"I would like to thank you for coming and continuing your support of the men and women keeping you safe in these uncertain times. Today we will be announcing several vital pieces of news that will bring hope to those who wish to live to see a peaceful life for our children and their children." He waited for a minute for them to process what he said before he continued. "The first is that we have opened up recruitment for both the colonial fleet and the marines for those who wish to step up and serve. The civilian peacekeepers have also opened recruitment for those who see themselves as more of the peacekeeping type than the type who would pick up arms and fight."
He took a breath and continued. "We ask that those who apply do so through their ship's representative in an orderly and civil fashion. The second announcement is that Fleet Admiral Corman and the survivors of the attack on fleet HQ on picon who took shelter in the lower levels of the underground facility have been rescued and will meet us at waypoint alpha in 2 weeks time." Once he had finished speaking there was a massive outcry of questions about who was saved and where there any more news on the status of the colonies.
Commander Thompson again asked for quiet and that he would take questions at the end. "In extension to the rescue of those on picon units used the distraction orchestrated to draw the Cylon forces away from the colonies on a temporary basis to recover vital resources that will be needed for the development of agriculture to support a population of our size when we reach the new colony such as cattle and seeds for planting. We can say with certainty that those recoveries were a success and that beyond the targeted resources we also undertook the rescue of a further 2 thousand people from the colonies of Leonis and Aerilon."
Again he had to wait for the reporters to stop shouting out questions or comments while amongst those who were listening on the wireless there was a mixture of hope and confusion as to why they just don't take back the colonies with the forces they have.
It took a few minutes to quiet them down this time and that was only with the help of the aides he was accompanied by forcing the reporters to calm down. "Please wait till the end for questions. If you interrupt again before the end then we will end this address and give a statement without giving you the chance to ask questions." He waited till the reporters calmed down and accepted with nods and silence.
He shuffled his notes and continued. "The last announcement and probably the most important is that we have been in contact with an allied colony that broke from the colonial system 15 years ago. They are called the Alterans and were instrumental in the rescue missions that were conducted across the three colonies previously announced." He waited long enough to take a few breaths but it seemed his warnings were enough for the press to keep civil for now. "What was also included in the contact with said allies is that in response to the Cylon attack on the 12 colonies they sent there forces that amounted to 3 battle groups that were in the area into Cylon space and attacked and destroyed there ship building and tylium refining abilities for the foreseeable future and in the process destroyed another dozen base ships and numerous other craft."
Commander Thompson then shifted his papers to another page and continued. "What also needs to be understood is that the space station where going to and those that follow are the property of this Break of government and while they are a separate people they recognise their history as descendants of the colonies and have committed to seeing us all safely to our own new colony and helping where possible in the rescue or survivors as well as recovery of historical artifacts when the time is right to do so." He looked out over the press and he could tell they were chomping at the bit to ask questions and with the last announcement complete he knew it was time to open the flood gates. "Now you may ask your questions."
The room broke out in what can only be considered a frenzy that would not be out of place during a pyramid season final. He pointed at someone he thought looked decent. "Sir, My readers would like to know why if they have lost the ability to make ships or refuel them and have lost more ships since that attack why isn't a plan being made to retake the colonies from the Cylon occupiers?"
"A good question and the answer to that is although we have crippled there production abilities for what we predict will be the next 12-18 months they still outnumber us 3-4 to 1 and as you know they are machines so they don't need to rest or to eat so they can fight longer than we can so even is we retook a colony we would be trapped and slowly beaten down. Also the colonies have been aggressively nuked without a single one being spared for even if we retook a colony they would not be able to support human life for the foreseeable future so instead of putting all the lives of this fleet at risk we decided to remove them from the warzone by moving them to the new colony where they can rebuild and remain safe allowing the fleet to focus on fighting the Cylons so that one day we can maybe repopulated the colonies when the radiation levels have dropped back to acceptable levels."
There was uproar about the fact that he revealed that the colonies would be uninhabitable for humans going forward but they had more questions which he knew he had to at least try to answer without making things worse. He pointed to another journalist. "Did the Government know and acknowledge the independence of this Alteran colony."
Thompson was prepared for this question so he answered without hesitating. "While no the government didn't know or acknowledge the independence of this colony the colonial fleet did as they were here instrumental in helping us colonize and build our own colony so far away from the support of colonial forces." He didn't wait for any comeback from that answer and pointed out another journalist.
The question and answer session lasted for nearly an hour before they ended the address and Commander Thompson left the press room. He breathed a sigh of relief that it was over before going to his office for a stiff drink and some peace and quiet before he was required to report to his superiors.
While he was having his drink a lot of movement both politically and emotionally was happening amongst the fleet. Those wanting to volunteer for service made their way towards their ship's representatives some of whom were not happy with the latest revelation. Then there were those who were looking to stir up trouble taking the chance during the chaos started with the latest announcement to further their own agendas. Lastly there were the budding politicians that saw opportunities to consolidate more power and support from those who disagreed and agreed with the current direction that the fleet was heading.
TN: Just one more filler chapter where they get to waypoint station and the war between the colonials and the Cylons will take a back stage to Leo and his group developing and making there entrance into the Stargate Universe instead of just flirting with it.